Nice weather in high 80′s no wind, hatch is all the way to Warm Springs, bugs are laying eggs all is good from the Deschutes and our first trip went GREAT!!

Well……….. I have to come clean about Spring Salmon season, it was a so so year, we would have a big day then the next day would be slow.  The water was up and down and warm then cold, you get the picture.  The biggest and greatest new item of the year was the Sonic Flasher.  It is a flasher with a buzz blade in the center.  It is a fish catcher to say the least.  I have to admit I am partial to this flasher because my son-in-law Seth and his brother Zach came up with the idea and it is amazing.

My sources up in the Portland area tell me that the fish finally have shown up in good numbers, so go by a Sonic Flasher at fisherman’s and go catch a springer!

Sonic also sells regular flashers, reverse spin flashers, you name it they do it and they work!  Website www.byoflashers.com

From the Deschutes this evening I say “hello” and if you have time to come visit us  this sumemr either here on the Deschutes or down on the Rogue River this season we will be waiting for you with drift boats and fly rods in hand or kayaks and rafts with paddles  ready to go.  Our site got a face lift, check it out; www.rogueriveroutfitters.com

As many of you know the Willamette and Columbia Rivers were predicted to have near record runs of Spring Chinooks. This had me very excited, expecting to have a great springer season BUT………….. Mother Nature stepped in and threw a curve ball our way. With lot’s of rain and high water and a bouncy barometer, the fish run was not only fish late but has caused inconsistent fishing, there have been a few great days followed by so so fishing.

I only have 3 more days left of my springer season and still believe that May and June could be very good for the Willamette Chinook Springers. But now we are off to The World Famous Deschutes River,  fly fishing for the magnificent Red side Trout!

Maybe next year the Oregon Chinook Springer run and mother nature will team up for a the ultimate spring salmon season.

Rogue River Rafting Spring Break Special

It’s hard to think about summer or even spring break when the weather is so cold and wet.  It’s March and we have received 3 inches of snow WOW!  It’s finally sunny and the snow is now melting, ok so close your eyes and imagine sun, warmth, white water ,wilderness beauty and total relaxation.  In case your like us, spending spring break in the cold and wet seems to go hand in hand so here is our offer.

Spring Break Special; July 7-9 and August 18-20, 3 days and 2 night’s camp trip through the Rogue River Wilderness soaking in the sun and having fun.  $500.00 per person spring break special good now through April 1st.

As many of you know when it comes to fish  management and fish predictions The Rogue River is clustered with the Northern California Rivers at about Cape Blanco the fish runs split and tend to migrate two different directions.

Last year all of the central and Northern  coast rivers had great returns of fall chinook, while Northern California and Southern Oregon were still slow.  Fishery biologists  have predicted an 800,000 salmon return for the Sacramento and Klamath rivers and 300,000 salmon for the Rogue River.  This would be about three times greater than average for the Rogue and historically when Northern California  rivers have good runs of salmon the Rogue has a great run.

I am really excited for this fall and we should have fishing like the good ol days.

This time of year anglers sometimes have a hard decision to make do we go test our luck for early spring Chinook or continue fishing for late Winter Steelhead.  Last week before our rains hit steelhead fishing was very good.  No matter what the angler might choose you are always a winner when fishing.

Cecile Rittneour is no stranger to catching steelhead, in fact he has caught quite a few on the John Day fishing spinners and jigs.  Today was Cecil’s birthday and his first Winter Steelhead fishing trip.  It was quite obvious he knew his way around a spin outfit, I only wish I could cast as well.  Cecile fished well with every cast in the right spot, no hang ups and his dad hooked the first two fish but Cecile did not waiver but guess what, he hooked the next three steelhead and handled them like a pro.

Good job Cecile and happy birthday my friend.

I recently had the pleasure of fishing with Sam Wurdinger who recently started a jig company named Dinger Jigs.  Sam has  quite a variety of jigs they are well tied and they catch fish.  Sam ties using owner hooks and the finest Marabou when you see his jigs , they are beautiful.  This is one of the 7 fish Sam hooked proving his jigs do work.   I have defiantly been sold on fishing jigs  I look forward to catching a lot more fish on a Dinger jig.

Thank you Sam good job!

If you would like to try some of these awesome jigs contact Sam Wurdinger at 503-932-8386 or email Sam at dingerjigs@yahoo.com