Camp Water Reports

Warmer Water

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:16:37 -0800

Snow has now turned to rain, so if you aren’t fishing this minute, it’s too late. River are jumping up and it may be awhile before we see fishable levels. No worries, I’m going Bonefishing.

It sounded like a good idea at the time and an even better one after a night of wet, heavy snow that turned into wet heavy rain about three this morning. I know that because that’s when the alarm at the shop went off. Power outage. I think my friends on the police force were a bit disappointed. Except for Vinnie. He was asleep when I call his cell. My mistake, I thought he was on duty. He called someone that was on duty and I met them at the shop. No arrests were made. Sorry Vinnie. It’s a good thing that I send all those cookies to the precinct on Saturdays. Maybe a little forgiveness bought with sugar.

So now we wait and watch the rivers. The Clack has jumped up a foot just this morning. The Wilson graph is looking like a hot stock on DOW Jones. Great. There’s still the Metolius and Crooked River for some trout fishing if you can make it over the hill.

Then again you can always fill your fly boxes and watch a little telly, and wait. It can’t rain forever.

Me? I’m going somewhere warmer. Somewhere where the days are a bit longer and the water a little warmer. We should talk. You should plan an adventure yourself. Next year you could be telling everyone how you’re sorry you can’t go steelheading with them this week as the rain falls and rivers blow out. You have to go someplace else. Someplace that is much warmer, with white sand, palm trees and fast silver fish. And drinks with those little umbrellas incase it rains...

Adios!

Rain for Christmas

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:22:21 -0800

I’m sure the anglers here in the Pacific Northwest would agree we need rain. Bad. Right now we are looking at the driest December on record....ever.

So, as we spent the next few days with family and friends celebrating the Christmas holiday, when you say the blessing for the meal and all folks that have gathered, ask for a little rain. Not a bunch, just enough to lift the rivers a little and cover the meadow in snow again. That’s all I want for Christmas. Merry Christmas to you!

First of the winter fish

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:43:00 -0800

They come to mark the changing of the season, fall is over now and winter has come. The first major rain brings them home against all odds. Muddy water greets them, filled with trees and flotsam lifted from low water banks. The wind howls and the rain continues to fall, raising the river and pushing them to the bank. Still they come with a single purpose, a destiny.

If we are lucky, the rain abates and the rivers drop into shape just long enough for us to greet these travelers. We still may need to brave the storm, but the rewards can be great. Snow and rain can soak us to the core, but we fish on. Wet and cold are forgotten when winter chrome dances in the air. A thousand casts melt into memory. Only the last cast remains to be relived a thousand times.

True success is not always measured the same. The day may bring other wonders that bond into our memory of the day, leaving us moved and different for the experience. It is the same for all anglers, no mater the season. A day on the water holds the key to our heart, as do our loved ones safe and warm at home. That key connects us to the people and places we love, making us who we are. Yet in winter, we may be a little crazy.

Keep the faith

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 07:27:29 -0700

To say that steelheading on the Deschutes has been red hot would be an outright lie. It has been as they say, “partly cloudy, with a chance of rain, with some sun breaks”and I’m talking about the fishing , not the weather. It mostly has been a story of haves and have nots. With the “haves” finding a few fish, while the “have nots” losing faith and resorting to... well, shall we say, “other methods”.

Don’t lose the faith Campers! Keep swinging and believing that the next cast will bring the grab. It will happen!

As the fish have moved into the river this fall it seems as if they are moving in pods. This is not unusual, but it does seem to be more pronounced this year. When you find a fish, you find more fish. Anglers are reporting spots of off the charts action, followed by miles of rowing. Some are scoring, while others on the same water find nothing. Hey, it’s steelheading!

What’s the answer? You got to believe! Keep your fly in the water and keep moving your feet. There are fish there and they will take the fly. Keep working it, keep focused and keep the faith.

Conditions are good and should remain that way for the next few weeks. Take advantage of the season and have fun!

Taking up the Challenge

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:35:10 -0700

As an angler I have been blessed to test my skills against many different species in many different places, under extremely different conditions. Now I have turned my attention to a fishery closer to home that provides some very interesting challenges. I’ve been fishing for Chinook Salmon in tidewater along the coast.

In Oregon we are blessed with many rivers that run their course and end in the Pacific Ocean. The tidal bays and estuaries provide a wonderful place to intercept King Salmon as they start their spawning migration. These areas have been fished by fly anglers for many years, but remain a speciality fishery cloaked in secrecy. A prefect challenge...

I’ve done some homework, studied charts and tyed a few flies. Mostly I’ve been spending money on lines, depth finders and new anchor systems. What’s a new hobby if you can’t spend money on it?

So far I’ve managed to bumble my way into a few nice fish, including a monster of about 30 pounds. Stop in the shop sometime and I may share a few secrets.