Happy New to all. 2012 is here with great thoughts of steelhead fishing on the Grande Ronde River. December saw the river at minimum flows (700 cfs) and lots of ice. I did make a trip down to the river on Dec 18th and  managed to catch a nice native buck bobber fishing through the ice chunks. The river was frozen over at multiple places, not allowing for a float, so I walked the bobber and jog down the cable hole and was reward with my last of 2011 steelhead.
      The 2011 spring steelhead season was excellent when the conditions were ok, but higher than normal runoff and high spring water limited our number of days on the water. I had some great guys from San Diego come and fish early in the spring, and luckily they were here for good water days. I'm glad for Dave and Jim that they did find good water conditions and willing steelhead coming to the fly after coming all the way from California.  (Read down the blog for their trip highlights.) I also had Chuck make it all the way back from Charlotte for his fourth trip to the GR. He also found eager steelhead coming to the fly. He had a great trip and even saw a hugh bull elk down the canyon stretch. Dave and Jim are heading to the OP this spring, but Chuck is on his way back the end of Feb. We scratched through the rest of the spring season with a fish here and there, but nothing stellar like previous spring seasons. This youngster was happy with his 1st steelhead would you say?

     The high water continued everywhere in the West all the way until mid July.  After the water fell into fishable levels, the summer smallmouth  fly fishing was outstanding for about 3 weeks, but losing a month of summer fishing days was tough. We did see lots of nice smallies come up for the Mighty Mouse, and we even caught a Largemouth bass. Rare indeed.(Read down the blog for more info) With all the spring water we had, the scenery and foliage was lavish and green like I have never seen before in July. The water fell to the mid 600's cfs and continued until the 1st week of October when we finally got some rain.

    The fall steelhead season began with two flushes of water the 1st week of October and brought some chrome steelhead into the GR from the Snake. We had good fishing until mid November when the water temps dropped into the 30's and fishing slowed way down. I had another special trip this fall with Bob and Richard all the way from Connecticut.  The two day trip was full of "ews and ahs" with the majestic scenery and mountains the West has to offer. The trip was magical, as a son bringing his father out west for a classic steelhead trip of their lifetime. They were blessed with big steelies coming to the net for Richard on the float and for Bob on the spey. Truly a trip to remember until my last days on the river. A big thanks to Bob for sharing this special time with his Dad and myself. Here is a great pic with smiles that sum up there west coast steelhead experience.

   First and foremost thanks to God for his blessings of my family and all my friends. Without him none of this would be possible. Thanks to all for  fishing with me this year on the fabulous Grande Ronde River. There were many stories told and memories made in 2011, but hopefully with better water conditions in 2012,  there will be lots more stories to be told and pictures of bright steelhead brought to hand........rick

The last week I have received a boat load of calls and emails looking for a October date to go chase steelies on the Grande Ronde River. Unfotunately I only have one day in October still left not taken which is an excellent date, October 20th. The first week of Nov has the 2nd still open and then the following week opens up a little more until the Thanksgiving weekend. If you have even an inclination of booking a trip this fall, please contact me as soon as possible. Best way is by phone this time of year as we are chasing Elk in the blues one day, chukars on the breaks the next, swinging flies on the Snake, etc. 509-869-1444  You can also email, but there might be a day or two before response. Thanks again and hope to see you on the GR this fall.....Rick

The last week I have received a boat load of calls and emails looking for a October date to go chase steelies on the Grande Ronde River. Unfotunately I only have one day in October still left not taken which is an excellent date, October 20th. The first week of Nov has the 2nd still open and then the following week opens up a little more until the Thanksgiving weekend. If you have even an inclination of booking a trip this fall, please contact me as soon as possible. Best way is by phone this time of year as we are chasing Elk in the blues one day, chukars on the breaks the next, swinging flies on the Snake, etc. 509-869-1444  You can also email, but there might be a day or two before response. Thanks again and hope to see you on the GR this fall.....Rick

Last week with the tad of rain and the big flows from the Snake, I took a shot at an early chance to get after the steelies with a fly.  Yesterday I fished in a nugget run I have for the early season. On the back side in the shade a few miles above Boggans, I hit a nice 28" wild hen on one of Hyatt's steelhead muddlers. The first swing gave a big tug and splash, but a miss. Not the second time. Swing, hang, and BANG! Fish on. She ran down in the fast water to the slower tailout water where I quickly forced her to the bank and removed the steel from the steel. Looks like a start to a great season. All my Oct dates are full, but I do have great Nov dates open. Please check my calendar page for open dates or give me a call.   See you on the river....rick

The last week or so has seen off the charts fly fishing for smallmouth bass on the Almighty Mouse. Lots of thanks to Tim and Tyler putting the smack down on lots of big smallies the last few days. Way to go you guys.


I had a freak encounter last weekend with the catch of a Largemouth Bass, yes Largemouth and here are the pics. It had some open sores but no worse for the wear. Fought ok, but no bulldogging like a champ smallmouth. This is the first LMB I know of being caught in the GR and have asked around to find no others. Heard of a few being caught in the Snake, but never in the GR. Check out the pic.


We have about a good week or so left of the outstanding smallmouth surface action. Come and down and let me show you the work of the Almighty mouse in action.....rick

The water finally crept under 5k cfs this weekend so I took my two younger kids for a float and fishing trip. Renee, 8 yo, maned the front of the Lavro in style, even napping under the umbrella for a couple miles. Armed with a spinning rod and a crawfish plug, she landed 8 smallies, including this 18"  "Bad Boy Smallie", as she called him. Job well done Renee.

