View Full Version : Your Favorite River
Mitch Callas
06-03-2008, 07:26 PM
I thought this would be kind of interesting,
What is your favorite river to Fly Fish? This could be for any species.
I think mine would have to be the Bighorn, in Montana. I have not been fly fishing for very long so I don't have a lot of experience. The amount of fish we caught and the size of the fish was awesome! The scenery was pretty nice to! :D
So what's yours? And if you want to keep your true favorite zipper lipped, that's fine but post the next favorite that you can post!
Mitch
clacksteel
06-03-2008, 08:14 PM
Hmmm...in Oregon I would probably say the Deschutes...its got the Blue ribbon trout fishing and awesome water to fly fish for steelhead! The Rogue is pretty high up there too. Alaska has a ton of nice rivers I've fish though...
Mad Mikey
06-03-2008, 09:28 PM
Deschutes.
Period.
flyfisherwoman923
06-03-2008, 09:57 PM
Deschues :meme:
Ryan Pultz
06-03-2008, 10:01 PM
I am strange I love the Crooked something about the canyon I love and then you can go upriver in the mountains and fish some great small water.
for steelhead I am town Clackamas or Sandy but I think the Sandy wins rp
JDarr
06-04-2008, 12:16 AM
I am strange I love the Crooked something about the canyon I love and then you can go upriver in the mountains and fish some great small water.
for steelhead I am town Clackamas or Sandy but I think the Sandy wins rp
Your not crazy. That's one of the prettiest places around if you ask me, but most like the wobbler mulies in it:thisbig:
JD
BalouSC
06-04-2008, 01:14 AM
I am right there with you on this Ryan!! Love that area!!! Balou :applause:
I am strange I love the Crooked something about the canyon I love and then you can go upriver in the mountains and fish some great small water.
for steelhead I am town Clackamas or Sandy but I think the Sandy wins rp
Ryan Pultz
06-04-2008, 05:28 AM
good to know I am not alone I hope to get up and fish the upper part of the river this year at least once or twice. There was some nice river around little summit area I did not get to fish yet anyone wanna split the gas I have maps and know how will travel lol rp
MsOutdrs
06-04-2008, 05:49 AM
good to know I am not alone I hope to get up and fish the upper part of the river this year at least once or twice. There was some nice river around little summit area I did not get to fish yet anyone wanna split the gas I have maps and know how will travel lol rp
Gonna toss some flies there this weekend actually. Son has lived in Bend for 12 years...says the "Crooked" is HIS river!!! haha Never caught anything huge in that river but always caught! BTW, he's selling his house, going into medical school. Anyone interested in buying a house in Bend?
StickFish
06-04-2008, 06:09 AM
McKenzie for me
Slow and Low
06-04-2008, 06:42 AM
The best river on the planet...the Deschutes, easily.
C-lice
06-04-2008, 07:02 AM
North Umpqua.
South Platte Cheesman Canyon before the fire.
D3smartie
06-04-2008, 07:53 AM
Restigouche River. No question.
closer to home the Deschutes or Grande Ronde
stoneflyguy
06-04-2008, 08:57 AM
There are so many I can't say I have one favorite. I guess if I had to give just one I would have to stick with the one I grew up on and fish the most. It's close to home and that makes it great too. The Cowlitz is my favorite. It's not a Blue Ribbon fishery but it's mine. I have fished most of the others mentioned and if I could fish them more I could be swayed. We should start a trip swap. I would be willing to take someone on my river vis versa, just a thought. I would love to learn how to float the Big D in my drift boat.
rimurphy
06-04-2008, 08:58 AM
Lake Creek, Alaska
Rainbow's
Dolly's
King's
Silver's
Red's
Pink's
Dog's
Troutinator
06-04-2008, 09:09 AM
1. McKenzie
2. Rogue
3. Upper Nestucca
nunyet
06-04-2008, 09:14 AM
What ever one I'm fishing at the time.
nunyet
Djflyfish
06-04-2008, 09:45 AM
What ever one I'm fishing at the time.
nunyet
The Grande Ronde and the columbia
salmontime
06-04-2008, 11:58 AM
The wild and scenic section of the Rogue River. Absolutely awesome.
