Summer steelhead fishing stayed productive due in part to our continued low water. We have yet to get a big flush of rain to sap their energy reserves. Both the McKenzie and Willamette produced. Fall is a fun time to swing the McKenzie because the gravel bars are more exposed with fall flows. A lot of runs that could only be “boat swung” during high to normal flows can be swung from shore without too much effort. Just make sure to have felt with studs!
Trout fishing was good to great in October through the first few days of November. The last 10 days or so have slowed down due to cooler nights. If you get out for trout you will have the best luck focusing on the lower McKenzie or Willamette. Be where you want to fish from 11am to 3pm. Simon’s fall fishing report does a great job going over fall flavored nuances and bugs. This report is short, sweet, filled with pictures from Robbie & Finn’s last few weeks of fishing.
Salmon fishing has been pretty tough with the coast yet to flood. Rain has come in trickly spurts to bring in a few. The burst we got over the last few days has brought in a few more positive reports. For salmon fishing on the fly we like to use clousers with intermediate or sinking. Finn has been catching some salmon on custom tied balanced leeches under bobbers. I am usually a Coho fiend but the fisheries I like closed before the rain came in or have yet to set up well this fall. There is still some time for salmon on the coast, just hope for more rain!
We have got grim reports from Tahkentich and Siltcoos so far. But that Coho fishery can turn on any day now. Another great casting salmon line is the Outbound Short. I like that it has thicker running line than its SA competitor. The Outbound Short also has a shorter fast sinking section. For example on an I/3/5, the Outbound Short has 13 feet of Sink 5, 17 feet of Sink 3 and an intermediate running line. The Sonar Titan 3D has 33.5 feet of Sink 5 in the head, 20ish feet of Sink 3 running line, and the rest of the running line is intermediate. The Sonar Titan 3D fishes deeper and holds depth better because the head and running line are thinner and the line has more sink throughout the line. Both come in a range of sink rates to match your fishery. I use both lines. Both are great.
That’s all the words from this report! Enjoy an assortment of pictures below.
To break you streak of losing six steelhead in a row and then land the next six. Try those hooks!
Happy tying and fishing through the rest of fall! Its never too early to start thinking of winter steelhead. Maybe too early to start fishing, but I did see a confirmed winter from the Siletz caught over the last few days. Good luck out there – Robbie
