Another spectacular time on Dan and Nancy’s fall trip to the Rogue River that started on their honeymoon 17 years ago. Special thanks to Jeff and Jules for our stay at grandpa and grandma’s property on the Rogue River. The weather was just great, and the temperature ranged from the 60’s into the 70’s. Dan was grateful to join Tim Miller for 5 days of guided fishing with the first 3 days with Steve Walser and 2 days with Steve’s son Kameron. They enjoyed catching steelhead on the usual nymphing bugs: Delektable bug in egghead midnight fire, deep purple in size #4 and #6 and smaller Delektable nymphs in Delektable Egghead Twisted Wire Green/Chartreuse size #10 and #12, Delektable CDC Baby sizes #8 and #10, Delektable Lime Juice #8 and #10, Delektable Red Headed Big Spanker Sizes #8 and #10, and Delektable Sure Strike Peacock Sizes #8 and #10. Of special note was the DRY dropper combo Delektable Mega Chubbyness UV Salmon Fly in a size #8 with two Delektable size #10 bead head nymphs below the DRY. They fished that and caught steelhead, cutthroat, and rainbow trout, what a treat! Steve and Kameron Walser had this dialed in, thank you boys for showing us the Rogue through your eyes. Mrs. Delektable flew in for a short trip and had 5 days on the river. Princess Nancy had 2 days with Dan and of course scored all the biggest steelhead of the trip. Again, we want to thank our great friends for making this fall trip so memorable, Jeff and Jules, Steve and Kameron, Tim and Andy, Jack and Angie at the Fishin’ Hole, Tall Dave and Jed, Heather, Kathy, and Linda.
Some days are good… some days are not as good. When you have a bad day on the river, is it really that bad? Does it ever make you want to quit fishing? Maybe, but probably not. For there to be good days, you must have the “bad” days to make the good days seem “good”. Some people come into the shop and remind me that even the bad days need to be put in the “great days” category, because really, you are still on the river. Now is it really that bad?
The nymph game is picking up to another level with this weather, the fish are eating the larger size Stoneflies that are starting to move more with this weather. They have also been keying in on the shiny patterns. The Lightning Bugs and shiny Nymphs such as the Silvie’s lightning bug, the Silver Lightning Bug and the Delektable Lil’ Spanker Silver are all good little shiny bugs that have been working well with the cloudy weather. Most of those would be in a size 14 or 16. That Crystal Dip in a size 16 on that curved hook are working well. The Pat’s Rubber legs is a tried and true pattern that will get fish in the net for you, but if you wanted to wonder off the beaten path of big nymphs, we have a variety to choose from here. The Delektable Mega Prince Standard in a size 6 or 8 has been a go-to of mine for years and years and years in the fall months. That pattern has fooled so many fish over the years. The Delektable Hurless Stone in the Gray size 6 and 8 is a great pattern for the fall times with the water being lower and a little colder. I would also check out the Delektable Stonefly Candy patterns that work in a number of colors. The Twenty Incher is also a great Stonefly pattern that works well in the size 6 or 8. Mostly, try and get a drag free drift with any big black/brown/olive Stonefly and you will have pretty good luck here on the ole’ Madison with the stones.