CHOSENBOY
06-04-2008, 01:22 PM
Deschutes river; grew up on the lower 20 miles as a result having a dad as a guide, and its what I consider my second home. Best river to just hang out on and enjoy all that it offers.
Next in line would be the Chosen river in AK; great trout fishing and all species of pacific salmon.
bignate
06-04-2008, 01:36 PM
Tie between the Wallowa and Upper Deschutes. I would sway toward the Deschutes. Beautiful river.
Interesting thread. Majority like one river, the D. Interesting...
nate
Big Hole, MT
Absolutely!! Browns, Rainbows, Brooks, Grayling, and a very rare Cutt!! Sooooooo sad I'm not going this year!!!
9428
nookslayer
06-04-2008, 01:52 PM
My favorite river to fish is the Frying Pan in Basalt, CO. I walked and fished it for miles and caught browns, bows and brooks from 12" to 20". Beautiful scenery and easily accessable with little pressure.
In Oregon? Toss up between the Metolious and the D.
TillamookChinook
06-04-2008, 06:01 PM
Metolius is right up there. As much for the scenery and water clarity as for the number of fish caught. It helps that I caught a couple of nice bull trout there.
TC
eggfisher21
06-04-2008, 06:39 PM
big horn in mt.
Newbs
06-04-2008, 07:08 PM
White Chuck River in Washington. Not much of a fishery anymore but lots of good memories of years past. Hard river to get to and hard river to fish. But when you hook into a big dolly vardin your heart will pump and remind you of why you are a fisherman...
flybob
06-04-2008, 07:14 PM
Gallatin - Wyoming
Gibbon - Montana
My favorite local river has got to be North Santiam. I grew up on that river.
CrookedR
06-04-2008, 08:21 PM
Soooooo right on the Crooked :)
First river I flyfished, watched my wife (girlfriend at the time) catch a monster Redband on her first flyfishing trip, and asked her to marry me on the banks of it.
CR
Salmon Chaser
06-04-2008, 08:43 PM
Muskegon River Muskegon Michigan nooks silvers browns rainbow and steelhead that will rattle your teeth. Last year when we went back we (2)caught and released 35 fish in about 8 hours of fishing. My brother has 900 feet of bank that you cannot access unless you go thru his property.
It is awesome.
Ryan Pultz
06-04-2008, 08:49 PM
Muskegon River Muskegon Michigan nooks silvers browns rainbow and steelhead that will rattle your teeth. Last year when we went back we (2)caught and released 35 fish in about 8 hours of fishing. My brother has 900 feet of bank that you cannot access unless you go thru his property.
It is awesome.
That is a great river I fished it when I was 15 for steelhead with my Uncle it was a blast rp
Steelie28
06-04-2008, 10:02 PM
Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado. One of the most extreme places I've ever flyfished. Designated a Gold Medal trout stream in Colorado, simpy an unbelievable place, with 20"+ bows and browns. One hell of a hike to the river (I believe it's like 2700 ft. verticle in around 2 1/2 miles, with the first 3/4 of a mile or so in switchbacks at the top of the trail, the rest is straight down). Spent 4 days fishing there, and 4 days recovering after the hike out. Highly recommend everyone fish there at least once. Need to get back there sometime to fish the salmonfly hatch, now that would be awesome!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/DYE_3917paintedwall-800.jpg
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/blca_innercanyon01a.jpg
Ryan Pultz
06-04-2008, 10:15 PM
Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado. One of the most extreme places I've ever flyfished. Designated a Gold Medal trout stream in Colorado, simpy an unbelievable place, with 20"+ bows and browns. One hell of a hike to the river (I believe it's like 2700 ft. verticle in around 2 1/2 miles, with the first 3/4 of a mile or so in switchbacks at the top of the trail, the rest is straight down). Spent 4 days fishing there, and 4 days recovering after the hike out. Highly recommend everyone fish there at least once. Need to get back there sometime to fish the salmonfly hatch, now that would be awesome!
