An Introduction to Fly Fishing eastern Oregon’s....
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By:
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admin
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Mood:
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- Fishing Destinations
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Date:
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Oct 26, 2010
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Music:
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None
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This tailwater may be the country's best brown trout fishery
When most anglers think of fly fishing in the state of Oregon, images of coastal rivers and mountain streams come to mind. It's true that the state is loaded with many diverse types of fisheries, but the eastern one-third of Oregon gets very little angler recognition and for good reason: the terrain in this region is rough and the climate is arid. There is almost no coldwater habitat with the one significant exception being the Owyhee River Tailwater below Owyhee Dam, and this stretch of water is home to thousands of brown trout per mile that exceed 18-inches in length. This fact alone makes for a solid argument that the lower Owyhee may be the best brown trout fishery in the country; especially with respect to the average size of the fish.
Getting to the Owyhee Tailwater is relatively easy considering that the best water is just over an hour's drive from downtown Boise, Idaho. Most anglers that come to the "Potato State" to fly fish are usually drawn to the eastern and central areas, but this does not mean that the Owyhee is a 'sleeper' or 'undiscovered' trout fishery. In fact, this river is gaining in popularity and notoriety by the day, but there is still plenty of water (and fish) to accommodate everyone. But bear in mind that if you are into solitude, there are many better places to fish.
The "prime" stretch on the Owyhee starts downstream of Owyhee Dam and twists and turns through a rugged desert canyon before flowing into the Snake River near Adrian, Oregon. Most people stick to the areas within eight miles of the dam – after this point, agricultural demands turn the flow into a trickle. Spring and summer are the most popular seasons, but there is good fishing to be had throughout the year. Some of the slow stretches freeze over in the coldest part of winter, but even then, there are many riffles and runs that hold active fish. During cooler months, releases from the dam are only 35 cubic feet per second (cfs), and this makes the river extremely small and quite technical from a fly fishing perspective. When the local farming interests call for irrigation water in the spring (this demand usually starts around the middle of April), flows vamp up to the 200 to 250-cfs range, and these conditions are perfect because the fish become far less spooky than they are when the water is low. Runoff is not typically an issue on the lower Owyhee because the upstream drainage is quite dry, but there are occasional years when the Owyhee Reservoir fills up and the tailwater becomes unfishable due to dangerously high releases at the dam. All the fly shops and guides in the Boise area are good sources of logistical information – be sure to utilize these resources before planning a trip to this river.
Because the Owyhee is a narrow river with modest flows (throughout a typical year), the easiest way to gain access is to "park and wade". There are scores of turn-offs and parking areas, and local etiquette dictates that it is "poor form" to barge in on anglers who are already fishing an area. The most popular spots are in the riffles and where there is some moving water, but there are plenty of fish to be found in the abundant slow and deep pools – these fish rarely see a fly and can be easier to fool by utilizing still-water techniques. Because there are so many fish on this river, there is absolutely no reason to worry about finding open and productive water, but there will be times when almost all of the popular spots are filled up.
The Owyhee is a "bug factory" that is absolutely loaded with caddis, PMDs and midges. There is also a small stonefly called a Skwala that comes off in the early spring and provides some amazing surface action. One of the draws of the Owyhee is that it's possible to catch browns up to 26-inches on tiny dry flies, but be aware that the fish on the Owyhee will often appear to be rising to adult insects when they are in fact taking emergers just beneath the surface. During non-hatch periods, nymph fishing is very productive, and using two weighted (or bead head) flies will consistently catch fish. Zebra-style midges fished as a dropper under a caddis pupa is a good combination to start with. Keep in mind that the fish on the Owyhee see plenty of flies (and anglers) almost every day of the year, so it often takes a perfect dead drift to fool the wiliest trout in the river. If the action seems slow, try fishing with extremely small patterns suspended just off the bottom.
Some fishermen compare the Owyhee to the San Juan Tailwater in New Mexico, but they are both very different rivers from a fishing and cultural standpoint. Even though the Owyhee can be lined with cars, once you are on the water, it is often difficult to see other anglers; this is definitely not the case on the San Juan. Both rivers are desert tailwaters with loads of nice fish, but that is where the similarities end. If you find yourself looking for some good fishing near Boise, Idaho, give the Owyhee a try. It's a fun river to fish and it's not difficult to find access and nice brown trout. Despite the fact that the Owyhee is well known as a wonderful fishery, because there are so many other options within a couple hours of Boise, it will unlikely ever become a 'zoo' like the San Juan. Still, try and fish during the week to avoid some of the crowds. The Owyhee is a river that every fly fisherman should try at least once, and the odds are good that a skilled angler will have multiple chances at hooking up with brown trout over 20-inches, along with the occasional fat rainbow. From an hour for hour perspective, there are very few trophy rivers in the continental United States that are as productive as the Owyhee Tailwater.
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