Roaring Fork Guide Service Spring-Summer Newsletter – 2017

John Gross – Roaring Fork Guide Service – 2017 Newsletter

Spring Greetings Friends,

I hope our Newsletter finds you in good health and demeanor. As the years roll on, it certainly seems that health matters become a greater concern and perhaps an all too increasingly regular topic of conversation. But enough chatter. The good news for 2017 is lots and lots of water in our rivers. Our Pacific Coast and much of the West for that matter, got smacked with major rainfall this past fall & winter, and rain continues as I write. Flooding as far south as Southern California and the potential tragedy involving the Lake Oroville Spillway seemed to grab national headlines on an all too frequent basis. We have ended up with reservoirs that are not only chalk-full, but which had to be drained or lowered for flood control. Additionally, there are numerous areas of record snow pack in the mountains. It seems that the West Coast can officially claim “the drought is over,” for at least a year or two. If only we had more water storage capacity…..

So what does all this water mean in terms of fishing and our rivers? Well, there are some positives and some negatives, some of which relate to periodicity. If heavy rain falls during relatively short periods, then we end up with flooding. During our winter, we had sustained high water conditions. Fast and high muddy water did not make for ideal winter steelheading conditions. On the other hand, a good snow pack should provide an abundance of cold, clean snow melt during our spring and summer months. It is no secret that salmon, trout, and steelhead thrive in the plentiful cold & clean water conditions which contrast dramatically from the low, warm water, and more algae-prone conditions occurring during the drought years. The 2017 water conditions should therefore keep our returning adult salmon and steelhead in great condition this season. The annual run of Spring Chinook and Summer Steelhead on the Columbia and Willamette systems has been so far, slow in developing. Fishing this last week however, on the Lower Columbia and the lower Willamette finally turned on about 3 weeks later than usual.   A coinciding dramatic increase in the number of fish passing over Bonneville Dam on the Columbia and past the fish counting station at Willamette Falls both further confirm the start of the run. It is not unusual to see a delay in the run timing during years of high and cold river flows. Since many local fishermen consider the second half of June to be our peak salmon season here on the McKenzie River, a later run timing could push the 2017 peak to well into July. Looks like a wait and see situation.

Most years, mid-May marks the start of salmon and steelhead fishing on the McKenzie. Our Spring Chinook fishing can endure into early August while our Summer Steelhead fishing may extend well into the fall months. We also have a mix of wild and hatchery trout which readily respond to both flies and conventional tackle. Our McKenzie trout trips make for great relaxation while enjoying the beautiful riparian scenery. We furnish all the necessary fishing equipment, and even first time fly fishers generally experience grand success as we row them through the best trout holding water. These trout trips are an excellent way to introduce a youngster to good action and are a great source of family fun. Our Smallmouth Bass Trips on the Umpqua River also feature lots of hook-ups complemented by the warm summer weather. I network with a good group of guides on corporate and group trips when multiple boats are required. For those of you hosting out-of-town guests this summer, please do consider a river drift as a great way to entertain while creating great memories. Good trout fishing often lasts through October. By late August and September we already begin to focus on the Fall Chinook staging in our coastal rivers and estuaries. Again, these fishing trips can make very memorable gifts for special occasions such as birthdays, Mother’s & Father’s Day, weddings, and graduation.

You may want to visit our new web site at: https://oregonfishingtrips.com/

Wishing you all the best and hope to see or hear from you soon.

John Gross -Roaringfork Guide Service- 541-726-7234

Email: roaringfork@aol.com 541-912-8899 -cell