Donner and Blitzen

[24 on/ 48 off]

Looking for advice on this river. I have fished it twice in the past years, but only near the campgrounds and I have never had great luck. Just a few small redbands here and there.

I will be spending 3 days late next month in the area and would appreciate some tips. I will likely be exploring the areas away from the campgrounds (Frenchglen). Last time I made the Steens mountain loop, I noticed the road crossed the river on the South end- and it looked pretty decent. Was that the little D and B?

Most likely won't hit Mann Lake due to the recent negative posts, but I am looking at Trout Creek, near Fields. Anywhere else I should look for trout?

Your advice is very much appreciated, Ifishers!

--spud-- :smile:

[FallRiverGuy]

Fish lake is almost a sure bet for some fish. Also check out Krumbo (I think that is the spelling) reservoir. I hear there are nice sized trout swiming there.

[toonboater]

From the campgrounds, just keep walking up river. Once you get past the weir, you're in fish country. There are five miles of great easily accessable pocket water....everything from riffles to pools. Bring your lunch and water cause you will need plenty of time...much of it criss crossing the river till you find the spots. I've spent a whole day fishing and walking up to the gorge and back. Try everything in your box including buggers. If your lucky, you might even find an 18 or 20 incher.

[UmpquaSpecial]

24/48
I've fished the Blitzen area quite a lot the last four years and have quite a fondness for the area. In my opinion, the best time to hit it is early June after the high water from snowmelt (which always seems to peak around memorial day) and then late Sept/early October. Sounds like you might be a little early for good Blitzen fishing, but Krumbo Reservoir will be fishing well. Try the west end (shallow bay)- can't go wrong stripping olive or black leeches, wooly buggers or damsel fly nymphs. If it's a sunny day, there will likely be a midge hatch and you'll see big bows sipping these guys off the surface in two- three feet of water. Obviously changing your tactics during this hatch can result in some really fine fishing. If we get a chance to talk more about your Yamaha kicker for sale, I'll provide a few more details.

[garyk]

I've heard that very early in the season, like just after traditional opening day, it can be very snakey as they come out of their hibernation dens.

When a friend was there at that time, there were buzzztails crawling through the Paige Springs CG.

No big deal, just watch where you put your hands - and maybe not too good for dogs if you're taking one.

[GutshotApe]

Originally posted by garyk:
I've heard that very early in the season, like just after traditional opening day, it can be very snakey as they come out of their hibernation dens.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">You heard right. Very snakey along the creeks & canyonsides over there... :shocked:

[ 04-30-2003, 11:22 AM: Message edited by: GutshotApe ]

[Steelie28]

I would hit Krumbo. I've had success fishing flies out in the lake and using my lazy bank setup on the spinning rod. I've witnessed 5 lb bows landed there, so it's worth the trip.

[garyk]

GSA, yes there's always snakes about - goes with the country. Even in late August and early September we have to take a little care.

But, we had a friend camping at Paige Springs encounter the post-hibernation migration (which we've not seen) and he got to see a lifetime's worth of rattlers in a day. He got buzzed so many times, he finally got rattled and walked the trail back to camp.

To anyone else reading this, it's good snake country etiquette that if you should arouse a snake on a trail and get buzzzed, encourage the snake to move along, off the trail. Otherwise the next angler following behind you may encounter an already bothered snake and get bit - rather than just buzzed. These Great Basin rattlers are actually pretty docile, you just need to give them some room and time to move off.

I actually find the Bull Snakes over there to be more aggressive, and of course fortunately not venomous.

[GutshotApe]

garyk - Yes, the rattlesnakes we have In Oregon aren't all that aggressive. The last one I encountered was on the Deschutes where we stopped to camp. I was relieving myself down the trail when I noticed what looked like a tightly-coiled, flat piece of rope...except when I shifted my aim and hit it, its head moved :shocked: ...but no rattle. Got a stick and poked at it...WOW! did that thing move fast off the trail...but it never did rattle.

A woman I once knew was bit by a rattlesnake two years in a row, in the arm each time, while catching crawdads in the same 200 yard stretch of S.Sisters Creek in the Smith River drainage in the Oregon coast range...so you don't have to go to eastern Oregon to find buzztails.

[ 05-01-2003, 06:43 AM: Message edited by: GutshotApe ]

[garyk]

My wet-down of a Deshutes snake was even a step further:

I stopped hiking on the RR tracks, went to the side by a pile of RR ties - thinking, hmmmm looks a little snakey. As I'm taking a leak, I hear what first registers as a high pitched squeak, like a shrew would make. THEN I hear the BUZZZZZZZ, look down and the toe of my wading shoe is on this now damp rattler. One of those instantaneus leaps backward comes next.

No wonder they're 'onery , we're always peeing on them! :grin:

[Slow and Low]

I have fished the Blitzen a lot. A lot of work for some decent fish. Best in late July with Hoppers. Try Mann lake on the other side of the hill. Lots of big fish that are easy to catch. And yes, climbing into the canyon will get you into some snakes!

[24 on/ 48 off]

Just got back and have some BAD news:

The river, and most others in the area are blown out. The late snowfall and recent cold temps delayed the runoff until now. The D & B is brown and high. I expect it to be that way for at least a couple of weeks.

Krumbo was fair. About 8 float tubers on the lake, saw two caught in 3 hours. Nice fish, though.

We left the area and went exploring. I think I may have found a gem: It's called the Chewacan River. It was also too high and muddy to fish, but it looks REALLY good.

Anybody know about it?

--spud-- :smile:

[garyk]

Sorry your trip to the D&B got sunk by the runoff, but believe me, that late snow and delayed runoff may be just what the area needed after the recent dry years - I hope it's enough to replenish Mann Lake.

[GutshotApe]

Originally posted by 24 on/ 48 off:
I think I may have found a gem: It's called the Chewacan River. It was also too high and muddy to fish, but it looks REALLY good.

Anybody know about it?

--spud-- :smile:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Yeah...its no good, doesn't have any fish...so don't go back....ever!

Seriously, the Chewaucan is one of my favorite spots. However, the fishing is nothing to write home about unless you like catching lots of small, wild redbands. A 12 incher is a trophy. The river was stocked with planters for 50 yrs and quite a devoted following developed. Stocking stopped about 1997...locals not happy.

Now, the river gets less pressure and the fishing isn't "as good" as it was with the hatchery trout. But its less crowded and if you know how, the fish can be caught. Helps to get away from the road.

There is a new reservoir at the lower end of the river just above Abert Lk and trout that drop down to it grow large...4 and 5 lbs. These fish try to run upstream in early spring to spawn and odfw is trying to install fish passage at the 3 irrigation dams...in the meantime, with help of locals, they have caught and transported many of these large fish from below the lowest dam to above the upper dam...and they are presumed to go on up and spawn in the canyon.

Haven't heard of any of these spawners being caught but the locals are pretty tight-lipped about these things.

I was on the Chewaucan on friday and, yes, its high & turbid...but if you go on upstream you can fish in the tribs. The upper tribs have eastern brook trout...the lower river has only redbands (that I've ever seen).

p.s. I saw five (5) cougars at once on the Chewaucan about 2 miles above Paisley in August 1999...a mother and four 2/3 grown kittens. Right in front of the truck...standing there looking into my headlights! :shocked: