I can't believe we are already talking about summer steelhead again. I actually started tying dries at my bench last night to get ahead of the game for the coming months. Generally, we will see our first fishable numbers of summer steelhead on the Willamette System. I have already heard of good reports from the Clackamas. We are still a couple weeks away from having enough fish over Willamette Falls to see consistent fishing up above Eugene where I concentrate my guiding efforts. I would definitely expect the water between Dexter and town to be fishing well by the first of June. I am keeping a close eye on the counts. When I feel things look promising, I have a list of people waiting for the call. If you would like to get in on some of this early season action, get a hold of me to get on the list.
As far as our North Umpqua summer fishing, depending on our water conditions, we usually don't get too excited until the end of June. Most years we are in full swing by the 4th of July. If you have not experienced this fabled fishery, put it on your "bucket list." Not only is the scenery unmatched, it is one of the best places in the world to consistently bring wild steelhead to the dry. In all my travels, our fish on the North are probably the most surface orientated steelhead I have swung a fly for. Experiencing the savage take of a steelhead in one of the North's classic tail-outs is truly the pinnacle of the sport.
I thought I would include a couple more pics I had laying about from a trip I had with Jerry Schaffer and Steve Nichalson this winter. As anxious as I am to get out and throw some dries in a t-shirt, I never get tired of holding the beautiful fish we see each winter. There is just nothing quite like them. Each of these fish were evidence of that!
