Oregon rockfish on the fly: Ocean conditions improving

After a long few months of rough seas, you can only imagine how much we have been chomping at the bit to get out and do some ocean fishing. We finally had that opportunity early this week. After a quick conversation with the USGS about bar conditions we pulled the trigger on the 2010 Ocean season if only for half a day.

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Let me tell you it went off with a bang! Fishing the afternoon bite (we left EUG at 10:30) we landed dozens of rockfish and even a few lingcod all on flies and all within site of Hwy101. A couple of beefy Quillbacks made an appearance as well.

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The usual shooting heads and clouser minnows where the ticket with black and white being the best color combination. If you are frustrated with old man winter or want to experience one of Oregon’s most diverse fisheries stop by the shop and lets talk about spring specials and how to rig up your tackle. The time is now, but wearing short sleeves while having a 9wt ripped from your hands is a great feeling any time of the year.
-NS

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7 Responses to Oregon rockfish on the fly: Ocean conditions improving

  1. Dave says:

    Go Nate!!!! Glad you were able to get out and drum up some fish… Way to go man!

  2. Shahab says:

    is nice!!!

  3. that one in-your-face photo is neither quillback nor copper rock; it appears to be a grass rockfish. fairly common on the south coast. we get em’ in shallow, usually, more often than either quillys or coppers. sounds like a blast either way. nice fish!

  4. Rob R says:

    This post just scratches the surface of the excitement those guys had that day. I got to hear the blow-by-blow that night, and Nate is being very humble here. His guest that day said the trip blew away all the salmon and steelhead fishing he’s done over the last year, and that’s saying something. Three hours of solid catching. I saw the mangled flies and the sunburns on their faces. There is no doubt in my mind that Nate is offering Oregon’s most interesting flyfishing adventures–all from the comfort of a Boston Whaler that seems to me like a foating living room. I really hope folks give it a shot. Nate is the fishiest dude around.

  5. Shahab says:

    x2, what Rob says, Nate is offering an experience unlike anything I’ve seen in OR. On top of an ace Capt., that boy is fishy!!!!!

  6. Is a boat necessary for fishing for rockfish/lingcod, or is it possible to DIY by walking out on the jetty? There’s easy access to the north jetty on the tillamook bay – would obviously be a terrible idea if the waves are big, but on a calmer day, would it be possible to catch some fish doing that?

  7. Nate Stansberry says:

    Thanks for all the great comments and all the credit goes to the fish! I agree they look a little different than a normal Quillback, but they don’t have the dorsal fin structure of grass rockfish so my guess is spawning colors. The big guys were but back none the worse for wear and were males. Spencer I have fished off the jetties in Coos and in Newport… the fishing can be frustrating, but is rewarding. STUDS ARE A MUST and bring an older rod. Call the shop any Monday morning and I’d be happy to chat with you about it. These fish are truly amazing so please let the big ones go!

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