Oregon bound...

[fishmonger]

Well, I made the move to Oregon. No fish yet, but some pics never-the-less.

Multnomah Falls, the wife and I hiked to the top 6 hours aftere riding in on the redeye.
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/078178-big.jpg (http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=78178&c=500&z=1)

Hood River, which is glacier feed off of Mt. Hood. This is about 15 mikes west of my apartment.
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/078177.jpg (http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=78177&c=500&z=1)

The Hood River harbors...
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/078176.jpg (http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=78176&c=500&z=1)
These have to be released, but other than a Steelhead, I am hoping to catch one.

My new home town, The Dalles, with Mt. Hood in the background.
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/078180.jpg (http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=78180&c=500&z=1)

The jobsite where I am working, on the banks of the Columbia.
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/078179.jpg (http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=78179&c=500&z=1)

No pics of the Deschutes yet, which I expect to be my main haunt.

FM

[TheEndlessEnigma]

the memories

[Josh Barnett]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Get out there and explore, buddy!

[chrisfish]

I have determined you are a better man than I am. I would have had to apologized to my wife and broke out the once stashed rod!! Good luck and keep us posted!!

Chrisfish

P.S. What are the main fish attractions? What time of the year?

[spinboy]

That looks like some beautiful country side you have there to explore. Enjoy!

Let us know some more about those trout if you can.

I did this myself, I went to a couple of websites, the better of them being http://fwp.state.mt.us/bulltroutid/ and discovered this: "Montana fishing regulations state that anglers can not even intentionally fish for bull trout in waters other than Swan Lake."

The site intends to educate anglers about bull trout and their endangered status. It includes ways to avoid catching them such as using smaller flies rather than spoons or plugs which are more likely to attract them versus other species.

No wonder the local gov't drops money on warning signs like that. They are both locally and federally protected. Be careful out there.

[fishmonger]

I'll have to check out that site. I would like to catch a Bull Trout, but will do it (hopefully) as a byproduct of fishing for Steelhead or Salmon.

The Deschutes is the most obvious attraction. Steelhead and redband (redsides) trout (native rainbows) all winter long. I caught 2 redsides Sunday while fishing for Steelies. Thus, I hooked them on my 8 weight. One was 13" and one was 14". They both put a big bend in the heavier rod, and the 14 actually pulled off some line. The Deschutes is BIG water, and these guys are incredibly strong for their size. I have some pics to post, but my computer is on the way back from Atlanta (had to send it to the IT guy for a fix :( ). Note to DNR: the Regs on the Deschutes are set up to maintain and enhance this amazing fishery. No trout are stocked, slot limit of 10"-13", 2 fish daily bag limit. 16" to 18" trout are not uncommon. Steelhead are stocked, with clipped adipose fins to ID them after they return to the river. All wild Steelies must be released, 2 stockers per day bag limit up to 20 fish/year. Chinook are catch and release only, with the occasional special open season, such as this year (just ended 10/31). Bull trout over 24" may be kept in certain sections. The WHOLE river is closed to fishing from any floating device. Therefore, lots of water goes unfished, and reproduction is very good. There are many other special regs. Deschutes Steelies are considered a summer run, which is still on. They are caught all winter, until they leave again in the spring. They tend to be small as Steelies go, running 6-10 lbs. The one I caught was about 8 pounds.

Right in front of my jobsite is the Columbia River. One of the guys I work with is living on a houseboat, and is going to take me sturgeon fishing. Keepers are between 30 and 60", anything bigger (?!?) is called oversize, and must go back to maintain the breedstock. I can't imagine catching a 7 foot fish in fresh water. There are also walleye, Steelies, and salmon, although fly fishing is not really practical on this massive river.

Other rivers abound. Up the Columbia is the John Day River, another big water Oregon river, which is un-dammed. It, and most of the Snake River tribs, have 2 winter runs of Steelhead. The winter run fish are very large. they run 15-20 lbs, with a fair number in the 20s, and a few over 30 lbs.It's tough, cold fishing, that I plan on working at. Downstream from here are the Hood, Sandy, Willamette, and Clackamas Rivers, which all have runs of one sort or another (Chinook, Coho, Chum, and Steelhead).

