This past Saturday, I fished with one of my oldest friends and politico Jonathon Manton. We used to fish together a couple times a week but since his move to Salem and then Bend, we haven’t been out much and it was great to fish with my erstwhile partner in crime–reliving through the retelling our old adventures in angling.
There was the time we without hesitation turned down the two hotties who tried to pick us up while we were steelheading the ‘Slaw, only to realize hours later what we had done. Doh! Or the time we found a huge blaze on the Mckenzie–calling it in before it got a chance to spot and spread . . . then there was the brutal bushwhack down to the Rogue punctuated by a seemingly impassable cliff that was passable–by falling. Anyway . . .
We began our day on the Middle Fork Willamette above Hills Creek Reservoir, fishing from the head of the reservoir which is still higher than I’d like to see it and working our way upstream. We hooked and landed a mixed bag of hatchery fish and wild trout. Johnny hooked a big rainbow that managed to throw him before we got a good look at its orgins. Trout ate Golden Stone dries and the Parachute “I hope it’s me” Adams–a story for another time . . . or not.
Our chief objective though was to hit the evening bite at one of our old honey holes on the river below Hills Creek. The hatches weren’t prolific but the fish were still looking up. We caught a mess of wild rainbows, exclusively on Green Drake dry patterns. Here Johnny does battle with a fairly typical Middle Fork wild rainbow (I’m pretty sure the chin strap is supposed to go under your chin there Johnny):
and the fish:
We tried to wait for the hatch to really take off before hitting the sweetest spot but temptation overwhelmed us. No matter. This happened–note my horror:
Ok, it wasn’t all that upsetting:
and the release:
This fish fought like a man. I had my whole weight leaning into this trout and the rod was bent to the cork–the fish wouldn’t budge.
The Middle Fork Willamette is a powerful river that creates powerful trout and has some of the best fly fishing in the west Oregon Cascades. The MFW isn’t stocked and you have a nice population of good wild trout that average 12 inches, I’d say. Our streams fish well but aren’t really trophy rivers, especially since the decline of the salmon–the biomass isn’t what it used to be and I’d put this trout in the 95th percentile–hence, the stupid grin.
I can’t wait to get out there again.
Wow!
I am sure your blog gets more hits than mine so to publicize the MFW probably isn’t a very good idea don’t you think?
Just saying
Shane,
That is certainly a valid question and something that I have thought about. The MFW has some things going for it-one of them is it’s proximity to the Mckenzie. Most people around here focus on the Mack (Mckenzie rather) and in spite of all contrary evidence that the MFW is a better fishery. IMO, at least.
Another thing is that the river gets too low too comfortably float in the summer. There is limited access from the 58 side and while there is a gravel road on the other bank it is not very heavily used and even where it is, it often bends far from the river. Almost nobody floats the river expect March to July and Sept-October. The majority of the river is virtually a wild trout sanctuary for about 6 months of the year. My postng cannot change the physical realities of the water situation in the river.
As for my bank spots, they are far from secret and despite that fact I’ve never seen anyone else fishing them in 5+ years. I think that most locals in the Oakridge area fish for planters in Salmon and Salt Creeks for some unholy reason.
Maybe someone sees this and experiences good fishing for wild trout. Maybe they learn what good fishing is-that is what happened to me. There are worse things that could happen imo.
But you may be right. Time will tell.
Thanks for your comment.
I’ve fished the MFW and know of it’s potential so that is why I am curious as to why you would basically invite the masses to fish there.
I have seen first hand what publicizing a good fishing spot on the internet will do.
Surprised you would do this.
The MFW belongs to all americans not me alone. I am quite happy to see someone else enjoy high quality fishing. Heck, that’s what happens most times I go fishing.
The masses will never fish the MFW as it is an all wild, catch and release fishery that only has fair access about half the year.
I don’t think the MFW is under any threat of invasion.