August Angling Begins to Heat Up
While August can often times be a tough month for anglers with warm water conditions, bright sunny weather, and limited bug activity, it is also a time when crowds have diminished, lots of fish are staging in the rivers and the magnificent Fall runs are just around the corner.
We at Small Stream Oufitters have been having a great time this Summer chasing Spring Chinook, Summer Steehead and lots of trout. The first reports of good numbers of coastal tidewater sea-run cutthroats are beginning to stream in and we have already seen our first Fall Chinook!
NOW BOOKING! – Fall Chinook, Summer Steelhead and Sea-Run Trips. Peak-Season is fillng quickly so make your reservations now!
Individual River Reports
Nestucca River – Fair to Slow for Summer Steelhead – Water is low and clear and continues to warm up. The best fishing has been in the first couple hours of the day. Try small dark, trout type patterns to trick these wary fish. Small searuns are beginning to show downstream of 3 rivers and into tidewater.
Siletz River – Fair to Good for Summer Steelhead – Water is low and clear. The best fishing has been in the first couple hours of the day. We spent two days over the last weekend chasing Sea Run Cutts and Steelhead just above Tidewater. There are LOTS of Summer Steelhead still entering the river. Groups of anywhere from four up to twenty-fish are making their way up the river. Fish were moving up until 10am. They are in very shallow water and extremely spooky. Take great care in approaching these fish. Floating lines, long leaders, little flies and delicate presentations are your only chance until the first rains cool off and discolor the water.
SEARUNS – Fair to Good numbers of fish are present downsteam of Jack Morgan. Best patterns have been spruces and royal coachmans fished just beneath the surface in shaded areas, around woody debris, and in deep back edddies. These early fish range from 8″-14″, but there are a few pigs already above tidewater. There are scattered fish between Ojalla bridge and Jack Morgan Park.
CHINOOK – We didn’t expect to see any Chinook this early in the year, but they are coming. We saw several solo chromers in the 15-20 lb range travelling upriver just above tidewater. There are not yet fishable numbers, but expect an decent early push with the first good shift in weather.
McKenzie River – Fair to Good for Trout – Water is low, but still fishing well. Fish are concentrated in medium speed riffles and keyed into to nymphs. Try small stone flies, pheasant tails, sparkle pupae, sparkle princes and other small attractor nymphs. Deerhorn to Hendricks has been a productive drift the last couple weeks. Dry fly fishing has slowed as the water has dropped and warmed up.