Oregon Fly Fishing with Stan

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Fly Fishing The Mckenzie River

McKenzie River Rainbow Trout

As an Oregon fly fishing guide, I can schedule you for a full day, guided drift boat fly-fishing trip on Oregon’s McKenzie River (half-day trips are also available). We are flexible with departure and return times, however most McKenzie trout fly-fishing trips depart the Eugene area about 8:00am and return about 6:00pm. We can meet you at a boat ramp if you have lodging up river and we also provide transportation from Eugene to the launch.

Once on the McKenzie river, a few minutes taken to explain the fly-fishing techniques that we will be using during the day. We fish with dry flies and wet flies depending on the weather and water conditions while drifting down the McKenzie. We usually have a shore lunch about 12:00 noon of fresh pan-fried trout and salads, box lunches or vegetarian lunches can also be provided if desired. We always carry extra bottled water and cold drinks for the entire day.

We provide all the necessary fly-fishing equipment for the days fishing. However, if you would like to use your own fly tackle, here is a Rainbow trout fishing tip for the McKenzie River:

1. 9 foot, 4wt.or 5wt.graphite fly rod, with a matching fly reel and weight forward dry fly line with 50 yards of Dacron backing.
2. 9′ dry fly 5x tapered leaders.
3. Flies for the McKenzie River:
   1. Green Caddis Bucktail (McKenzie special) #10 & #12
   2. Yellow Stimulator #6
   3. Yellow Bucktail Caddis #10 & #12
   4. Brown Elk Hair caddis #12 & #14
   5. Orange Caddis Bucktail #12& #14
   6. Bead Head Prince Nymph #10
   7. Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph #8 & #10
   8. Bead Head Brown Hare’s Ear Nymph #8 & #10

Of course, there are many other fly patterns and sizes that will produce fish on any given day, but this will give the fly-fisher a good idea of the sizes and types of patterns that can be used on the McKenzie River with favorable results.

McKenzie River Guided Trout Fly-Fishing Trip Information

Rick Friberg with a nice Rainbow

The Fly Fishing Rainbow Trout trip is for 2 people (per boat) who desire an enjoyable day on the Mckenzie River. Bring a light weight jacket, sun screen for sun and water glare, long sleeve shirt and a brimmed hat and don’t forget your sunglasses.

Ideal Months: The months for fly fishing in Oregon and the Mckenzie River are April, May, June, July, August and September.

Location: Eugene, Oregon. We can help with hotel/motel accommodations if you wish.

IMPORTANT: Advanced and early bookings are required for the best open dates that meet with your travel and fishing schedule. We will do our best to provide you with the fishing dates you want.

Your investment for the two person, full day trip is $375.00, Our half day trips for two is $250.00/day.

One day angling licence for Oregon is $16.75/day/person

Corporate and group rates also available, we can arrange for extra boats if needed.

Don’t wait to Contact me for more information.

Largemouth Bass on the Williamette River near Eugene

The rivers and streams near Eugene, and Western Oregon have a wide variety of game fish that can be caught using fly fishing tackle throughout the year

Our guided winter steelhead, spring and fall salmon fishing are non-fly fishing trips.

Fly fishing in Oregon for:

• Rainbow trout
• Cutthroat trout
• Summer Steelhead
• Winter Steelhead
• Coho Salmon
• Smallmouth Bass
• Shad

I guide drift boat fly-fishing trips for most of these fish species during the following months of the year depending on weather and water conditions. Full day guided fly-fishing trips, and in some cases, half-day guided fly-fishing trips are available throughout the spring, summer and fall months.

We also offer corporate rates for Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing and spring and fall Oregon Salmon fishing guided trips.

Contact us for more information about our guided fly fishing trips, and the best available dates

Early bookings of guided fly-fishing trips can be worked out to be the most convenient for the client, by selecting the fishing dates that will be the most productive, educational and enjoyable for the species of fish being sought.

Please refer to the following schedule for the best months to fly fish for your quarry and feel free to bookmark this site for future reference or E-mail this page to a fishing friend.

