John Bauer of Bauer Fly Reels invited me down to the Williamson River with he and guide Marlon Rampy this past week. It was a phenomenal day! One of those classic Oregon fall days where you get a little bit of everything. Freezing cold hands in the morning but by afternoon all the layers had been shed.
We fished swung flies, nymphed deep and shallow and we even had some dry fly fishing late in the afternoon, as I said earlier it was a great day! Marlon Rampy of flyfishoregon.com is a superb guide and knows every slot and ledge in the Williamson. Marlon was extremely helpful, making sure our drifts were in the correct zone throughout the day.
I hadn’t been to the Williamson in quite a few years and I greatly underestimated it’s water quality and character. It has such a unique variety of water. In one run you are swinging a tailout that looks like the North Umpqua. In the next you are fishing a fast run that has a “freestone” feel about it, another a weed bed bottom that resembles the Henry’s Fork. It was the waters variety and varied tactical approach that were so interesting and enjoyable for me.
So, how big was it Chris? 20+