Life is good this time of year in Oregon........
June in Oregon is like a perfect aligning of the planets and provides anglers with endless opportunites. It is one of my favorite months of the year to wet a line as there are so many options available.....chrome steelhead, salmonflies, high lakes, and green drakes. Every year I look forward to this time of year and this year was no exception. However, this is my first summer being a Dad and I somehow thought this June just wouldn't be the same when it comes to fishing. One one hand, I was correct in my assumption that I probably wouldn't make it to the river more than a few times. I ended up only making it out 4 times all month. However, I couldn't have had a better time in those 4 trips.
The first weekend of June my plan was to hit the D for "the hatch" however thunderstorms on the east side and the threat of a rising river kept me closer to home. I opted to throw the spey rod instead and was rewarded with this nice chrome rocket: (which consequently was deeeelish on the barbie)
The following weekend I had planned to hit the D again and even had the truck locked and loaded for an early morning departure. However my little 6 month old daughter had other plans for me and had one of her worst nights crying so far. I couldn't stand the thought of leaving mom home alone the next night so I unpacked the rig and stayed closer to home. Staying home must have provided some good karma:
On my 3rd outing....finally....I got my chance to hit the D! The salmonflies were on the wane but I managed a few on the big bugs. I felt great to be back on the Deschutes again throwing the big bugs....the smell of sage, heart pounding takes, and screaming reels! While I didn't catch any real bruisers, it was just great to partake in this hatch for another year:
And finally on my 4th outing I got to hit one of the real jewels of Oregon in June....the green drake hatch on the Metoluis. Green drakes are my favorite bugs and each year I look forward to my annual trip to Montana to fish drakes. I have only hit the Met a couple times for the drake hatch but after we received an invite to stay with some friends in Sisters for the weekend I just couldn't pass it up. Maybe it was good karma for sending in all those e-mails the last few months to protect the Met ....or maybe it was karma for promising my wife I wouldn't fish for more than a couple hours.... but the river did not disappoint and I didn't have to go to Montana to satisfy my drake jones this year:
I never thought I would say this, but I think fatherhood is making my fishing experiences that much better. The cherry on top is coming home to see my daughter....
which trumps any fish caught any day!
June's Bounty
hooksetter1
It looks like close to home ain't so bad.
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