Tag Archives: EuroNymphing

Yesterday on the Middle Deschutes River

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Mary Ann and I made it out to the Middle Deschutes River yesterday for a couple of hours to try our luck.  The water levels have been quite high but they are starting to drop…yesterday was high, but fishable.  Water clarity was good, but boy, the water temperature was very cold.  We both tried EuroNymphing techniques to tempt the fish.  Not much was hatching but we managed to pick up a few smaller browns on nymphs.

The two anglers!

A feisty brown that I picked up drifting a nymph.

A beautifully colored brown that Mary Ann got on a #16 red snowcone.

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.

Scenes From Yesterday on the Metolius River

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Mary Ann and I got out again on the Metolius River yesterday for a couple of hours of afternoon fishing.  There was a great hatch of BWOs but fish weren’t coming up for the adults.  But, we did pick up a few rainbows on #18 BWO soft hackles.  Also saw quite a few winter stones climbing around on the snowy backs.  Here are a few photos from the day.

This little guy was checking out my bamboo rod.

This little guy was checking out my bamboo rod.

A great close-up photo of the BWOs that were hatching. It looks like I should be tying these flies with orange thread for the correct head color.

A great close-up photo of the BWOs that were hatching. It looks like I should be tying these flies with brown thread for the correct head color.

A #14 winter stonefly crawling around on the snowbank.

A #14 winter stonefly crawling around on the snowbank.

Some fellow anglers on the river, but I suspect these guys were looking for salad rather than meat. Four eating lunch...One watching out for them.

Some fellow anglers on the river, but I suspect these guys were looking for salad rather than meat. Four eating lunch…One watching out for them.

 

Another Beautiful Day Fly Fishing on the Metolius River.

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It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday so Mary Ann and I got away from the house for a little fly fishing on the Metolius River.  We’re so lucky that this wonderful free flowing stream is open all year and only 30 minutes from our house.  With 4 inches of snow on the ground and 29 degrees, we fished the stretch known as the “water wheel area”.  Although there were a few BWOs and midges out on the water, we didn’t see any surface activity so it was a nymphing afternoon.  Here we are on the river, and a feisty native rainbow that Mary Ann landed on a stonefly nymph imitation.

Dave and Mary Ann on the Metolius River.

Dave and Mary Ann on the Metolius River.

The Metolius River in January

The Metolius River in January

A nice little native rainbow

A nice little native rainbow