Oregon Stillwater Browns

[Sinkline]

Every Fall here in Oregon we have some opportunity to catch large stillwater Browns in shallow water from Wickiup Reservoir. These big stillwater Browns start to move up out of the depths of the reservoir toward spawning gravel in the river. As the fish move onto the flats near the river mouth, fly anglers can intercept them and have the chance of catching/releasing the fish of a lifetime! These are all wild self sustaining fish so I encourage anyone who fishes this special place to realease these big adult fish.

This is tough fishing using heavy sinkers, heavy flies, and often long hours of casting just for a single fish! On the worst days an angler may cast from sun rise to dark and not catch a single fish. On the best days I have put upwards to 15-Browns between 3lbs & 10lbs on the apron of my tube! Fish are caught over 20lbs in this water and there is no doubt a world record Browm may well be swimming past your streamer at any second!

The season is early, and best fishing will come toward the end of the open season. However, some large fish can be caught anytime from August through closing at the end of October.

I was out a couple days this past week and experienced a good start on the season with nearly 30-fish to the tube and several good fish 23"-25". The larger fish will enter the catch more frequently over the next two months.

My favorite pattern is a slight variation of John Kent's Pumpkinhead tied a bit larger than John ever intended it to be. I fish this pattern all year everywhere and for all species. I tie it in sizes from #10 to #6 and on heavy hooks in the larger sizes. If i'm not fishing chironomids below the bobber, I am fishing thhe Pumpkinhead!

Enjoy these photos of some good 22"-25" Browns I released last week.

WIK 2.jpgWIK 5.jpgWIC 8.jpgWIC 10.jpgWIC 1.jpgWIC 3.jpgPumpkin Head.jpg

Randy

[andy.larkin]

Absolutely awesome, Randy.

[Wet-Net]

Wow ! Those are some beautiful fish. Thanks for sharing.

[BCBound]

Stunning. Always a pleasure when you post Randy. I really enjoy the 5th photo, it's exactly what comes to mind when I think Brown Trout.

Scott.

[Sinkline]

Thanks guys, glad you enjoy my occasional post.

Scott, I send photos to a couple friends in Central Oregon and one of those fellows wrote me and said he liked that fish/photo the best also. He said about the fish similar to what you said.

Much more stillwater Brown fishing to come (leaving the house in 7-hrs) over the next 6-weeks. Hopefully, more photos to share (crosses fingers) soon!


Randy

[Zane]

Very nice Randy.

[BCBound]

I have to say, that my top species that I dream of fishing for include Steelhead ( can't wait to start that up ), Golden Darado ( a retirement plan for sure ), Roosters, and trophy Browns, both river and still water.

[Fish Hunter7]

Awesome Pics!