Fly Fishing McKenzie River for Oregon Trout

Mckenzie River Rainbow Trout

Would you like a full day of fun and excitement with a guided fly-fishing trip for Oregon Trout on the world famous McKenzie River? The McKenzie is well known as a challenging white water river for dry fly fishing. However some sections of the river can provide fly-fishing enjoyment for the beginning fly fisher as well. This trip is all about McKenzie River fly fishing here in Oregon and the natural wonders of the outdoors that is near Eugene.

Drift boat fly fishing on the McKenzie River is a wonderful place for a father and son or daughter to spend quality time together learning how to fly fish. Why not consider a fly-fishing trip for Fathers Day or a birthday gift for someone special? A full day on the river includes a nice shore lunch on the banks of the clear flowing McKenzie. Gift certificates for all our fishing trips are also available and can be arranged to meet customer special needs.

You may want to take a corporate client or your business partner on a guided fly-fishing trip. The benefits are unforgettable and everlasting, just think of a McKenzie River fly-fishing trip as a golf course on the water, only better.

Enjoy the memories of being with friends and family while trout fishing from a drift boat on the scenic, natural clear flowing McKenzie River. We can also arrange for multi-boat trips for larger groups. For a truly a life long memory for the whole family and a fun day of fly fishing plus fly fishing trout tips and techniques, please feel free to contact us guided trips

Look here for guided trip details: McKenzie River Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing

Oregon Steelhead Fly Fishing

Dr. Marv Olmstead with a nice summer run Steelhead

Fly fishing for summer steelhead and catching these returning sea-run rainbows on a fly is an exciting and rewarding experience. The fly fisher, new to steelhead fly fishing must be patient, and willing to learn time tested steelhead fly-fishing techniques to entice the fish to take a steelhead fly.

One of my goals as an Oregon Steelhead fly fishing guide is to give advice in a casual way to help the fly-fisher to achieve their goal of catching a steelhead on a fly. The types of steelhead holding waters will be explained. What types of steelhead flies to use for different fly-fishing conditions is just one of the things the steelhead fly fisher will need to know. What to look for in good quality steelhead fly tackle will be explained. How to tie and use the proper fly-fishing knots will be learned and used to insure a successful day.

For information regarding Oregon Steelhead fly-fishing, and our guided trip that includes:

• Steelhead fly fishing techniques
• Steelhead Fly Casting tips
• Steelhead Fly-Fishing tips and tricks,
• Steelhead Fly Patterns, for a review of time-tested patterns

visit our Fly-Fishing for Steelhead page.

Oregon Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing

The picturesque Umpqua River

We only guide full-day trips for Umpqua Smallmouth bass for one reason: The fishing is so good, you need a full day on the river because a half-day trip just isn’t enough. If you have never fly fished for Smallmouth Bass you are missing one of the most enjoyable days of fishing you can imagine.

If you want to try spinning gear, we can provide you with the needed ultra-lite tackle. The Smallmouth bass are a very aggressive predator type game fish. Everyone will find, learning the techniques to catch these fish is fun and easy.

In Western Oregon, the best fishing for Smallmouth bass starts about the end of May and continues thru the summer months until mid September. Fishing slows down when the water temperature drops below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

See more details about fly fishing the Umpqua river for smallmouth bass.

Oregon Salmon Fishing

Oregon River Salmon

Spring and Fall season Salmon Fishing from a drift boat is a very exciting and fun way to fish for Oregon river salmon. You’re as close as a person can get to those big Oregon Salmon, nature and the great outdoors. It’s also a great place for a father and son team or a business guest to experience some Oregon salmon fishing.

Oregon river salmon fishing provides a real challenge to the angler while at the same time he can learn a few salmon fishing techniques and salmon fishing tips used to catch these sea run giants. This all adds up for an enjoyable day of salmon fishing.

Everyone knows how good fresh salmon is on the dinning table, however it’s also the day on the river and being with close friends and/or business associates that make a good day really great.

Learn more about our guided trips for Oregon river salmon fishing and the tackle and tips to catch Oregon Salmon.

Beginning Fly Fishing, Learn how to Fly Fish in Oregon

Cayden Stanley learning how to fly fish

Are you looking for enjoyable fly-fishing lessons for you and a friend or your family members to learn how to fly fish? You need to learn the necessary fly-casting techniques and fly fishing instruction to get started fly fishing the right way. Our beginning fly fishing class is a two-part, one-day class.