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/DYE_3917paintedwall-800.jpg
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/blca_innercanyon01a.jpg
Holy cow the reasion the fish are big is very few people are willing to make it down there holy cow :passout:
jaxflyfish
06-04-2008, 10:42 PM
1. Missouri River - Montana (nothing like pods of 20 inch fish feeding together on the surface....)
2. Owyhee (big fish everywhere)
3. Crooked
4. Upper Deschutes
5. Lower Deschutes (love the river....just sooooo many people)
I am a Washington guy but I can't think of a Washington River that I would put in my top 5. The Snake in Wyoming and MF of the Salmon in Idaho are up there as well
Boster
06-05-2008, 05:38 AM
There are so many I can't say I have one favorite. I guess if I had to give just one I would have to stick with the one I grew up on and fish the most. It's close to home and that makes it great too. The Cowlitz is my favorite. It's not a Blue Ribbon fishery but it's mine. I have fished most of the others mentioned and if I could fish them more I could be swayed. We should start a trip swap. I would be willing to take someone on my river vis versa, just a thought. I would love to learn how to float the Big D in my drift boat.
Mr. BrownTrout
06-05-2008, 06:32 AM
Silver Creek-Picabo, ID
I thought this would be kind of interesting,
What is your favorite river to Fly Fish? This could be for any species.
I think mine would have to be the Bighorn, in Montana. I have not been fly fishing for very long so I don't have a lot of experience. The amount of fish we caught and the size of the fish was awesome! The scenery was pretty nice to! :D
So what's yours? And if you want to keep your true favorite zipper lipped, that's fine but post the next favorite that you can post!
Mitch
Yakima
eggfisher21
06-05-2008, 07:32 AM
1. south fork boise idaho
2.upper snake river montana or idaho
3.big horn montana
4.the big D ( anywere)
5.the ow. idaho an oregon
motoxaaron03
06-05-2008, 10:23 AM
North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette.
It's flyfish only, and catch and release which steers away most people - just how I like it. Everytime I go, I'll catch 25+ fish in only a couple hours. Nothing over about 8-10", but that's fine by me sometimes.
Breck
06-05-2008, 11:50 AM
I would have to say that the Deschutes (South Junction area) is by far my favorite river to fly fish, both for trout and steelhead. Such a healthy ecosystem. The stone/salmon fly hatches are unlike anything I've ever seen. Truly incredible.
I grew up in Utah. The Provo River is another great fishery despite the heavy pressure.
I also used to hit the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam on the Utah/Wyoming border. An abundance of BIG trout.
I've had fairly good success fly fishing the Kalama for steelies too. You can't beat the scenery either.
Tight lines & bent rods.
-Breck
grsteelies
06-07-2008, 07:45 AM
Albeit unfair to put AK rivers into this mix, I'd die a happy man if I spent my last day on the Goodnews River. There are lots of these prime rivers in AK, but the GN is my fav. As for the rest of the US, MT is the place. I'm happy with the good ol' MO at Wolf Creek, the upper Lamar/Slough creek area in YP, bottom line Montana = Big Trout + Flies, Alaska= LOTS of Big Trout+Flies. Don't get me wrong, I love to fish the Big D, Grande Ronde, etc. If I could pick three places to live, they would be 1st) Dillingham, AK. 2) Ennis, MT, 3) Troy, OR. Where would you pick?
quackpipe
06-07-2008, 08:55 AM
Gallatin - Wyoming
Gibbon - Montana
My favorite local river has got to be North Santiam. I grew up on that river.
The Gibbon is in Wyoming it becomes the Madison with the confluence of the Firehole before it reaches Montana.
Grantspastor
06-07-2008, 09:31 AM
The wild and scenic section of the Rogue River. Absolutely awesome.
Hard to beat...
bobber dance
06-07-2008, 11:31 AM
Imnaha does it for me.
