Owyhee River

[Pursuit]

Good Morning everyone,
I have a question for all of you ifish fly fishers. :bowdown: Every spring I go on a couple of trips over the mountains to fly fish Central Oregon. :cheers: This year one of our trips will be to the Owyhee river below the dam. I understand that it fishes alot like the Crooked, but I understand there are some very large Brown Trout to be caught. :bigshock: Any insite on the trip over there would be greatly appreciated. :help: Thanks in advance for your help. :applause:

[4flyfish]

The Owyhee is a small river, especially before they release water from the dam in Mid-April. Expect large Browns that jump and fight like large Rainbows. The biggest I got was 23 inches, smallest was 18.

As for flies, I was successful with two set-ups. For the big browns, use an olive colored, gold beaded or cone head wolly bugger. Toss and strip, toss and strip.

The darker olive the better. For the bow's and cutts, use a bead head prince while dropping a very small grey or black grub from it on a 6X tippet. As lame as it seems, you'll need to use a strike indicator. Keep the grub about four feet under water.

Other than giving away the holes I fish, nothing could help you more than this advice.

I'll be there on 4/7 and 4/8.

[Pursuit]

4flyfish,
Thanks for your info, it is greatly appreciated. :bowdown: We are going over the 3rd week of May I hope to be spending 7 to 10 days fishing the Crooked and the Owyhee. :grin: Let everyone know how your trip turns out in April it sounds like a great place to fish.
Thanks again!

[4flyfish]

Not a problem. One other thing you should know. The fishers over there do NOT like to be crowded. Seems like someone within a 1/4 mile of them really chaps their asses. They are used to seeing no one within five miles of their spots. A word to the wise.

I caught more quality fish there in two days than I did in five days floating the Clark Fork in Montana.

:cheers:

[STS_FISHER]

THe Owyhee is about an hour away from me and I fish it very often. The key here is midges under an indicator and you will slay big browns left and right.

[Mojo]

4flyfish,
Not to start things, but crowding is a big problem on the Owyhee. It's a small river. I've had guys walk in on the hole I was fishing and start casting. There is plenty of water on the river. I think someone should post a sign at Snively Hot Springs that reads "If you absolutely must fish the hole someone else is , wait till they leave". Some holes are 1/4 mile long, and there is plenty of water for a couple of fishermen to fish. Others are 75 yards long, and if someone walks in on me in one of those spots, there is gonna be fireworks.

Basically look at the guy fishing, put yourself in hos spot, then ask the question "would I like someone walking in on me like this"...before you crowd in.

[skein]

Mojo,

So what's the etiquette on the river? Should you just go on downstream and find another hole? Will that make the guy fishing the hole think you're trying to low-hole him or get in a race or something?

I'd like to come over and fish the river someday, but I don't want to start a war. Recommendations?

Skein

[Mojo]

The Owyhee is a river of riffles and holes. The last few years (drought) it is more riffle and less hole. The standard custom I adhere to is if there is someone fishing a section of river I want to fish, ask them which way they are fishing. Some times it is beneficial to fish downstream, sometimes upstream. If they say they are moving downstream, explain that you would also like to fish the section, and ask if you would be crowding them if you move in above. If they say yes, wish them good luck and go find another spot. I've had at least a dozen incidents in the last 2 years where people walked in and started casting to fish I was working, or casting to water I was working to (within 50 to 75 yards), without saying a word. I had 2 separate incidents where guys cast over my flyline, which is always nice...

Skein, If you move to the next hole, I'm sure you would not offend anyone. If you do, they were probably the kind of person that gets stressed when a truck drives past them because "those losers are going to 'my' hole". There are some that think they own the river (just like on every stream in the west). Most of the holes are clearly defined by sections of riffle water. There is always the grass is greener syndrome, where a guyy walks in below the next riffle, and hooks a nice fish. :grin: I've kicked myself for picking the wrong stretch before.

I don't think I own the river. I do demand respect, as should we all. As I said before, put yourselves in the waders of the guy you are walking in on. If you were fishing that hole, and someone walked in on you, would it upset you? Follow the fisherman's golden rule..Be as courteous to others as you would have them be to you.

I've had several PM's about the Owyhee. If you want info, please feel free to holler. I'll answer any questions I can, and if I'm going to be fishing the river when you come up, maybe we can meet and share a beverage and a fish story or two.

[D$_KFalls]

You mean this Owyhee River?

Here's me a few years ago.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/5788Scan0002.jpg

Here's my buddy Kirk on the same trip.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/5788Scan0003.jpg

You'll note that the fish are conspicuously amiss from these photos. Unfortunately, we were skunked in an entire half-day of fishing. So, I'll refrain from offering any tips.

When we arrived the night before, it was clear. When we woke up the next morning, there was 4 inches of snow on the ground, with no sign of it letting up.

About 9:00 in the morning, the clouds broke, and it was about 70 degrees when we left around 3:00pm.

So, I guess I do have a tip. Actually, two.

1) Unless you're going in the middle of summer, prepare for any kind of weather.
2) TAKE A CAMERA! This is some of the most beautiful scenery in the state.

I'll leave the fishing tips to those who have been more successful! :grin: