Category Archives: EuroNymphing Techniques

Bug Sampling on the Crooked River

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I’m a firm believer that it’s a good idea to “check out the bugs” in the river nearly every time you fish, especially if you’re doing a lot of nymph fishing.  Mary Ann and I were on the Crooked River last week fishing a spot we fish often and started with a bug sampling.  We have a small net that is about 15″ x 15″ that one of us holds in the water while the other turns over rocks upstream.  We then transfer the bugs in the net to a white bowl that aids in viewing and identifying.  For the particular spot we sampled, there were very nigh numbers of olive/tan scuds in sizes ranging from about #18 to #10, as well as black mayfly nymphs that were about #18 and #16 in size.  We both used euro-nymphing techniques for our fishing for the day.  Using #14 and #16 gold or tan scuds, #18 Psycho Mayfly nymphs, and #16 Black Beauties produced a lot of rainbows in the 6″ to 14″ range.  So, knowing the bugs in the water and matching those bugs certainly helped us.  Here are a few photos of the day.

Bug Sampling from the Crooked River

Bug Sampling from the Crooked River

Scuds and mayfly nymphs.

Scuds and mayfly nymphs.

Our fly choices for the day.

Our fly choices for the day.

A nice 14" rainbow that took a #16 black beauty nymph.

A nice 14″ rainbow that took a #16 black beauty nymph.

 

 

Crooked River Fishing with Bamboo Rods

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Mary Ann and I got the chance to get out on the Crooked River yesterday for a few hours.  The water level has finally dropped down to a fishable level (350 CFS)…high but fishable and off-color.  I was using my 8′  3″  5 wt Signature Series bamboo rod for some EuroNymphing with small nymphs.  A bug sampling we took showed plenty of nymphs in the water…scuds, sowbugs, lots of mayflies, a few caddis, and even one stonefly.  Although we didn’t get a lot of fish, the rainbows we picked up were nice sized fish.  #18 Blue Zebra Midges and #16 Pheasant Tail Nymphs were the best patterns.  Here are a few photos of our day.

The Crooked River at 350 CFS.

The Crooked River at 350 CFS.

Bug Sampling from the Crooked River.

Bug Sampling from the Crooked River.

A good bend in my 5 wt bamboo rod.

A good bend in my 5 wt bamboo rod.

A nice Crooked River Rainbow that took a #18 Blue Zebra Midge.

A nice Crooked River Rainbow that took a #18 Blue Zebra Midge.

Christmas Day Fly Fishing on the Metolius River

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What Fun!!!!Christmas day….27 degrees….beautiful sunny day….8 inches of snow….and Mary Ann and I went fly fishing on the Metolius River.  She used her 10′  6″  5 wt bamboo switch rod to swing streamers, and I used my 8′  3″  5 wt bamboo rod  to Euronymph small nymphs.  We tempted a few trout to our flies, and got one nice rainbow to the net.  Here are a few photos.

Fly Fishing the Metolius River on Christmas Day.

Fly Fishing the Metolius River on Christmas Day.

Mary Ann with her Switch Rod.

Mary Ann with her Switch Rod.

Concentrating on my nymphs.

Concentrating on my nymphs.

A beautiful 13" rainbow that took a #18 Red Serendipity.

A beautiful 14″ rainbow that took a #18 Red Serendipity.

Fly Fishing on My Birthday!

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I got out with Mary Ann last week on my birthday for a little trout fishing here in Central Oregon.  We hit the Crooked River about an hour from our house.  It was a chilly 18 degrees when we left the house but by the time we got to the river it had warmed up to the mid 40’s.  The whitefish were spawning in the river so a lot of fish were pretty active.  We both picked up about 20 fish on small egg patterns using euronymphing techniques.  We didn’t get anything large, but it was still pretty fun hitting the water with bamboo.  Here are a couple of photos of our day.

The Crooked River in November

The Crooked River in November.

A feisty rainbow that took a #16 orange egg pattern.

A feisty rainbow that took a #16 orange egg pattern.

First Fish Of 2015 On The Crooked River

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Mary Ann and I hit the Crooked River yesterday for some January trout action.  It was a chilly 32 degrees but the sun shining brightly…you gotta love winter trout fishing in central Oregon!  The water level in the river was abnormally high due to some recent dumping from the reservoir but we were hoping the fish would still cooperate.  I chose an 8′  3″  5 wt bamboo rod for my day on the river.  There were no bugs out of any kind so it was time for nymphs with a EuroNymphing setup.  While my standard go-to zebra midges and bwo nymphs were of no interest to the rainbows in the river, I managed to pick up a few decent fish on a #12 Tellico Nymph.  The Tellico Nymph is a great imitation for a small golden stonefly nymph.  Here is my first fish of 2015, a nice feisty 12″ rainbow!

A Crooked River Rainbow in January

A Crooked River Rainbow in January – My First Fish of 2015!

The beautiful Crooked River

The beautiful Crooked River