The search has moved from the valley floor up into the Cascades overlooking the Rogue Valley. A couple weeks ago there were none. The past weekend the first of the black morels were up and popping.
Cascade Mountain Morels
Rogue River steelhead fly
Hot Egg Steelhead Copper John
This little fly will get it done on the Rogue River, Oregon.
Rogue River December Steelhead
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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!
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.
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.
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.
O Dark Thirty Fly Fishing on the Rogue River
Late afternoon stays on the Rogue River, Oregon the last couple of days. Yes it has been cold. Cold all…the fish, the water and the Sunset temperatures.
https://www.facebook.com/teri.suttonselbicky/videos/1065079881296066
October Caddis on the Rogue River, Oregon
There is still time to fly fish October Caddis for steelhead on the Rogue River, Oregon. In November the sunny days of Fall have not completely vanished. Tie one on the end of your leader during a bright afternoon and don’t be surprised by the strike.
Dark Kispoix
Steelhead wet fly. I believe this is a B C Canada pattern. Looks good even on a Mustad 36890. I don’t know how the green floss body will hold up if a steelhead actually grabs on to the fly. The dark bucktail wing and tail however should hold up well against the sharp teeth of a Rogue River summer steelhead.
Rogue River Steelhead Still Like Stonefly Nymphs
You can see it. There at the tip of his kype. The orange bead head of the dark Brownbagger Nymph fly. It took a little time and casting in the cold afternoon to find this guy. Finally just after sunset the bite came. Not too far off the bank. I had been casting a long line. I shortened up and cast maybe only 30 feet. Let the line swing, settle and slowly lift, and coming to the end of its drift came the pressure of a sudden stop. Fish on!
The Pacific King (Wet fly of Roy Patrick)
The Pacific King wet fly tied specifically for Rogue River steelhead. Size # 6, Eagle Claw #1197 bronze hook and real black bear hair wing. Going to give it a cast.
Rogue River Salmon Steelhead Board 