In the morning, you will learn the fly-fishing basics and hands on fly-casting instruction from a certified FFF fly casting instructor. This is a complete fly-fishing tutorial with basic information about fly rods and reels, the weights and types of fly lines, leaders, and how a well-balanced fly rod and fly line work together to present the fly properly.

After lunch, we take a drift boat fly fishing trip with wet fly and dry fly trout fishing instruction. You will learn how to tie, and use the special knots used in fly fishing. You will also learn about the types of flies that are used in fly-fishing, the aquatic insects that Oregon trout feed on and the types of waters and feeding lanes where trout can be caught.

Learn more about our beginning fly fishing class and how you can start to enjoy the wonderful world of fly-fishing.

35 lb. Chinook ,Westport Washington. “Then”

Stan holds a 40lb chinook salmon. “Now”

For fly fishing information about Fly Fishing in Oregon, our full day guided drift boat river trips for individuals, groups up to 15 people and our half day guided fly fishing trips, please fill the form below and click the submit button.

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Feel free to contact Stan direct: Please call after 6:00pm at 541-746-6080 or during the day on Stan’s AT&T cell phone at 541-228-4999 to get an on the river report.

Dr. Marvin L. Olmstead (left)

I have been fishing with Stan Stanton for about 5 years now. On my first trip with him I said, “I want to catch a steelhead on a fly.” Stan rowed out into the middle of the river, set the anchor and in his quiet manner said, “Let me see you cast.” I attempted what I called a cast. In response to my effort I heard “Can I show you something?”. I sat down and watched as Stan made several beautiful casts that were accompanied by excellent instruction on the art and science of fly-casting. It became immediately clear to me that I was not only in the presence of a master but also an excellent teacher. I should know something about that because I have spent 30 years teaching in universities myself. Over the years I have come to realize that Stan would win teaching awards for his style of instruction if he were teaching at a university. He shows you how to do something and lets you try it yourself enough so that your brain and muscles can get on the same page. He does not harp at you when you do not do it right but will occasionally remind you of the right way. You have time to learn. Oh and that steelhead I wanted to catch - I did and many more thanks to Stan.

Fishing with Stan has not been just about steelhead. Add Chinook salmon, several kinds of trout, chub and small mouth bass to our target fish. And we did not always use flies. Stan knows fishing and will do what ever it takes to see that the people in the front of the boat catch fish. I have learned a lot of techniques from Stan that result in a call of “Fish on”. I have never been on a trip where that goal was not met and I have been fishing with Stan one or more times each month of the fishing season (March through November) for the last 5 years. When you experience the rush a 30-pound salmon on the end of your line and a feisty trout on a 4-weight fly rod in the same month you know you are in fish heaven.

A trip with Stan is not just about fish though. He has taken me to many of the most beautiful rivers in Oregon. Since a drift trip can cover eight to ten miles of river the scenery is always changing. We have fished in that famous Oregon rain but most of the trips have been under blue skies with varying degrees of cloud cover. The rivers themselves are a large part of the beauty. They are almost always crystal clear. You may go through a stretch of rapids (which are skillfully maneuvered by Stan) and end up in a serene part of the river that overwhelms you with calmness. The view downstream may look like an oil painting with stately trees lining the riverbank and evergreen covered mountains rising along the far horizon. If you look up an osprey nest may be found in the upper branches of a distant tree. Circling overhead is the nest’s owner look for the same fish you want to catch. No worries though because there are plenty of fish in the river for all.

Steelhead on a fly

There is nothing more thrilling than seeing an osprey fold its magnificent wings while 40 feet above the water, diving head and talon first in to the clear, cold water below and then break the surface of the water to fly triumphantly off with a fish clutched in its talons. Incidentally after they have reached a height of 15 feet above the water they shake off water like a wet dog. I recently witnessed an osprey methodically drive one turkey vulture after another off a sand bar until it could take the food that held the vulture’s interest. When I looked up into the sky there were about 20 vultures circling the sight. I have also seen bald eagles engaged in territorial battles with the ever-present osprey or just look like our national symbol as they majestically hunt the river.

This was not the only wildlife activity I have been able to see while fishing with Stan. A deer swimming across the river in front of us, a beaver making a home and river otters at play are just a few things I can add to my nature sighting list. It is clear to me that a drift trip with Stan is a whole lot more that a fishing trip.

