Fly Fishing near Diamond Lake Questions

Penobscot · 05-02-2010, 07:30 PM

I'm staying at a cabin at Diamond Lake in late June and was wondering if there is any decent stream fly water near there.

I guess The Umpqua is close, but not sure about what is fished up that high and if there is a run of summer steelhead.
I also think the Willaimson is fairly close, but have never fished it.

Anyways, looking to get out of the boat and the lake one of the days and was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions.

Thanks

Snoslyder · 05-03-2010, 10:41 AM

You will be within a few miles of the N. Umpqua River and the 63 miles of upper river devoted to fly only, catch and release Steelhead...and yes the N. Umpqua has a good run of Summers, however, it is still a bit early. The counts over the dam for summers is slowly ticking upwards but by the time you will be at Diamond Lake the upper N. Umpqua will have fish in it. Anywhere from Dry Creek down to Steamboat is fantastic fishing in some of the most scenic waters around. If you venture about 35-45 miles to the east (to crater Lake), then south (towards the rogue river) you will be on the upper Rogue River which is a fantastic little trout stream up that high. Finally, when you are done with the masses at Diamond and want a quality trout experience, the Williamson is about 1 1/2 hours away and if you fish the upper reaches of that river you may have the experience of a life time (5 lb trout are not uncommon there). Good luck and go get 'em.

garyk · 05-03-2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snoslyder

...If you venture about 35-45 miles to the east (to crater Lake), then south (towards the rogue river) you will be on the upper Rogue River which is a fantastic little trout stream up that high....

Wouldn't late June be salmonfly time on the "Holy Water"?

The Holy Water is a short, artificials-only, tailwater fishery at the base of Lost Creek dam ... like a very big spring creek, with big fat, selective rainbows!

We've had some great sessions there .... wonder how that fishery is doing these days?

Dom C · 05-05-2010, 07:13 AM

You can always rent a boat or bring a tube and fish right there at diamond. I heard the lake is in better shape than years past.

5-Cents · 05-06-2010, 07:17 AM

Last year when we stayed at Diamond the only method we really used was wind drifting flies from the boat... its good for about a 2lb trout every 10 minutes!

Wolly bugger type fly (we used seal buggers) with a small nymph or emerger dropper on an intermediate sinking line and about 9' of floro leader down to 3X did the trick.

By the way, much eaiser from a boat than a tube - that lake is huge from a tube. If you are fishing from a tube I would focus on the rocky shore on the NW end of the lake.

Try it you wont be dissapointed

Penobscot · 05-06-2010, 09:31 AM

Thanks for all of the replies.
We will have two drift boats and plan to fish the lake for three days, including the Derby on Saturday.
I think the upper Rogue sounds like a good option for one day and we plan to take a day trip over to Crater Lake and also will fish a little from the boat landing area as well as the island if the boats are operating yet.
5cents, how many fish came on the dropper?
I've never tried that but think I can figure it out.

topcd098 · 05-07-2010, 09:34 AM

That is Hex season on the Williamson. That would be my recommendation. If you google it, or do some research you find that most sources recommend a guide. I have never taken a guide on the Williamson, and have been able to get into fish. I have actually found that the guides on the Williamson are the most tempermental in the world...different topic I digress. I have attached some pics of myself and brother inlaw. Average fish is 4lbs we have landed a few in 10lb range. After the 15-20lbers. They are in there for sure. If you have drifters then drift it from chiloquin to the water wheel. You have to pay to take out. You used to be able to take out above that, but the guides now have exclusive rights to they place. They paid to keep guys off the river basically. No big water just some tight are to manuever through above the water wheel take out.

packer · 05-08-2010, 06:47 AM

If you fly fish Diamond the best producers are 10-12 size damsel nymphs in green or brown , trolling small black leech patterns over the weed beds from a pontoon can be deadly . If you have the patience chironomids have produced some 50 fish days early in the year . We should be seeing some 10lb fish this year we got into alot of 24-27 inchers last year and they were all built like footballs . We only kept a few of the smaller fry pan size eaters , most of the bait fisherman never catch the bigger fish as they feed almost exclusively on bugs