OK Deal Let\'s Fish
06-08-2008, 02:06 PM
1. McKenzie River (close, salmon, steelhead, and trout)
2. Metolius River (scenery, fishing, and water clarity)
3. San Juan River in NM (unbelievable)
wapiteaser
06-09-2008, 02:22 PM
White River
Imnaha does it for me.
That is a cool river!
Two Fister
06-09-2008, 06:06 PM
This turned out to be a lot harder than I expected.
It used to be the Skagit back when there were a lot of big wild steelhead in it. Not so much any more.
I really love the North Umpqua, but just don't understand it as well as I'd like to. I also don't understand the attitude of some of the fishermen there.
The Upper Rogue (above Lost Creek dam) is one of the most beautiful rivers I've fished, but the lack of historic anadromous protein keeps the fish small. How they built Lost Creek in the 1970s without fish passage is a mystery to me.
The regulations on the lower D have gotten to be burdensome. I joked with the BLM officer that I needed a file cabinet on my driftboat to hold the regulations and permits. He was not amused. Neither was I.
I love the Middle D, but the lack of summer flows because of the withdrawls by lama ranchers and hobby farmers get kind of depressing. The river near my house goes from about 1,000 CFS to 20 CFS in a normal year. Lots of baby trout and a few monsters. Everything else dies in the summer heat.
The last time I fished the coastal rivers for salmon with my fly rod I was fishing between a guy on one side who was wearing a side arm and a guy with a bowie knife in a sheath on his back. Been a while since I've made the drive.
I kind of forget about the Mckenzie even though it's the same distance as the lower D from Bend. Not sure why that is, but I just don't seem to think of it. I've caught a bunch of hatchery looking fish there and a few nice ones.
The Ana, Chewie, Sycan, Sprague, Williamson are fun, but it's not either of them.
I guess if I have to pick one, it's a little creek up in the Eagle Cap. It's full of small native cutthroat. It's so gin clear that the fish appear to be hovering in air. The meanders are natural and the banks are undercut. The cliffs around it are amazing light granite or granodiorite. The springs that feed the creek are littered with prints from deer, elk, cougar, bears, bighorn sheep, and god only knows what else. I'll tell you the name when I see you there...
Sorry. :)
TF
I like the post above by TF. After 60 years of fishing there was no way I could pick a favorite since different rivers at different times have been so great. When I think back my most special times were on a small creek that is a tributary of a tributary of the Williamette. I just happened to discover it as I was teaching my son to fish 30 years ago. He mentioned it just the other day regarding the great fishing we had there together. In the Spring, big cutts would migrate into that stream to spawn where fish to 18 inches would hammer our flies on almost every cast and were carefully released.
shad15
06-10-2008, 03:49 PM
Mine is the provo river in utah.
Nicechromer
06-10-2008, 09:15 PM
The Yakima, but I haven't been around much. Going to Montana in a week out of Missoula
clarkman23
06-10-2008, 10:02 PM
one of my favorite rivers is where you can find this:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/clarkman23/salmonfly1.jpg
& this:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/clarkman23/lizard.jpg
these guys & gals:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/clarkman23/fishonredd.jpg
and then catch a few of these:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n79/clarkman23/trout.jpg
~Randy
clarkman23
06-10-2008, 10:07 PM
I guess if I have to pick one, it's a little creek up in the Eagle Cap. It's full of small native cutthroat. It's so gin clear that the fish appear to be hovering in air. The meanders are natural and the banks are undercut. The cliffs around it are amazing light granite or granodiorite. The springs that feed the creek are littered with prints from deer, elk, cougar, bears, bighorn sheep, and god only knows what else. I'll tell you the name when I see you there...
Sorry. :)
TF
that's a good one...there's just something about solitude...
flybob
06-11-2008, 02:43 PM
The Gibbon is in Wyoming it becomes the Madison with the confluence of the Firehole before it reaches Montana.
You're right, it is. I stayed in Montana when i fished it, so that's what I was thinking.
speydude
06-18-2008, 09:09 PM
Hard to narrow it down to just one. I liked the Kamishak in AK. The Elwha, Wenanha, Imnaha, Grande Ronde, Middle Fork Flathead, I like them all.