On the Washington side of the Columbia, there is the Klickitat, Skamania, and White Salmon Rivers. There are many more that I don't even know the names of.

Can you say "Kid in a candy store"? :D

More to come...

FM

[skibum]

Not to mention skiing close by :D

[flyflicker]

FM,
Get somebody to take you sturgeon fishin below Bonneville dam. 7 footers are bait, can you imagine a 12-14' 900-1200 lb. fish? If you want to catch a bull trout, head for the Metolius out of Sisters. The river is open all year below Allingham bridge and now is the time to catch big bulls on sculpin or flesh fly patterns and smaller ones on egg patterns. They are heavy in the river now following the kokanee up from the lake. Beautiful stream too. Here are a couple of Metolius pics:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a270/flyflicker/metolius002001.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a270/flyflicker/campsherman.jpg

[fishmonger]

Flicker,
Excellent info and pics, thanks. I have read that the Metoilius is one of the prettiest rivers around. Judging from the Deschutes, that is saying something.

Bum,
I have checked a little bit. 5 or 6 spots on Mt Hood, Timberline being the most famous, and the best. The snow tends to be a bit wet and heavy. Mt Bachalor is further, but is considered to be much better. More acres, and drier snow, since it is on the very back side of the Cascades. Think Utah vs California. I am driving a little AWD sport-ute, so we can get there. Well, at least I can. :p

FM

[flyflicker]

FM,
You should also try the East Fork Hood River. Take hwy 34 out of Hood River towards Timberline. When you get to Robinhood campground, park and fish upstream. Fowler (or Foster, can't remember which) Creek joins the East Fork about 1/4 mi. above the bridge, and that is the creek that dumps all the glacial silt in the river. From that point up the East Fork is crystal clear and full of native bows. Also a decient fall steelhead run. Check the regs, I think it changed to artificials only and C&R a few years ago. There are good holes below the bridge and campground too, but you have to fish early to find clear water. The silt really hits heavy about 11AM, but it's in pretty good shape before then. About 1/4 mi. past the campground, there's a dirt road to the right that coes back to an old clear cut. The road crosses a small creek that runs through a culvert. This creek is full of little native bows and brookies. It joins the East Fork about 1 mi. below the campground. Also check out the falls that are about 2 1/2 mi. in from Sherwood campground. There is a parking lot just on the Hood River side of Sherwood campground with a foot bridge over the river. It's a beautiful horseshoe basalt gorge and you can walk back under the falls. Nice day hike.

[fishmonger]

Awesome man, where do I send the check? If you're ever back out here in the next year, let's hook up.

Thanks again. The Hood River is on my list of places to try. Now I have some local knowledge. NGTO strikes again!!

How do you have all this wonderful local knowledge? You must be from Portland...

FM

[flyflicker]

Lived in Oregon for twenty years about 30 mi. West of Portland in the Banks - Buxton area right at the base of the coast range mountains. Feel free to contact me any time for some off the track spots. In my time out there I fished most of the rivers in the state. My favorite area was the Eagle Cap wilderness in NE Oregon around the towns of Joseph and Enterprise. If you go quick, you might beat the snows. The Lostine River drainage was my favorite. Once the snows come, it's socked in till late June. Last time I was up there I caught between 100-150 brookies a day. Not much of a challenge, but lots of fun. It's about 4 hrs. from the Dalles. Make sure you plan a trip to the Wilson or Nestucca river between Christmas and mid Jan. for the winter steelhead run. Awsome fishin, but pretty tough with a fly rod. Baitcasting or spinning gear much better for drift fishin when the rivers are up in the winter. Lots of small streams like the N. Fork Nehalem, Big Creek, Gales creek, and others are great for flies though. I usually get out there a couple of times a year, and always make the trout opener on the Metolius. We will definantly have to hook up next time I'm out. Us Southern boys got to stick together.