Oregon Fly Fishing Report – Small Stream Outfitters & Guides

It’s been another great week on the coast! We’ve had some incredible weather this past week that was extremely pleasant for anglers, but makes guides wish there were a few more clouds around. Still, the early morning bite was great and there were some fantastic fish taken in shady spots throughout the warm, sunny afternoons. This is typical Indian Summer weather on the Oregon Coast and we’ll take advantage of the few remaining opportunities to guide in shorts and tee shirts.

The Chinook bite slowed this week and emergency ODFW sportfish regulations on the South Coast make us worry the Chinook run will be another bust this year. However, there are still fish to be caught and the patient, dedicated anglers will get their fish. The one bonus to the buzz of less Chinook this Fall has driven other anglers away and we’ve had the river mostly to ourselves. It’s a great feeling to have a day’s float to yourself, quiet and peaceful, casting flies to eager cutthroat.

The sea-run fishing continues to be great and there are more fish in the river everyday. The average size of the fish is also increasing as it usually does this time of year. We’ve seen some huge fish in tidewater of 3+ pounds, but thus far the monsters on fly have eluded us. Anglers this week saw consistent 20 fish days and fish ranging from 9-17 inches. We can’t wait to get back on the water and continue to enjoy the great action. To book a guided fishing trip give us a call at 503.515.3533 or Email Us. We are currently fishing the Siletz, Nestucca and Sandy. Below are just a few snapshots from trips this week.

A beautiful cutthroat from the Siletz, colored up from hanging out in tidewater

Alan took this and many other great sea-run cutts on a crystal blue sky day

Sunrise over tidewater, it never ceases to amaze us.

Hi Anglers,

The Fall fishing season is nearly upon us. It’s that time of year when fishing opportunities abound around the state. As the days get shorter, the leaves begin to change color and the first rains arrive, rivers and streams in the area cool off and the fishing gets red hot!

We’ll begin targeting the first to arrive of the Fall fish, the Sea-run cutthroat (Blueback Trout) on the coast next week and then progress into Coastal Fall Chinook, Coastal Coho and Willamette Valley Coho in the coming weeks. We generally begin having good salmon fishing by September 15 that will often last until the 1st or 2nd week of December on various streams and rivers.

The buzz among anglers this year is of a record coho run. Based on the number of coho jacks present last year as well as adults that prediction may very well come true. Even if the run is half of what scientists are predicting we’re going to have a great run of coho on rivers like the N. Fork Nehalem, Nestucca, Siletz, some coastal creeks and especially the Sandy! Last year the Sandy fished the best of all Coho fisheries and we look forward to many more days of bent rods this fall.

We expect sea-run cutthroat fishing this year to remain consistently good as it has for the past several years. 20 fish days are very common for trout ranging from 10-18 inches. They readily take swung and skated flies and are spectacular sport on 4wt fly rods.

The Coastal Chinook run will probably be the weakest of the three fisheries as it has been for the last 2 seasons. However, we expect a slightly better run than last year, but still not up to historical averages. We keep a close eye on the strength of the run and keep our anglers posted on chances to land one of these massive fish.

It looks to be another great Fall and we’re all set for the action to come. To inquire about a Guided Salmon or Cutthroat Trout trip with Small Stream Outfitters please call us at 503.515.3533 or Email Us!

Tight lines,
The Small Stream Outfitters Guide Staff

We entered this Chinook season with great apprehension. As everyone knows last year’s coastal Fall chinook run was a bust. It could even be described as dreadful. The talk around the fly tying vise was for improved ocean conditions for the fish this year and increased numbers of Fall Chinook. But talk is just that… talk. Until we saw for our own eyes decent numbers of fish we were not about to sell a fishery that fell fall short of expectations last year. The talk is over!

We started see big pods of fish in tidewater on September 8 and numbers of fish appear to be increasing every day. We landed two stunningly chrome, small bucks yesterday and saw lots more big bodied chinook. We breathed a hugh sigh of relief this week and are now excited to chase King Salmon chrome for the rest of the season.

Blue back (harvest trout, sea-run cutthroat) fishing continues to be excellent. Fish are ranging from 10-17″ with lots of fish in the 14-15″ range. These are great trout on light fly rods and together with a chance at a chrome chinook you just can’t go wrong.

Give us a call at 503.515.3533 to get in on the action!

An unusually strong system pushed through the Oregon Coast and Willamette valley around August 20 bringing with it a good deal of rain. It was enough water to raise the Siletz 1.5 feet and turn it steelhead green. Chinook have been reported as high as Mile marker 5, but have yet to make their way into the river.

Steelhead moved around a great deal the last week. After several days of fishing it appears the fish that were in the system before the rain have blown through and are now in the upper reaches while some new fish have made their way in to the lower reaches of both the Siletz and Nestucca. The push was not as strong as we expected, but there are still steelhead making their way through tidewater.

Sea-runs or blueback are a different story. They are in the Siletz and Nestucca in solid numbers. The best fishing is still in tidewater and the lower few miles of the river, but there are now fish spread throughout the system. Numbers will only continue to increase throughout the next month. The time to fish these shiny buggers is now. We captured a couple of chromers on film over the weekend. Check them out in our Photo Gallery. To get in on some of this great top water fly fishing action call us at 503.515.3533 or email us at info@smallstreamoutfitters.com

Tight lines,
The Small Stream Outfitters Guide Staff

Brief periods of Summer rain showers on July 30 and August 1 brought the Siletz, (located near Newport and Lincoln City on the Oregon Coast) up an inch or so each time. Not really enough to trigger another big push of Summer steelhead, but it did get some early Sea run cutthroats moving out of tidewater and into the river. We found a few bluebacks as high as the town of Siletz, but most of the fish are still in tidewater waiting for the river to cool off a bit.

Cool, coastal marine layers have kept the area relatively cool the last week and that has extended the morning bite. The best steelheading has been early in the morning, from first light until 7am. The bulk of the fish in the system are hanging out in the gorge. Hatchery fish are being recycled from the trap to moonshine park and then running that section again. Fresh fish have tapered off some, but expect another good size push in the next month or so with a significant change in pressure or significant rainfall.

Judging by the numbers of big SRCs (bluebacks) we’ve seen already, this season is shaping to be another great Sea-run cutthroat year. These fish are strong and bright and range from 10″ -20+”. Our guides are excited about the prospects and will be on the coast a lot chasing these fish from Mid-August through September. To book a Sea-Run Cutthroat fly fishing trip please call 503.515.3533. We recommend lodging in Newport, Salishan or Lincoln City for all Siletz fly fishing trips.

Tight lines,
Small Stream Outfitters Guide Staff