I whole-heartedly recommend a day on the river with Stan Stanton. You will not be disappointed. It is a trip to remember.

Sincerely,
Dr. Marvin L. Olmstead

Dr. Harold Klinger

Some 17 years ago when I was salmon fishing in British Columbia I was fortunate to become good friends with the excellent chief guide at the lodge, whose name is Bill. I once asked Bill if he could recommend a good salmon and steelhead fishing guide in Oregon, where Bill came from. “Sure” Bill said, “I can get you the best fishing guide this side of the Mississippi.” Since Bill tends to talk in such an expansive manner, I did not take the comment too seriously but was confident that any guide Bill would recommend would be good. Bill recommended Stan Stanton with whom I have now fished for these past sixteen years, and I can say without the least hesitation that Bill’s description of Stan was by no means an exaggeration.

I always fish at least one three-week period a year with Stan, generally in the Spring, and for several years I made another trip in the Fall. I have had a number of guides during many years of fishing and almost all of them were good but none approached Stan because they all lacked one or more of the traits that I consider desirable in a fishing guide. Stan lacks none except for one.

Stan is a true professional. He takes fishing very seriously and consequently everything in his boats and truck are always well prepared, clean and well organized. He is very safety conscious and considerate of others and anxious to please his clients. Stan has an enormous knowledge of fishing techniques and knows just which one to use in any particular situation.

The old saying that “95% of the fish are in 5% of the water” is not correct for the Oregon rivers we fish. There 99% of the fish are in 1% of the water and Stan knows exactly where that 1% is located and he spares no effort to get you into a position to fish exactly in the right spot. At times, I have to plead with him to give up a spot he wants to fish because when the water is up and the current strong he almost kills himself to get the drift boat in the right location.

Stan ties the most fantastic flies for Steelhead, Trout and other fish of any I have seen. In fact, he set up and owned a fly factory for a number of years. But, what is even more remarkable about him is that he always knows exactly which fly to use on a particular stretch of the river under particular water, light and weather conditions and he will spare no effort to change your fly every couple of hundred yards on a trout fishing drift if it is necessary. At the beginning I used to be skeptical of this and if the fly was catching fish and he anchored the boat to change my fly I would say “Hey, why bother, this fly is working fine” and Stan would reply “But it won’t on the stretch coming up.” When I said I wanted to try it anyway he would change the fly on his rod and when we went through the stretch he would catch fish and I would not.

I had been taught a fly casting method in Scotland years ago that depends on wrist action. It is really not very good except with very small rods on small streams. Consequently, I switched over to the much better method used in the US but it was hard to get out of the wrist action and other bad habits and a few instructors I had didn’t help me much. So when I started fishing with Stan I was a real messed up and inexperienced fly caster. It took a while but Stan got me to cast properly, at least good enough to catch two steelhead on the fly this last trip. Stan is by far the best fly caster I have ever seen including the so called pros at fishing fairs. But more important for his clients is that he is an excellent fly fishing instructor, and everyone who has fished with him says the same thing. One of the main reasons he is so good is that he can immediately see what you are doing wrong. He can then demonstrate it to you, show you how to correct it and finally explain precisely why it has to be done that way and why the way you do it does not work as well. I have several times seen him tremendously improve the casting abilities of fisherman with average casting abilities in one trip on the river. They are always amazed at how quickly he did this. He told me that he has even helped some very skilled fly casters and they told him he was the best fly casting instructor they have known.

What is particularly remarkable about all of this is that these expert instructions are given free by Stan as a part of the trip. There are many fly fishing instructors who charge much more just for a few hours of mediocre instructions than Stan charges for a whole day of guiding. And with Stan a whole day of guiding is much more than just 8 hours. He does not include driving time, even when this may involve 4 or more hours to and from a particular river, and I often have to tell him it is time to quit since he will fish well past the 8 hours if the fishing is good, and also if it is not to good, in the hope that things will improve.

