Oregon Fly Fishing Report – Small Stream Outfitters & Guides

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

Summer steelhead continue to fish well on the Clackamas. Concentrations of fish can be found around the hatchery and fair numbers of fish are spread throughout the rest of the system. We had good fishing last week from first light until late morning until the high sun put the fish down. Early mornings have been best, although fish can be found in shaded areas and covered pools throughout the day. You can check out pictures from last week in our Photo Gallery. A drop in river temperature is sure to put fish on the move and it looks like a significant system is headed our way and slated to hit August 19-20.

We’re really looking forward to this system as it should increase river flows and drop river temperatures across the area. We expect to see a push of coastal chinook and steelhead off this system as well as increased numbers of Bluebacks or Sea-run cutthroat trout. We don’t plan on missing out on this opportunity for a mid-summer storm. Call us at 503-515-3533 to book a trip. You can read a weather report from the National Weather Service below.

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COMPUTER MODELS AGREE ON BRINGING AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG STORM INTO SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS WEEK. THIS STORM IS ACTUALLY MODERATELY STRONG EVEN FOR WINTER TIME…AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE UNUSUALLY STRONG WINDS FOR SUMMER ALONG THE COAST AND AN UNSEASONABLY HIGH AMOUNT OF RAINFALL.

THIS SYSTEM WILL LIKELY PRODUCE GALE FORCE WINDS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS BEGINNING LATE TUESDAY AND CONTINUING TUESDAY NIGHT. WIND GUSTS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST COULD REACH 50 MPH OR MORE. THIS STORM ALSO IS FORECAST TO HAVE A VERY HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT…AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RAINFALL THROUGHOUT MUCH OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING…

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Tight lines and we’ll see you on the water!
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

After a long cool Spring, Summer is finally here and it feels good. At Small Stream Outfitters that means lots of early mornings chasing Summer Steelhead and warm afternoons dabbling dry flies for Coastal Cutthroat. Coastal conditions are exactly where they should be for this time of year. The water is still cool, but flows will decrease slightly each day and the water will increase slightly through August and into September.

Summer steelhead are present throughout the entire Siletz system and in decent numbers. We are finding a fair number of fish in the mid to upper river. Fish will continue to enter the river throughout the next month and stack up in deep low-light pools waiting for that first rain. Early mornings and late evenings are the best time to target these fish. Traditional swing tactics work well in times of low light. Switch to long leaders and delicate presentations once the sun hits the water.

If the sun is a little too bright for steelhead we like to switch to the 3 and 4 wts and try our luck for the coastal cutthroats. Try fluffy dries (size 8-12) with touches of red or yellow. Patterns like humpys, royal coachmen, stimulators, adams and elk hair caddis work great. Concentrate on shaded areas with good cover and high oxygen content. Most of these fish are between 6-10″, but be ready for a whopper, because there are always a few hold over sea run cutthroats this time of year that can get as big as 20″.

We are certainly enjoying our Summer at Small Stream Outfitters and hope you are too. We are now booking; Summer steelhead, Coastal Cutthroats, Sea-Run Cutthroats and Rainbow trout. To inquire about a guided fly fishing trip please contact us through the website or by phone at 503.515.3533

Tight lines and good fishing!

For Small Stream Outfitters the transition from Summer to early Fall is noted by our favorite coastal trout, the glorious Sea-Run Cutthroat, into the lower reaches of Coastal Streams, like the Siletz and Nesutucca. We can usually count on the first fish to show sometime in early August. They’ll generally trickle in throughout the month and be present in good numbers by the first of September.

We found a few nice fish mixed in with their Summer Steelhead cousins at the beginning of August, making for some exciting days on the water. A significant rain event on August 21 brought the Siletz up about 6″ and was enough to trigger a massive change in the lower river fishing. Most of the summer steelhead pushed upstream above the town of Siletz; concentrate efforts for these fish in the Siletz Gorge for the rest of the season. While the steelhead were making their way into the upper river, Sea Runs in huge numbers entered the lower river almost overnight.

Trout fishing over the last week has been absolutely suberb! Massive pods of fish in the 12-18″ range have concentrated in several areas throughout the lower Siletz. We’ve had fantastic top-water and streamer action for these fish and expect to the fishing stay hot, until the next significant rain. To book a trip chasing these aggressive, chrome sea-run trout, call or email us today! 503.515.3533

Tight Lines and we’ll see you on the water!