Chasing tail in Eastern Oregon

Thursday, February 28, 2008

It's been a while since I went fishing for trout; yes, I've been swinging flies once a week or so for steelhead in town, but that's a whole different beast. Deep down, while I long for the tug on the line from a steelhead, when I sit at the vise I think of trout. I had landed a nice trout when swinging for steelies a month or so ago, but an honest to goodness take on the dry hadn't been since September.

I had to make a trip over the hill for work, 3 days and 2 nights worth of travel, and spent some time exploring after my meetings. I've had limited exposure to the area, just enough to be dangerous, but being that this would be my home turf I decided I had best become better acquainted.

Most of the high country was still snowed in, but the lower drainages were looking good.

I rolled down to the river late Wednesday, maybe around 5, rigged up the 3 weight and a size 16 adams, and went looking for Mr. Brown. The river canyon was spectacular, so much so that I couldn't stop taking pics.





There were no hatches to speak of, but one thing about an adams is that it brings out the curiosity in almost any trout. Seems like they can't help themselves...





After that beauty, I wasn't so concerned with catching another...rather, I was pretty content. I absentmindedly cast for a while longer, but mostly I just watched the sunset. I saw a few other decent fish rolling, but no rises.







Thursday I busted out of the hotel early, I had a meeting north in the mountains and was itching to get on the road. Dropping down into the town I was treated to one helluva view, and a reminder that, while it may be 60 and sunny down low, winter still had a firm grip up high.



After my meeting and a quick bite to eat at the local watering hole, I dropped down to the other side of the valley to check out a river I've fished a few times prior. I had caught a handful of smaller trout in years past, nothing of any significance, but wanted to see how she was in the winter. Unfortunately, while nice to look at, this river is largely managed for irrigation down in the lower reaches, and the dam up river was throttled back to save water for the summer. The fishing showed it - low, no cover, and not a trout to be seen. I packed it in after an hour or so and got back on the road.





All in all, a great trip - my work meetings went well, I caught my first trout of 2008, and explored some new country.

I'll see how she fishes in a month or so...