River spring chinook on South Santiam by Harold Klinger, MD

As you know, there are always long periods without action even when the fishing is good. So if your guide is not a pleasant person and you can’t have an interesting conversation with him much of the fun in fishing is gone, no matter how good a guide he may be from the technical standpoint. Stan is a real fun guide. He knows a lot and is the only guide I have met who does not BS. In fact he is the only person who fishes who I have met who doesn’t exaggerate buy instead often goes the other way. As an example, he will call a 20 lb salmon a 15 pounder when people ask about our catch. I have had a lot of great salmon, steelhead, trout, smallmouth bass and shad fishing trips with him. We both like to fish the Santiam River for salmon and steelhead. We take the boat out at farm where we have gotten to know the farmer well. He of course always wants to see our catch and many times he is amazed at what we have because he will have had a number of boats take out before us and many times when we have taken a limit, or close to a limit, he tells us that all the others had nothing or maybe only a few fish.

Stan is very pleasant to be with because he is intelligent and very considerate. He knows a lot about the outdoors, and what he tells you is always correct. I have learned a lot from him over the years. Unlike other guides he does not hesitate to tell you he doesn’t know something. He has a very good sense of humor but he doesn’t fool around too much as some guides will do to the point where it becomes tiresome.

Perhaps his most unique attribute, which in part explains why he is such a good guide, is that he has a genuine love for fishing. He often fishes even if he is not guiding. In this way he continuously expands his fishing knowledge which of course is of great benefit to his clients.

Well no one is perfect, and this also applies to Stan Stanton. He has one very serious fault from my point of view, and that is, that he does not mix a really good dry martini. So I recommend Stan to you without the least hesitation but if you like a dry martini at the end of the day, as I do, then you had better know how to mix it yourself.

Harold P. Klinger MD, PhD
Professor of Molecular Genetics
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York

Harold passed away in 2004; he was a friend to all in the fishing fraternity around Eugene and up the McKenzie River. He enjoyed fly fishing for Trout and Steelhead and catching spring salmon on his Billy Pate fly reel. He will always be missed

Mik Bryant of Oregon Lox

Stan Stanton has taken our valuable customers fishing for years. When we fly our national customers into Willamette Valley, a fishing trip with a true professional like Stan is a must.

It’s a great opportunity to be with your customers other than in an office setting, to enjoy the beautiful rivers we are surrounded with here in Oregon, and build a relationship with customers beyond a product and price. Our customers always remember beyond a product and price. Our customers always remember the business trip to Oregon Lox and our products - thanks to Stan Stanton and great fishing trips on the river

Mik Bryant

Bill Nelson

Stan Stanton has an exceptional reputation as a guide and as a tackle expert. Stan and I have fished together in many areas both foreign and domestic. In addition to Oregon, these places include Florida, Alaska and Canada - on salt water and on fresh water trips.

I have admired his expertise hr more than twenty years. He has complete knowledge of tides, water levels, knots, tackle, fly tying, hatches of insects, fish habitat and best time of the year for best results.

He keeps his boats clean, well-maintained and comfortable. The same thing with his fishing equipment - he uses the best. Stan himself is a personable, down-to-earth fellow who is easy to talk to. He’s a good teacher, patient and understanding. He shares what he knows, and he knows a lot.

In my opinion, there is no better-informed fishing guide in Oregon. If there is a fish there, he knows how and where to catch them.

“I am proud to call Stan Stanton my friend”

William (Bill) A. Nelson

Jerry caught a bonefish

“Stan, this Christmas Island Bonefish was a direct result of your pre-trip help on casting techniques. In less than an hour, your drawings and instructions gave me wonderful insights into improving my fly presentation. Self taught like most of us old timers were, I never had the basics to improve my casting”.

You are a great teacher and I hope you get many opportunities to spread your message to others like myself.

Stan Stanton, thank you! - JERRY OLSON of Eugene, Oregon -

Stan(right) with Bob Packwood on fly casting techniques.

Our goal is to provide a beginner fly fisher with fly-fishing instruction and the basic-fly casting techniques needed to learn how to fly fish. Be ready for a full day of fun and enjoyable beginning fly-fishing and basic fly-casting instruction near Eugene, Oregon. This is a two-part learn how to fly fish class.

