Oregon Fly Fishing for winter steelhead report: I drove over to the North Fork of the Alsea yesterday. I did not plan to fish but paid my annual dues for entry to the private land. When I left Corvallis the river level was 6.2 and rising. Upon arrival, the North Fork Alsea was totally blown out. Muddy, leaves, and rising. All the snow from Marys Peak is melting and the Alsea is slated for about 12 feet (action phase, prior to flood stage) in a few days.
I also drove to the Alsea hatchery and saw very few fish in the hatchery. A few anglers were fishing near the hatchery (yes even in crap conditions!). I spoke to them and they said….”yesterday, a few fish were caught” but nothing big has happened yet. From the looks of the run, so far, after this blow out, I would expect the fishing to turn on very strong on the Alsea, once the river drops. Nothing really new, but the lack of fish, thus far, remains constant. I also drove to Honeygrove…nobody was there. I did get reports a few days earlier about many boats on the Mill Creek run and not many fish caught.
-LV
Its Feb.13th and ive spent the last 5 weeks on the North fork and have caught several on Egg fly presentations, veiled egg, volcano egg ect… heading back this weekend for more world class fishing on the Alsea.
by the way i dont use a flyrod but use your flies drifted behind 36 inch 8lb leader on a drift rod, call me a cheater but it works. definately.