Local Steelhead, Bass and Shad

We’ve been hearing more and more reports from anglers catching steelhead on the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers.  Hatchery steelhead are trickling in. So far the numbers are less than impressive, but fish are being caught below Leaburg Dam on the McKenzie and throughout the Willamette below Dexter Dam and on into the town run. Good patterns include the Moal Leach and Thunderhead Moal pictured below.

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Bass fishing at Davis Lake has been decent. Warming temperatures will help this fishery improve. The road to Lava Campground is open and anglers “crawling”(slow deep strips) patterns like the Bass Blastin Moal, Meat Whistle, and Barrett’s Bassmaster Cascade Killer have been taking fish. Moal and Whistle pictured below. Click the link for Barrett’s Bassmaster to see the fly tying video.

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Shad fishing on the Umpqua is picking up. Anglers are taking fish behind the town of Elkton, at Yellow Creek, and the “Popcorn Hole” below the town of Umpqua. Shad flies need to be fished deep. It’s time to get out the T-14 or T-17, create a sink tip 5-10 feet long and slow swing a shad dart into the slots shad tend to stack up in. A few of our favorite Shad Darts pictured below.–CD

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