Month: December 2023

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Rogue River December Steelhead

https://www.facebook.com/reel/320858504149625

No swinging purple flies to catch this one. Tied on an orange bead head Copper John with wiggly rubber legs. Placed a small Thingamabobber at the top of the leader. On a cast fairly close to the bank the bobber disappeared as it drifted by. I raised the rod tip and the male steelhead was on. I figured this would be the best way to fly fish the murky colored water. With the advent of December rains I can predict more of this style of fly fishing. Bobber down!

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Advent Sunday Fly. Purple Yarn, White Silk and Peccary Wing.

These were the colors that I saw the priest wear at Mass today. The purple/violet color of Advent trimmed with white. For the wing and tail of the fly, I thought I might try peccary hair. Thoughts on peccary material…it is very stiff and brittle. Still the fly should fish, if I get a chance to tie it on and cast to the water of the Rogue River.

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Brownbagger Stonefly Nymph

With the varied water conditions of December on the Rogue River, Oregon, I find myself tieing on the hot orange bead head Brownbagger Nymph quite frequently. Gone now is the low, cold clear water of most of November 2023. The steelhead then took small nymphs most often the red spot Prince Nymph. There were also takes to small, drab, natural colored nymphs like the G.R. Hare’s Ear. One of my favorite events was the catch to a bead less Zug Bug nymph. Not really a surprise though, peacock herl catches fish. The Brownbagger I like now. A good size dark profile, wiggly legs and an egg shaped/colored head. This combination will show up well in heavier water flow and off color water.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=7176372935741099&set=a.111042305607566
December water on the Rogue River, Oregon. 2023.

Underneath that Thing-a-Bobber is a single suspended Brownbagger Nymph. No steelhead were hooked this first day after a rain, but they should have been! You can also fish two flies under the strike indicator. I would suggest a Brownbagger and a smaller nymph as a dropper.