A Cool June with Cutts and Steel

Everyone has his or her own opinion of the weather. 70°F days on the Rogue River, this close to summer, make very enjoyable fishing conditions. Add an early summer steelhead and continuing cutthroat trout bite to make a near perfect flyfishing recipe.

This time of year makes for good wet fly fishing. The fish will look up and they will move to commit to a fly in the high water flow. I like a good dark pattern and the Silver Hilton and Blue and Purple (New Experimental long one!) in my flybox have brought action. The taking mood will disappear as summer wanes on and the heat rises, so taking advantage this week’s all day fishing has been fun. As proof, here are a couple of photos the mild weather have sent my way.

An early summer steelhead. These guys will school you. I’ve already been taken to the cleaners by one.

The cutthroat trout are numerous in the Rogue River now. Assume on every cast that one is following. I find a little twitch before picking up the fly, often invites a strike.

Talk about an attitude. This cutthroat attacked the 4 inch long Blue and Purple articulated pattern.

The high green grass along the Rogue River. Lots of pollen and sitting right at nose level!

Slabside Rogue River Cutthroat on the Blue and Purple Articulated Pattern.

Experimental this summer.

Cutties like big, long articulated steelhead patterns too. This guy grabbed the Blue & Purple experimental one today.

Hanging with the Fish and Ducks on the Rogue River

As Teri was stringing up the switch rod in the early AM she was being snuck up on very quietly from behind.

After a few cast downriver, she noticed the silent intruders too!

Momma merganzer was trying to lead her troop of little ducklings up along the shallows near shore.

After many tries to slip by, Mama decided to take the babes full speed against the mainstream flow of the high flowing Rogue River.

The fish duck family making their great escape at high speed circling by my post in the mid river.

A little later we found what we were looking for…a bright, early Rogue River summer steelhead. All this happening in the early AM with very little sun on the water.