Big K Ranch- Oh Yeah!!!!!!

Nuttinbutnet · 09-02-2003, 07:30 AM

Floated The Big K on Saturday. As a novice smally fisherman, this was an experience. Must have caught 150 fish and never lost sight of the pick-up. Couple of fish in the 17-19" made for great battles on my ultra-lite. There were also some very large fish that I couldn't get to bite. I mean some huge fish! If you get the chance to go, GO! :grin:

spin33 · 09-02-2003, 07:42 AM

2 of us fished the section just upriver from Big K Ranch. Camped overnite, and fished it again the next day. Caught over 200, and lots of great fighters. We spot fish for the big ones, and we saw many that were very large, but they just don't want to eat much right now. Pretty low water and the bass are congregated in the good spots.

Airborne · 09-02-2003, 08:04 AM

where is this mystical bass location? I have never heard of this place

steele · 09-02-2003, 12:10 PM

Are you legally able to float the river thru the Big K ranch? Could some one suggest a put in and take out location. What is the drift like, any technical water , do you need 4 wheeler to put in or takeout? Thanks for any information. Have the rest of the week off and sounds like a great place to spend a few days. Steele

Best Fishes · 09-02-2003, 12:34 PM

Hello Steele:
It is possible to float through the Big K, but it would be almost impossible to do in a day. The water is low and almost no current. The river is very wide and shallow in most places, therefore it would be difficult to float more than 3 or 4 miles (less if the normal afternoon wind comes up). There are a two or three sections that would be very difficult to pass through with the low water.
A better option is to call the Big K and if they ae not too busy..you can float the Big K for $25 per person and a $25 for the shuttle!

Best Fishes

steele · 09-02-2003, 12:39 PM

Hello Best Fishes,
Thanks for the info , will call and see what I can arrange. Steele

spin33 · 09-02-2003, 02:12 PM

In my opinion, the section just above Big K Ranch is just as productive, and costs nothing. Free put in, $5 takeout. Put in at yellowcreek boat launch, and take out at Umpqua RV Park, about 4 miles of great fishing. Lots of big fish in this section, low water and deep pools. We take em' on zoom plastic worms, and 1/16 jig head.

steele · 09-02-2003, 04:07 PM

Hello Spin 33,
Are the put in & take out ok for a car or a 2 wheel ford ranger , my 4 wheeler is in the shop
Also any recomendations on where to get some salmon smoked?
Thanks ,Steele

Jennie@ifish · 09-02-2003, 04:37 PM

Scroll down past the 15th... Not sure where...

If you call and say Ifish sent you, maybe they'll give you a deal! I don't know that, but you never know! It is worth it to stay there. It's gorgeous!

Scott Wolfe is a great guide, too!

Jen

wade · 09-02-2003, 07:31 PM

I will be watching this thread to see what transpires. I'm pretty sure the only way to fish the Big K stretch is to pony up the dough for the stay there. The days of low-cost access are history.

Kevin

Nuttinbutnet · 09-02-2003, 11:14 PM

Big K Ranch is a Private Resort on the Umpqua 20 minutes west of Sutherlin. Great people and really great fishing (all C&R).

spin33 · 09-03-2003, 09:17 AM

Hello Steele
The put in At Yellowcreek launch is very friendly, real easy slope, 2 wheel is OK. The take out at Umpqua RV Park is too steep for 2 wheel drive. There is another take out at Kellog bridge, 1 more mile down the river. It is a sand slide launch and take out. There is a cable system that you hook to the front of your rig and drag it up to the top. I'm not sure if 2 wheels will do it or not. I don't use a drift boat, I use pontoon boats so its not a problem for me. That one costs $10 a shot. Rubber rafts seem to be the way the majority of people are fishing it these days, still thats kind of tough, not much control of where you go. We mounted trolling motors on our pontoons, and an anchor system. Pretty much set up for this river.
The last I heard also, was that you have to be a guest at the Big K to use their launch facilities.
Their main concern is the C&R policy. They can't control the take if they do not guide, and I don't blame them, there are allot of bigger fish in that section because of the C&R. We practice that also in the section just above Big K, Lots of BIG fish there also.

Jennie@ifish · 09-03-2003, 05:58 PM

I think it is too weird that someone owns a whole stretch of river that big.
Somehow, it seems wrong. :depressed:
J

wade · 09-03-2003, 08:55 PM

Hey Jennie,
I'm still new to IFISH so I'm pretty cautious about what I say because ,well you know. But I agree completely about access, we could get a long thread going on that.

Kevin

WildHawg · 09-10-2003, 05:50 AM

The Big K Guest Ranch is a 2500 acre family owned ranch/resort on Hwy 138 5 miles south of Elkton. They own a very large piece of frontage (miles) on the left bank, and Carol Whipple owns an even larger piece on the right bank.
The river is "navigable", so they don't own the river, just the takeouts. Their livelihood is made with the solitude and big fish. What's wrong with that?
I own property on the Mckenzie, and used to let people take their rafts out on my place (3 miles below Marten's Rapid, but above the lake). Ya know how people repaid me? Garbage and crap on my beach. Gets tiring dealing with it--so I just said no more.
The Big K has received the same treatment from people that don't respect their policies on catch and release for smallies. I don't agree with it, but I respected the landowners wishes when I did fish there.
The section has 2 rapids that are very dangerous at low flows--Brad's Creek just below the lodge (3+), and Smith's Ferry rapids which is a 4+. It is possible to line both, but ya better have 200 feet of rope and a helper for Smiths Ferry.
Good Luck--and be careful if you do run it.

fishhound · 09-10-2003, 08:16 AM

Don't put all you thought into just the Big K Ranch for smallies!!! If you have a pontoon boat, float from the Rv Park above Big K and don't forget the float from Ospre' down. A buddy and I floated this section Sunday and caught over 100 smallies before 11:00 in the morning! We caught lots of 2+ pounders! God bless the red and purple rubber worm! Also big hint, the little shad are running down river, and the bass are gobbling them up!