Recent dam building by a beaver along the Rogue River.
Fresh, bright Rogue River summer steelhead caught during the cool of the early morning.
Carpetbagger Stonefly Nymph (AKA The Magic Fly on the Rogue River of Oregon) This fly will catch summer steelhead now.
The summer steelhead are arriving readily now into the upper Rogue River. These silver bullets will really put the test to your gear. My favorite tie for these chrome rockets is the Midnight Rainbow Carpetbagger Stonefly Nymph. This fish came to the Midnight Fire Carpetbagger in size #4. You never know, so it’s good to have both Carpetbagger colors in the fly box.
Another super bead head fly pattern for Rogue River steelhead. Actually, just your regular Copper Herniator tie with a body color change. That body material color is called root beer by the fly tying market. Once again I’ve found a source for the material, which comes as either regular diamond braid or a pearl core braid. There is something about those visual micro-luminations that light the steelhead up.
Micro light luminations make this an effective fly for summer steelhead.
Came across a dark steelhead fly pattern that I tied a few years back for a fishing lodge on the middle Rogue River. I tied up the order from the example that was given me, and then tied a few and set them aside. The original is a larger pattern about size #6 tied on a salmon/steelhead iron, up-eyed, bead head and with a red tail. I decided to reduce the original pattern and came up with this arrangement. The hook is 2X long strong nymph hook size #10. I eliminated the red tail, kept the herl body and added a little red flashabou to the black marabou wing. Already this weekend on it’s first try the fly has proven itself. I believe the original pattern is the creation of a middle Rogue River fishing guide of long standing.
Great pattern during the fall on the lower Rogue River. Also a good steelhead fly pattern on the Klamath River. Adult steelhead as well as the famous half pounder fish will readily fall for this fly.
The all copper version. Copper Diamond Braid, Krystal Flash and Bead Head. Size 8,10 and 12.
Searching for summer steelhead and finding the conditions are of yet best for bird watching. CFS 2200 Water Temperature 55°F Air Temperature 93°F Wind Slight Sun Bright Bite Not!
With Rogue Valley air temperatures slated to rise to 103°F today, here is a little recap of the weekend float with the Drifter. Recalling the friendly sun and 75°F mid-day temperature, what a refreshing time that was. Expecting to find another early summer steelhead; Carpetbaggers, G.R. Hare’s Ears, and Brown Fork Tail Prince nymphs were the fly choices du jour. We did find cutthroat trout and steelhead smolt. Not a fantastic bite this time of year, but a bite none the less. A probable cause of this would be the high (2200 CFS – 2800 CFS), cold water flow. Most of the resident fish have fed well during the early hatches of spring. Wet wading, I found the 55°F water to feel exhilarating at first touch. Actually you can “warm up” to it, and then the cool feels quite nice. Teri prefers the action from the drift boat via casting and “trolling.” We “trolled up” several nice cutthroat trout ferrying the Drifter and giving the Rogue River twitch to a tandem setup of flies. A big fly (a Carpetbagger) trailing a small fly (Hare’s Ear or Prince size #10) is a hot set up. Not many boats and a lot of wildlife make for a pleasant time along the Rogue River of Oregon.
Teri likes the “shade tree” when the sun rises high overhead.
Removing a Brown Fork Tail Nymph from a feisty cutthroat trout.
Enjoying the shade and lunch along the banks of the Rogue River.
Parking the Drifter along the lush banks of the Rogue River, Oregon.
Rogue River Salmon Steelhead Board 