The first part of the morning class is a one on one how to do it right, basic fly-casting instruction with easy to learn fly casting techniques that you need for proper fly-casting and self help long after the class is over. You will learn the right way to do the following:

• The overhead and false cast
• Roll cast
• Single haul pick-up
• Change of direction cast
• Self help solving fly casting problems

The second part of the morning class is learn how to fly-fish instruction. You will be shown the fly-fishing tips and tricks that will start you on the right path to becoming a seasoned fly fisher. This will be a complete fly-fishing tip tutorial with fly fishing information relating to:

• How to line a fly rod
• Types and sizes of fly lines
• Fly leaders for wet fly and dry fly fishing
• Types of trout flies and when to use them
• How to rig a fly line
• Learn how to tie fly fishing knots
  

After lunch, the new fly fisher will also gain the feel and insight into the stimulating sport of fly fishing with an enjoyable ½ day drift boat fly-fishing trip. The afternoon will include more fly-fishing instruction on the McKenzie River fly-fishing for Rainbow Trout. You will also be shown fly-casting techniques used on the river to increase your catch rate including.

• Trout feeding habits
• Types aquatic insects in Oregon rivers
• Trout feeding lanes
• Methods you can use to catch more trout

Beginners Fly Fishing Class Details & Information

Our Fly Fishing Instruction for a Fly Fishing Beginner Class is a full one-day class. In the morning: 4 hours of basic fly-casting instruction with fly-casting techniques, plus fly-fishing instruction and a fly-fishing tip tutorial. After lunch: A fun-filled afternoon Rainbow Trout fly-fishing float trip in a stable McKenzie River drift boat on Oregon’s McKenzie River. All necessary equipment for the afternoon will be provided. We can accommodate small groups up to 8 persons, woman and younger persons are welcome, this is a great father and son class.

This class will help you get started the right way, don’t become frustrated with fly-fishing, it’s a great sport and a fun way to spend time with friends and loved ones.

Ideal months for the fly fishing classes is during the months of June, July and August, please contact me for open dates.

Location: Eugene and Springfield area, and we can help with accommodations if needed.

Bring sun screen, brimed hat and long sleeve shirt. Box lunches will be served. This is a minmum 2 people per class. Corporate, group and senior rates also available.

Your investment for the 2 person beginning fly fishing class is $300.00 which includes box lunch, cold drinks, all necessary tackle, 4 hours basic fly fishing instruction for the beginner and after lunch a 1/2 day fly fishing float trip on the McKenzie river

A one day Oregon fishing license is $16.75 per person.

IMPORTANT: Advanced and early bookings required to get the best dates and rates for learning the basic fundamentals of fly casting and fly fishing. Don’t wait, contact me now!

Late season Umpqua Smallmouth

We only guide full-day trips for Umpqua Smallmouth bass for one reason: The fishing is so good you need a full day because a half-day trip just isn’t enough.. If you have never fly fished for Smallmouth bass on Oregon’s Umpqua River you are missing one of the most enjoyable days of fly fishing you can imagine.

In western Oregon, the best fishing for Smallmouth bass starts about the end of May and continues thru the summer months until mid September or when the water temperature drops below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Smallmouth bass are a very aggressive, predator type game fish. They seek cover and hiding places that will provide a good food supply while protecting them from osprey and bald eagles. They prefer the deep edges of drop offs, underwater rock formations, and slower current feeding lanes that will carry the food to them. Smallmouth bass are very opportunist; their diet includes: crawfish, leeches, small baitfish, aquatic insects and terrestrials at various times of the season.

Smallmouth fly fishing tip #1:

In springtime the smallmouth are very responsive to surface lures along shore lines and shallow areas that provide any degree of cover. They seem to favor the smaller # 6 and #8 poppers and sliders in white, yellow and olive green colors. Early in the morning the bass may want these top water lures to move very fast across the surface, almost as fast as you can strip in the line.

Smallmouth fly fishing tip #2:

My favorite way to fish a popper is to cast out to a likely looking spot, let the popper hit the water, make it pop one time and just let it sit for 15 to 20 seconds. If you don’t get a strike move it just a little and let it sit for another 10 to 15 seconds. Then, if you don’t get a hit, make a couple more short strips then cast to another spot. Keep casting to new holding waters. Don’t cast back to a spot you just fished. Always try to cover the water looking for new fishy spots.

Smallmouth fly fishing tip #3:

If am fishing the shorelines and water down to 4 feet, a #5 or #6 FW floating fly line with weighted streamer type flies is a good choice. If you are fishing waters 5 to 8 feet, a WF wet tip or a slow sinking line will produce good results. Leech patterns and small bait fish patterns in sizes 4, 6, and 8 will produce if properly fished. All styles of black, brown, and olive weighted wooly buggers, small Matukas, and crawfish patterns will produce fish.

