Not a bad problem to have ... a Rogue, Williamson, Wood rivers, and Klamath Lake Report.

#SouthernOregonFlyfishing

This time of year is a hard time of year for me as its hard to choose between the Rogue, Williamson, Wood Rivers and the Klamath Lake. I guess we could have worse problems.

The Rogue is the go to, when we are talking about new fishermen. With the prospects of catching a ton of fish on dries it's a great way to introduce people to the sport of flyfishing. if you are looking to get a wife or one of your children hooked, the Rogue is a great option

Rogue River Cutty!

The Williamson is fishing well, but the best is yet to come. All the fish we have been catching are clean as a whistle, meaning they don't have any of the license on them from the lake. This is a sure indicator that the big push of fish lake fish haven't hit the cool waters of the Williamson. As the lake warms expect more and more fish to show up. As it is we are catching quite a few fish a day.

Williamson River Redband

Williamson Slab!

The Wood is in the same boat as the Williamson, but fish are already moving into the estuary. Fish from the wetlands bridge down. Watch for fish early in the morning and late in the evenings. Swing soft hackles across rising fish.

The Tranquil Wood River


 

The Locals

The Klamath/Agency  is fishing amazingly  well. Look for fish staging at the cool water. With the heat they are going to start pushing up the rivers. Strip leaches and emergers across rolling fish. Look for the foam lines along the mixing of the warm and cool waters.

The Klamath/Agency Lake is a consistent producer!

There you have it! If Southern Oregon isn't on your bucket list it should be. It has the water to match whatever skill level, and gives you the potential to catch the largest, meanest trout of your life. 

The Williamson River, Oregon's Mini-Spey and Swing Destination for Trophy Trout!

When you mix July and the Williamson in the same sentence, most fly fishermen would think Hexagenia  Hatch and the huge Dry Flies that are fished at dusk, but there is another game in town. The hex hatch also opens up the river to become a great swing fishery. Watching a huge trout gulp down huge mayflies is a treat, but the “EAT” on a well swung fly is just as exciting—Pair that with the Micro Spey Rod and you may be in Trout Bliss. The hex hatch begins way before you see the huge mayfly dancing on the Williamson’s Surface, and if you’re savvy enough, and know the river you can take an advantage of it. The Micro Speys will help you to place the long mends you will need to present your impostor as the hex prime rib, that the trout have grown to love. Once you get it right…Hold On!        



Encounters with A Wild Williamson River Trout!

 

Trout on the Mini Spey..10'6" 3wt

Another Trophy Williamson Trout on the swing!

Trout Prime Rib....Impostor





Going back in!

Southern Oregon Is on Fire-- Rogue River Holy Water, and Williamson River Report.

Rogue River Salmonfly Hatch

 

Bob hit the dry fly world with a storm. It took him a couple of fish before one came to the bank, but it didn't take him long before he was able to see a beautiful trout up close and personal.  Good job Bob, your fishing like a pro. The Rogue River Salmon Fly Hatch continues to impress.

 

 

Williamson River Report

From Good Friend and Great Guide Brent Hublitz

"Wow! What an opening weekend on the Williamson. The water is low, clear, and the fishing is better than fantastic. I ran trips the last three days and there are more than enough fish to have some fun (large one’s too.) Swinging leech patterns on a slow sinking intermediate line has been the most productive technique. I will post some pictures of this weekend in the next day or two, but for now it’s time to go get some rest."

 

Its been a busy week!

It has been a busy week. The Upper Rogue is starting to show summer steelhead. We have been hooking a few on swung flies. The river has raised and I expect them to shoot up!

The Klamath Basin is still producing, although the full moon has slowed fishing as of late. Swinging Flies with the small speys are still producing, which makes me happy, happy, happy, as there is no better way to fish!

Once the Rogue starts to drop and the moon goes away the rivers will come alive.

Here are a couple pictures from the last week.



Carrie with a Fish On



Nice Wood River Trout on the swing!

Nice little Rogue River Steelhead-- Good Job Seth, what a fight on a 3 wt.

Aaron with his first Wood River redband.

Klamath Grows Trout Big!

HOG!

