Sisu lost his mojo

[sisu]

We spent the last 3 days fishing the Grand Ronde and I got my ass kicked by my wife. I have never had such a poor experience in my 50 plus years fishing. Pat was getting strikes, hook-ups and landing of small steel head and rainbows on every hole we fished. Mean while I got ZIP. In the three days I caught ONE stinking rainbow.
It started raining as we left so the bigger steel head should be coming on in.

BTW if I get the urge to start climbing again all I have to do is drive to the Grand Ronde and I'll get my exposure fix. WOW what a road down to the river. We did the state highway 129 and Shumaker.
 

[Antlershed]

A buddy of mine said they were catching quite a few at the mouth of the Ronde.

[popeshawnpaul]

Back in college we would go down and fish the Ronde all the time.  Most the time, I would see a big sheep up on the mountain and get sidetracked and go take pictures of the sheep.  I guess I know where my heart lies...

[boneaddict]

You should go over the hill and fish the Methow.  They opened it up this fall, also I heard they were going to open the Wenatchee after being closed for 10 years. LOTS of great water in both.  Look into the Wenatchee as I haven't confirmed that.

[Ray]

The methow river had a lot of fisherman over the weekend. 

[jackelope]

You should go over the hill and fish the Methow

thats a big hill.

the beauty of the grande rhonde steelhead IMO is that they are very trouty. in other words, you can catch a lot of steelhead fishing with trout flies. nymphs and indicators for one, and this time of year the steelhead are very surface oriented. they will eat a skated dry fly better than any other river in the area, the deschutes might hang with it...but i think there's more fish on the rhonde.
black/olive/brown wolley buggers, muddler minnows, etc will all catch steel on the rhonde.
the wenatchee will be a zoo...

I would see a big sheep up on the mountain and get sidetracked and go take pictures of the sheep.  I guess I know where my heart lies...

i would likely stare at the sheep for a while and eventually get sidetracked by the steelhead.

in the suummer time on the rhonde, alls you need is a few black wooley buggers or some hoppers and you'll catch all the rainbows you want. you just have to decide if you like fishing for baby steelhead.
try the smallmouth out some time...

[boneaddict]

I'm sure thats true about the crowds on the Wenatchee.  I wish I was one of them.  I know the Methow wasgetting hammered.  Again I wish I was one of them.  I haven't fished the Deschutes much this late.  I focused alot on the Klick.  I love that river!  Thats another Dandy on the east side.  I guess thats eastside anyway.  It helps when you ar raised on a river like the Methow.  I have definately caught alot fo steel on that river. 

[jackelope]

i floated 48 miles on the deschutes a few years ago. camped out of the boat and fished. one of the most amazing trips of my life. warm springs to maupen. 3 1/2 days.
good stuff. i want badly to do it again.

[Intruder]

I too luv the Deschuttes... both the river and the beer.  It's a great dryline river.  I've mtn biked up from the mouth on the south side.  It's an easy ride and you can cover alot of water.  It like the Rhonde are getting to be so crowded though.  Last time I went to the Deschuttes I was never able to even swing a fly the Wagon Blast which is 1 of the best runs on the lower river.  The Rhonde in Oct can be down right silly crowded.  I've gotten to where when I do fish I concentrate on the Snake and Clearwater just to avoid the confusion.  Still alot of fly runs on those rivers that don't get 30 dudes a day swinging their bugs through em. 

[jackelope]

intruder...do you throw a 2-hander on the snake or clearwater?
i'd love to pick your brain about those 2. i've got a driftboat and want to float, but don't know anybody with experience on the clearwater...nor do i know the lauches.

[Intruder]

I do indeed sir.  Been throwing w/ spey rods for about 15 years.  Not sure what your skill level is but neither river is too bad to drift.  There's some truly big waves on the Snake but you can generally skirt everything.  Clearwater is maybe a lil' more technical but again not too bad.

I'd be happy to help....

[jackelope]

mainly i guess i'd just like a starting point for a good day float on the c/w.
i'll figure the rest out from there. i can handle my boat, and i don't have big enough nutz to get too crazy. i'll line the boat if needed. the time i went and scouted the river...there was icebergs floating down it and the launches were jammed with ice a foot thick. that kind of turned me off of floating it 
i was on the snake this past thanksgiving in a sled...down low. i haven't been up too high at all. i'd just stick with the c/w most likely.
pm me if you'd like with some suggestions.
thanks.

[Intruder]

I'll check my map and PM you some info.  One of those things where I know from experience where things are but I can't necessarily relate it to you in detailed directions