Smallmouth fly fishing tip #4:

Most of the time the action that you give your fly is what will cause a smallmouth to strike. For best results after a cast of 30 to 40 feet, allow the fly to sink a foot or so then, point the rod tip right to the spot where the flyline goes into the water, make a quick 12″ strip, pause and allow the fly to sink a couple of inches, then another quick strip. This stop and start of the fly produces a wounded bait-fish action which will cause most game fish to strike. Continue this method of retrieve for about 5 feet then strip in and make another cast You may have to vary the retrieve and speed until you find a stop start action that the bass like for the fishing conditions that exist for that particular day.

These are just a few of the smallmouth bass fishing tips and techniques you will experience during a day on the river. We look forward to fishing with you this season

Guided Smallmouth Bass Trip Details

Because of variable weather conditions, a warm jacket, polarized sun glasses, sun screen spf 35, brimmed hat, long sleeved shirt and a lightweight rain jacket are always a good idea to have along.

Ideal Months: Fly fishing for Oregon Smallmouth Bass is best during the months of May, June, July, and August. Please contact me for open dates.

Location: Eugene, Oregon . We can help with hotel/motel accommodations if you wish.

IMPORTANT: Advanced and early bookings are required for fly fishing smallmouth bass. Don’t wait, book now for the best dates and rates that meet with your travel and fly fishing schedule.

Your investment for a full day of Smallmouth Bass fishing for two persons is $375.00/day  This includes: all needed fishing tackle, shore lunch and pickup and return to the Eugene/Springfield area.

For more information, please contact me

Dr. Curt Daly with a nice Willamette river summer steelhead

Fly fishing for Oregon steelhead and catching these great sea-run Rainbow Trout on a fly is always a very exciting and rewarding experience. Improving the chances of success, the Oregon Steelhead angler has to be patient, a good fly caster, and must be fishing in waters that has the right conditions to cause these fish to take the fly. Of course, the fly fisher must be using the proper steelhead fly-fishing techniques and the right steelhead fly patterns to hope for any degree of success.

steelhead Fly Fishing Tip: There is an old saying about steelhead fly patterns: Use bright colored flies during sunny days and dark colored flies during cloudy days. Well it actually works on the North Umpqua River and other river of western Oregon near Eugene, which is just the opposite of what most people think. Read more fly fishing tips.

Every Oregon steelhead fly-fishing trip on a steelhead river is a learning experience, and perhaps that is one of the things that can make it so interesting and rewarding. One of my goals when guiding clients is to give advice in a casual way to improve their steelhead fly-fishing techniques. Hopefully, this will help to improve their fly casting and fly-fishing skills so they will get the “feel” for real steelhead fly fishing.

Jim Breeden with a couple Williamette river steelhead

Fly fishing for summer steelhead here in Oregon we may have to use chest waders to wade and fish the rivers. Here are a few wading tips that help to make a pleasant day:

• Use Korkers (studded sandals) over your wading boots or studded felt sole wading shoes to help prevent slipping on rounded river bed rock
• Wading staff optional but encouraged
• Good quality breathable chest waders and belt
• When you wade get the feel for the river bottom and how your footwear supports your wading activity
• During the day adjust your wading shoe bindings, making sure they are tight
• When wading out, take your time and get the feel for the river bottom and the flow of the current. Take short steps when moving out and side steps when moving downstream.

Dr Knecht holds a nice steelhead

All of the fly rods and reels and necessary steelhead-fly-fishing tackle are provided on our guided steelhead fly-fishing trips. However, if you would like to use your own equipment, I recommend: A 9-foot to 9′6″ graphite 7 wt. or 8 wt. fly rod. Most of our summer fly fishing is done with a weight forward steelhead floating fly line or slow sinking clear fly line. It is always a good idea to carry an extra line or two for a spares if and when needed. You should have a good quality fly reel with a smooth drag system, one that is capable of holding at least 150 yards of 20lb Dacron backing plus the weight forward fly line. Steelhead leaders should be 9 to 12 feet with 1X or 2X tippets with stiff butt sections that are able to turn over the larger steelhead flies. For information on making your own steelhead leaders please review our tips page.