We may have came up with the ultimate Trout swinging line.

Swinging flies has to be one of the most exhilarating ways to catch Fish, and Double handers are the best tool for such a job, especially on rivers where fish become boat shy. I have found the I can reach out, way past the disturbance of my boat and oar strokes, with a switch rod, but a floating line with tips didn't provide the right angle to present the fly properly to fish holding mid depth. Guide's wouldn't be caught dead without their clear, or camo intermediate lines for these situations, but they don't cast well as a spey line. This is where I ran into problems, There are no Clear Spey type lines out there. I had tried throwing Skagits with clear Polly Leaders but I pulled the anchor and had a hard time trying to get the high floating thick Skagit to fish right. Sure they work great for the wide swings that steelhead like, but for the Williamson, and Wood River trout's preferred narrow swing they were nearly impossible. Thanks to Steve Godshall, I think we have overcame some of the obstacles that kept us from using our switch rods on these waters.  The line Steve built is a complete intermediate, with the first 19' a clear mono-core head that's subtle enough to lay on still waters without spooking fish, yet large enough to turn over large water soaked leaches. This head is driven by a short, Skagit style head that provides enough power to easily shoot line 70' or 80', which provides plenty of distance to get away from the boat. The line does take a little getting use to as its a complete 27 foot intermediate head on a 11'  4wt  rod but once you adjust its easy. The line is 295 grains and loads the rod well. As good as it cast, it fishes even better, exactly what I was looking for! Although we only had a couple hours to fish we managed to swing up a few fish--something that would have been hard to do just fishing tips. I love this line and can't wait to have one built for my 6wt. Steve Godshall is the Einstein of fly lines. After a some brainstorming we came up with a line that swings for weary Fish in some of the hardest places, Steve made my ultimate line come true--thanks Steve.

The Line Loads Well

On the Swing

Little guy

That's more like it

Best Place on Earth

      

Klamath Lake is off the Hook!

The Klamath is off the hook right now! A good friend of mine, T.J.  had a great weekend over there! The fish are moving to cooler water as the lake warms, if you know where to go, you can catch these fish on the move. Use all your classic patterns and presentations. Please, remember if you get a real sluggish fish break him off or land him fast as he is probably heat stressed, then move—heck most of the good fish are in the cold water anyhow. If you have never fished the Klamath you need to. Check out T.J’s face book page at  https://www.facebook.com/hookedonlife?fref=ts

T.J. Red Band

More Color

Clean Fish

Lake fishing is hard work!

The Williamson River, Wood River, and Klamath Redband Report

With the barometer falling the fishing slowed on the Williamson River, but we were able to connect with a few. I am positive, without some of Brent’s closed swinging methods, I would have never caught any fish. The river is clearing and getting cooler, making it the ultimate destination for swinging for trophy trout. There have been several over 25” caught in the last couple of weeks and it’s bound to get better with the promise of the Hex hatch and warmer weather. The Wood River is fishing well with several double digit days. It is still stained making it a good bet for swinging big flies. If you can get the chance to fish The Klamath Basin you should take it, June is a great time of the year to experience its riches!



A Rogue River Boat on the Wood River



Fresh out of the Lake (notice the Lice)

 

This Small Trout thought it was a Steelhead, I love the way the Williamson, Wood, and Klamath Basin Redbands fight this time of year!

 

The Williamson River an old Friend!

Brent at the office.

The fish of the evening. 

I grew up fishing this river and always did well, but last night was better than I have ever seen it. A large part of that was due to Brent Hublitz of Trophy Troutfitters. He fishes the Williamson different than I ever have, which added some tools to my box. Brent clearly out fished me, even to the point of talking to a potential client on the phone while fighting a fish. Thank goodness I landed the biggest fish of the night or I would have to listen to how bad he out fished me  until I get him on the Rogue later this fall. Not really-we had a great time.

Awesome River

The one that go away in the Klamath Basin

I love catching Redband Trout this time of year they think they are steelhead. I am really sorry for the poor video, but its hard to video and fight a fish at the same time. I finally lost this fish in the tules, he was above five pounds!

What a sunset!

Redband Trout Food!

What a place!