CHOSENBOY
06-19-2008, 08:52 AM
Oooh the Kamishak is a great river. Lived on it for 6 weeks...lots of bears and great fishing.
speydude
06-19-2008, 02:01 PM
Oooh the Kamishak is a great river. Lived on it for 6 weeks...lots of bears and great fishing.
Yeah the Kamishak's way cool. I lived on it for a while as well. Actually the Little Kam. Don't know if it's still there but I lived in the little cabin on the bluff. You must have been guiding? Lot's of bears for sure.
elkthumper
06-19-2008, 02:06 PM
the kami! lol wow, brings back memories. both the big kami and little are awesome! love driving jetboats on that thing!
wow,..........that really, really brings back memories
Steelie28
06-19-2008, 03:58 PM
The Kamishak, named my dog after that river (Kami). Nothing funner than jet boating up the Kami with white knuckled clients in the boat freaking out as you plant the bow on the gravel to make a turn or just skim over the snags. The falls on the Little Kamishak are very cool as well. I was up there in 2000 and saw more bears per day on that river than any other I guided on. And the tide swings down low, nothing short of unbelieveable....:passout:
elkthumper
06-19-2008, 08:11 PM
tides there are amazing. gets stressful dealing with the mud and grumpy pilots though
Stonedfish
06-19-2008, 08:26 PM
Sol Duc
Steelies, silvers and searun cutts
speydude
06-19-2008, 09:36 PM
The Kamishak, named my dog after that river (Kami). Nothing funner than jet boating up the Kami with white knuckled clients in the boat freaking out as you plant the bow on the gravel to make a turn or just skim over the snags. The falls on the Little Kamishak are very cool as well. I was up there in 2000 and saw more bears per day on that river than any other I guided on. And the tide swings down low, nothing short of unbelieveable....:passout:
Yeah, a way fun river in so many ways. That was a while back for me, back in the mid 80's. Some real fond memories. When I was there, there were only 2 other lodges that had camps on the big Kam and I was over on the little. We would be in competition for the best fish spots during the day, and then at night when all the guests flew back to the lodge I would jump in my boat and drive down to where the other 2 camps were and we would share our beer and whatever else we had with each other. Next day with clients we were rude to each other again. Definately fun jet boating. The lodge I worked for had these cheesy little boats with 40 horse Johnsons. They sure were fun when empty though. It was really fun to watch the clients faces when you went right up river over only a few inches of water on gravel.
I thought for sure I was going to die one night on that river. I was staying in a little plywood shack and came back from guiding and the door was open. A bear had been in. After I cleaned everything up it came back 5 times that night. I really thought I was a gonner. One of the longest nights of my life.
jschainsaw
06-20-2008, 09:59 AM
Wallowa, Umatilla, St. Joe, Henry's Fork
john montana
06-20-2008, 10:06 AM
For trout...Rock Creek or the Gallatin, too tough too choose between those two.
All time favorite river...the Columbia.
Fishrite
06-20-2008, 10:25 AM
Mitch:
Great post.....you've got a lot of guys thinking. I would have to say the Deschutes for me. Just got back from a trip. Love that river. Montana has some great water, also. I've got to get back there. The Owyhee in Eastern Oregon has always lured me.....I've seen some really nice browns come out of there. But my all time favorite is a small spring creek (zipper lip).....not in Oregon. We have caught Browns to 12 lbs. and Rainbows to 5 lbs. Monster trout....in some places you can jump across this stream. Deep undercut banks and the creek in slow with tall grass (up to your waist) all around it....looks of hoppers and mice in the grass. It is Heaven!! We never let the name of this stream cross our lips.... Code name....."The Cakes"
Great to hear from you.... keep posting and catching,
Terry
leadeyedbugger
06-21-2008, 11:06 PM
If i was to pick my favorite river it would be the metolius handsdown..........Other favorites would include the yellowstone area rivers(notgoingtolistthemall) rogue for summers,Ana in the winter....The Lower D is good fishing,but not one of my personal favorites...