RFGS Newsletter - Spring/Summer - 2012

Dear Friends, Fishermen & Guests,

After a very cold, and snowy start to our spring, the last 2 days of sunshine were a very welcome change. I guess the bright side of all the extra work bucking up downed trees and cleaning up limbs and brush is the resulting cache of stocked firewood that will no doubt provide winter heat for years to come. It’s definitely time to start focusing on more enjoyable pursuits such as river floats and fishing trips.

While our 2011 late fall & winter Chinook fishing down on the Elk & Sixes rivers along Oregon’s south coast ended up a bit of a bust for lack of rain, the winter steelhead run however, provided great sport as they returned in good numbers on most coastal systems once the rain finally arrived. Generally speaking, the summer steelhead run which follows is often a reflection of the winter run. This already appears to be the case as hundreds of summer steelhead have already left the Columbia River and are, in fact, swimming over Willamette Falls now daily in route to the local rivers here in the southern Willamette Valley. The Santiam, the Middle Fork Willamette and my home river, the McKenzie are the final destinations for these feisty tail-walkers.

The Spring Chinook salmon, coveted as prime table fare, will soon join the steelhead as they too migrate back from the ocean to their natal streams. The deeper bodied salmon are rich in Omega-3 oils making them prime candidates for the summer BBQ. All three of our local river systems host healthy runs of hatchery-origin Springers that have spent the past 2-4 years fattening up on prawns and baitfish out in Pacific Ocean and are propagated specifically for our recreation and nourishment. ODFW is projecting a banner year for our Spring Chinook run in 2012 with a very encouraging forecast of 83,400 headed our way!

In addition to the wonderful local opportunities salmon and steelhead fishing, the McKenzie River features a mix of wild and hatchery trout which readily respond to both flies and conventional tackle. Our McKenzie trout trips make for great relaxation while enjoying the beautiful riparian scenery. We furnish all the necessary fishing equipment and even first time fly fishers generally experience grand success as we row them through the best trout holding water. The trout trips are an excellent way to introduce a youngster to good action and a fine source of family fun. I network with a good group of guides on corporate or group trips where multiple boats are required. If you will be hosting any folks from out of town this summer, please do consider a river drift as a great way to entertain and provide a lasting memory. The trout and steelhead season lasts from May through October and the salmon fishing goes from May into August with June 10 - July 20 as the peak. By September we begin to focus on the Fall Chinook run over in the coastal rivers and estuaries.

I sure hope to hear from you soon and wish you an exciting and enjoyable Spring & Summer in 2012. For more trip information and seasonal updates, be sure and visit the website at www.oregonfishingtrips.com.

Best Regards, John Gross - Roaring Fork Guide Service - 541-726-7234
Email: roaringfork@aol.com - 541- 912-8899 - cell