Umpqua Winter Steelhead

I’m often asked, “Out of all the places you’ve been in the world, why do you choose to live in western Oregon?”  The reason is simple…it’s because there’s something to do in the outdoors (hunt and/or fish) every day of the year.
One of my favorite things is steelhead fishing, and having been on the road a lot up until now, I’d missed out on some of the best winter steelhead action Oregon has seen in decades.  But I had a little time this week and got out with good friend, Todd Harrington.

Todd is a longtime guide and now heads up the fishing at the Big K Guest Ranch, in Elkton, Oregon.  Todd is one of the best salmon and steelhead anglers I’ve had the honer of fishing with and is simply an all-around great man.  The good thing about this trip, my dad was able to join me.  Also along for the ride was our main camera man and editor for The Hunt, Dustin Anderson, who captured some of the action to include in upcoming episodes of our new show.
We side drifted many long sections of the Umpqua River, using yarn balls.  During our less than six hours of fishing Dad and I hooked seven steelhead, landing and releasing five.  We also had three hits on plugs, but no hookups.  Still, after more than 40 years of fishing salmon and steelhead, it amazes me how fish can hit a plug with two sets of needle-sharp treble hooks and not get hooked!
It was a great, sunny day and Dad and I had a blast.  Though it was Todd’s slowest day of the season (we hit it between surges of fish), Dad and I couldn’t have been happier.  It was a wonderful reminder as to why we love living where we do and how fortunate we all are to get to do the things we like.
Can’t wait for the next trip!