I really enjoy fly fishing (if you can't tell) and I was lucky to get out to Oregon in January to go spey fishing for steelhead with my closest friend Charles.
I flew into Medford, Oregon and spent a day in the Rogue Valley packing and preparing to camp and fish on the coast. If you are ever in Ashland, make sure to check out my buddy Bryant's store Mountain Provisions. He definitely had all of the stuff I forgot to bring...like a headlamp. I can't believe I forgot a headlamp....
Oh Talent, you are idunno, just so Oregon-y. This cat here is named Parts. He patrols the ranch.
From Talent we headed over to the coast to Quosatana Campground on the Rouge River. It is a pretty sweet campground. The river is right there and you can fish all day not far from your camp site. We used the campground as a launch pad to float the Rogue and the other nearby rivers. It was pretty much perfect for what we were looking to do. Every morning, long before the sun came up, you could hear the jet boats moving up the river to be ready for the steelhead to run.
These spey rods are made by a fellow named Gary Anderson. They are some of the finest spey rods in the world.
Right about here in the trip is where my waders failed. I'm not talking a small leak or two...I'm talking seal blown and a steady stream of water coming in. Full failure. I was able to muscle it out and everything worked out. BUT. It was right there and then that I decided that I can't keep taking gear to the limit. I knew the waders were crap. I knew they had at least one leak in them, but I went with them anyway. It was a move I paid for and learned from. Gear is expensive because it is worth it and there is no bad weather just bad gear. When I got home I hit up St. Pete's and scored a new pair of waders. (Support your local fly shop!)
We needed supplies (okay beer....we needed beer) so we hit up the tiny town of Agness, Oregon. There are not a lot of people in Agness, but the ones that are there are all heart and really great folks. Shout out to Lavern for taking such good care of us!
After a few days of nonstop fishing and a few nights of sleeping by a campfire, honestly, we needed a shower. We are old friends, and we have been outside together a lot, but it was time...We both stunk. We grabbed a hotel room in Brookings and meal at the Oxenfrē Public House that our friend Geno recommended. The next morning we were up before the sun and on our way to the Chetco River.
We fished the river for a few hours and then headed back to Talent because we had tickets to see Karl Denson's Tiny Universe at the Armory in Ashland.
Steelhead fishing is difficult and trying. There is not a lot of catching involved so it is a little bit frustrating. You just have to stick with it I guess. I have now fished for steelhead a bit and I have only ever hooked one and I have never landed one. I'm going to keep working at it because I love to be with my friends, outside, on a river. It is my sacred time and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
Oh and, one last picture. This is the back of the stinky truck after a week of fishing and camping out of it. Glamorous right? Notice the Bama Socks (Bama Socks rule ya'all) and the Dutch Brothers Coffee! Thanks for reading and I hope that you get to go on your own adventures! Until next time....
