End of January Steelhead

With waterfowl season closed for the Rogue River, I got out and did a little steelhead fly fishing. I didn’t expect much. Water flow has been low with the absence of any good rain. Most of the late summer steelhead of January I consider just “red snakes.” Still early for the Rogue River’s winter steelhead run, but you never know. Well I was able to find and get into a good run of late summer steelhead. All females they were bright and fresh enough to give a good time. The run was a deep stretch so I fished the Carpetbagger Stonefly Nymph with either a Brown Fork Tail or G.R. Hare’s Ear trailer fly. Both of the trailer smaller patterns caught the fish. The takes were down and deep in the run, just at the end of the drift of the flies. I was even surprised with the catch of a big, hooked jaw silver salmon. I celebrated the good return to fly fishing the river with a hearty seared mallard breast supper

Pretty hen fish taken with the Brown Fork Tail Nymph.

Slipping another one up to the bank.

This bright looking hen took a Beadhead G.R. Hare’s Ear Nymph

The Brown Fork Tail Nymph protrudes from the maw of this rosy cheeked hen.

Mr. Mug Ugly. I didn’t know there would still be any silver salmon around. Never know!

Love those mallards. Here’s a new recipe for myself. Seared Mallard Breast with Peach and Cranberry – Port Relish.

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New Year Waterfowling

Cold weather and water, perfect ingredients for duck hunting. Widgeon and GW teal abound on the Rogue River.

View from the duck blind. I’m staying warm and camouflaged in my Cabela’s Northern Flight boot foot waders.

Collecting a lot of premium fly tying material like paired G W teal wings. In addition I like to save prime bronze mallard shoulder feathers.

There still are summer steelhead around, but they are in less than prime condition. I call them the red snakes of December/January. Better left to get to their spawning.

A lot of water remains iced over. Find a spot like this and you find ducks. This pond has accounted for mallards and widgeon.

Late season conditions often consist of low water and ice.

The mudflat has been good for ice and teal. On this day it was holding mallards and the first northern spoonbills.

Paired full mallard wings. Lots of primary, secondary, coverts and the McGuinty feathers.

Got to make your chances count. Only mallard I saw this day was at first light. Make the best of the situation.

When the temperatures turn to freezing and the summer steelhead get dark, duck hunting becomes the best option along the Rogue River. Plentiful waterfowl lends to plentiful opportunities. Never a game of continuous action, waterfowl hunting requires patience, habitat knowledge and skill. What better time to sit and quietly observe the river and it’s winter time inhabitants. Scouting out the best locations comes with accumulated experience, just as “making the shot” comes from practiced habits acquired during the heat of the action.