I did manage to make a few cast here and there during the day, but with the water at 5k cfs, being on the sticks and fishing was almost impossible.  I did manage to nab a toad of a smallie on Al the mouse. He was a 20" plus trophy smallie. He jumped 5 times and pulled down my 7 wt steelhead rod with attitude too the max. This is my trophy fish for the year I'm an sure. And I could not be more please to share it with my kids. Hope to see you fishing soon. Please practice catch and release of the big smallies, and limit your kill. Enjoy a great shore lunch with these tasty fish and do your part in saving many salmon and steelhead of the years to come..........rick

Hello fellow fishermen,

As I sit here and write this entry, the last post to the blog shows 68 days since my last posting on the upcoming summer smallmouth season. Funny thing, the Grande Ronde is still way above fishing shape and I have still yet to float the river chasing smallies since it opened a month ago.  I am not booking any additional summer bass trips at this time to accomodate all that have rescheduled to fish in safer water conditions, a wise decision for sure. Thank You for understanding. If the water gets back in shape and I get some open dates, I will post them immediately. Now for THE GOOD NEWS!  The high water flows we are seeing still into July equate for a possible early start to the fall steelhead season. The traditional prime time for fall steelheading is Oct thru Mid Nov. I have some of these dates still available and like every year I fill these prime dates rather quickly. This season I want to try and fish the last two weeks of September in search of the early returning, big steelhead that Oregon Fish and Game have been broodstock reintroducing for the past 5 plus years. These fish come back early as bright 8-12 lbs and are an absolute trophy steelhead for the Grande Ronde River. Because we will be fishing earlier in the season during the more difficult low flows and warmer water temps, ALL TRIPS BOOKED FOR SEPTEMBER 2011 WILL BE HALF PRICE. That's just $225 for any date in September. All other trips this year will be $450 per day. This is for up to three anglers(two in LOW water please). As always I provide the best in quailty equipment from the boat, gear, and flies,( all tied specific just for your day on the water), to a wonderful shore lunch with all the fixings. All you need is a WA fishing license with Steelhead tag and CR endorsement.  If you are interested in a trip, please check my calendar page and look for any green or blue dates as these are still open. Have a safe and Happy 4th of July.....rick

The steelhead fishing at the Grande Ronde has been lots of fun for all the past two weeks. Both fly casters, bobber and jig guys, and egg soakers have been having good days.  I had the great fortune a few weeks back to make some new friends from San Diego. One of the guys, Jim K., was on his first steelhead outing and better yet, he's going after the steelhead with a fly rod. The task of catching a steelhead on a fly is the holy grail to most fly fishers. Here is the kicker to Jim's trip, he had never touched a flyrod before in his life. Now that is a challenge. Jim's first day was pretty much learning how to handle the rod, work the line some distance, and being prepared for the opportunity.  Day one finished with Jim catching a few sucker fish, but no steelhead for Jim, but our partner, Dave S. pulled through with this beauty of a wild fish.  Not bad for his first GR steelhead.  Dave is an accomplished steelie fly guy with fish caught from BC, but his first GR steelhead is a trophy for sure.  Here is Dave with his precious GR wild steelhead for the day.


Day two started off with a bang, on the third drift, Jim had his first steelhead on the ropes.  Unfortunately this steelie taught Jim the lesson that steelhead have lots of pent up energy, and in one quick run, the all mighty steelhead won the battle. The line snapped and the fish was free. A disappointment well taken, Jim's desire was now never stronger to catch a steelhead. Dave pulled through with with another nice steelhead later in the morning.  After a nice bbq shore lunch, we headed to the next run. Jim jumped in the run and not a few drifts later, "FISH ON" was being proclaimed by the angler. A serious battle ensued with a myriad of runs and spectacular leaps, the fish was brought to net. With his newly honed fly fishing skills, Jim landed his first steelhead ON A FLY! Just two days after even trying this crazy and addictive lifestyle, he broke into the club with flying colors. This is a huge accomplishment for even the seasoned fly fisher. Not bad for a beginner, hey Jim!  WAY TO GO! Here is Jim in his crowning moment in his fly fishing career. Now what Jim? Bonefish on the fly in Belize, Kamchatka rainbows, Taiman toads of Mongolia? Let me know and I'll be there!


Look at that smile! By the way, Jim was using my new Loop switch rod he took to casting with very well. Thanks Big Joe up at Castaway's in C'dA.

The next third morning started off with Jim having the hot hand on a wide open bite. Jim landed two more steelhead, while Dave brought to hand two more also. At one point we even had a true double on the fly.  A rarity indeed, but it seems to happen more and more each season. We finished the day at noon with another nice bbq shore lunch as the rain came in hard. What a trip for two guys from SD. I'm sure these vivid memories will flash in their minds many, many times in the future, especially Jim  "touching the steel" for the first time. Thanks again Dave and Jim for making me the luckiest guy on earth. Please come back and visit soon, the steaks will be waiting!




 I have quite few trips with guys lust like Jim looking for the first steelie on the fly.  It's going to be tough to beat Jim's story. Keep checking back for more stories and updates. See you on the river.........rick

The steelhead fishing has picked up significantly in the past few days. Yesterday my clients landed 10 steelhead on flies.  The bite will be on for the next month and half.  If you have not already, reserve your spot before they are all gone. Last years in feb and March had 21 double digit fish days.  Don't miss out. Check my calander page for open dates....Fish On!!!!!!!....rick