I carry a variety of steelhead flies, wets, dries and skaters. Some of the more popular Oregon steelhead fly patterns are the following:

• Green Butt Skunk size 4 & 6
• Silver Hilton (not Paris Hilton) size 4, Skunk size 2 & 4
• Umpqua Special size 4 & 6
• Muddler Minnows size 2 & 4
• Black Crystal Wooly Buggers size 2 & 4.
• Black Egg-sucking Bunny leach size 2 & 4
• Orange General Practitioner size 4
• Max Canyon size 4 & 6

Of course, there are many great steelhead patterns that work for Oregon steelhead. These are just few of the best.

Guided Steelhead Fly Fishing Trip Information

Gary Washburn with a nice summer run steelhead

Because of variable weather conditions, a warm jacket, polaroid sun glasses, sun screen spf 35, brimmed hat, long sleeved shirt and a lightweight rain jacket are always a good idea to have along.

Ideal Months: Fly fishing in Oregon for Steelhead is best during the months of May, June, July, August, September and October

Location: Eugene, Oregon. We can help with hotel/motel accommodations if you wish.

IMPORTANT: Advanced and early bookings are required for fly rodders #1 rated prize in fresh water fly fishing. Don’t wait, book now for the best dates and rates that meet with your travel and fly fishing schedule. For more information contact me now.

A one day fishing license and steelhead tag for Oregon is $16.75/ day/ person

Your investment for a two person full day trip is $375.00/day.

Our half day trips for one or two persons is $260.00/day.

For more information contact me now.

Oregon Spring and Fall Salmon Fishing

We are able to fish for Spring Chinook and Fall Chinook Salmon in the rivers and intercoastal waters near Eugene, Oregon including the Willamette, McKenzie, South Santiam, Sisulaw, Smith and Umpqua.

Spring Chinook, called “springers”, arrive in our local rivers about the first of May and fishing lasts until the latter part of June. One of the most popular techniques for Spring Chinook is back-bouncing cured salmon eggs or sand shrimp or a combination of both in the deeper holes of the river. Bait-wrapped kwikfish of various colors can also be effective back trolled in the deeper water sections while fishing from a drift boat. These are only two of many techniques that can be effective for Spring Chinook.

Fall Chinook can enter the lower sections of some intercoastal tidewater as early as mid July. Salmon that enter lower tidal waters during the morning incoming tides are responsive to cut plug herring, spinners and Kwikfish trolled near the bottom.

Later, these fall salmon will keg up in the upper reaches of tidewater to wait for the fall rains. Salmon fishing techniques for these fish include: Trolling spinners or bobber fishing with cured salmon eggs and/or sand shrimp along the tidewater banks. Both methods can be effective on the incoming tide. In the fall, the changing season brings with it shorter days, cooler mornings, and lower water temperatures. As the fall rains raise river levels, Chinook Salmon start up the rivers and they can be caught using the same techniques that are used for Spring Chinook.

The following is a short list of salmon fishing gear and salmon tackle that I like to use for Spring and Fall Chinook Salmon fishing.

• 9′ medium or medium heavy casting rod for line weight 15 to 20 lb.
• Star drag casting reel that will hold at least 200 yards of monofilament
• Good quality 20 lb monofilament
• A 40 pound test Spiderwire Spectra when bobber fishing
• Brand name, made in the USA swivels, snaps etc.
• Hooks: Owner, Gamakatsu or Eagle Claw
• Kwikfish, “Tee” Spoons and Blue Fox Spinners

Oregon Salmon Fishing Tip: Tuna Balls for Salmon Fishing

Guided Oregon River Salmon Trip Information

Location: Eugene, Oregon . We can help with hotel/motel accommodations if needed.

IMPORTANT: Advanced and early bookings are required for the best Spring and Fall Salmon fishing dates that meet with your travel and fishing schedule.  Don’t wait to contact me.

Your investment for a two person, full day trip is $375.00 this includes pickup in Eugene, lunch, cold or hot drinks and all Salmon tackle and bait is provided

A one day Oregon fishing license and salmon tag is $16.75/day

Corporate and group rates available and we can arrange for extra boats if needed.

For more information, please contact me.