Last Updated on Monday, 13 June 2011 11:21

June 12, 2011

The Owhyee River is still high at 2700 cfs and I wouldn't recommend it just yet.  However, if you want to avoid the crowds the the Owhyee usually attracts this might be a time to try it.  Use weighted nymph rigs in obvious tailouts and slicks.  Keep your eyes out for rising fish in the slow water as you might be seeing some BWO's or PMD's.  In the late afternoon look for the caddis to start coming off.

 

April 5, 2011

The river flow is currently at 7210 cfs so forget about it!

 

March 25, 2011

The Owhyee river flows have just been raised to 222 csf just the other day while I was fishing there.  I spent the day leap frogging just ahead of the muddy flows picking off a few browns just before the muddy water arrived.  Then it was down the river another mile to fish that section until the next wave of muddy water hit.  The fishing was great.  Lots of midges and baetis.  The BWO fishing was incredible with hungry browns gorging themselves on the duns and emergers and of course the fishing shut down when the muddy water arrived.  I would give this river a week or two to settle in before going again. However who knows how much water the powers that be will let out.  This river could be unsettled for quite a while so keep you eye on it.

 

Auagust 26, 2010

It's still fairley slow fishing on the Owhyee River this time of year.  You can still find some Calibeatis coming of but primarily it's caddis and grass hoppers.  Nymph fishing is the key to success right now.  Nymph in the morning and when things start to warm up pull out the hoppers.  Hopper fishing is usually a quick pace game.  If you haven't got a strike on the first couple of passes you should move on.  If hopper fishing is slow put on a bead head caddis nymph as a dropper.  The early evening should be caddis time and it would pay off if you stuck around for that.  Caddis emerger patterns are a must.

 

June 20, 2010

The Owhyee River has dropped it's water levels again from 191 cfs to 188 cfs.  The river is very fishable right now.  Most anglers who are fishing the Owhyee are doing so because most other rivers are at their Spring time high.  The fishing has been just outstanding.  With PMD's and Callibaetis may flies in the late morning through early evening to a good Caddis hatch in the early evening.  It pays to have two rods with you: one for nymphing and one set up with a dry fly.  Conditions on the water can change in minutes and it's easier to just lay your nymph rod down and pick up your dry fly rod when those conditions arise.  The best action is in the late afternoon/evening when the Caddis take over.  All your fishing should be done over rising trout.  Be sure to have a good selection of PMD and Caddis emergers on hand especially for the evening Caddis hatch.

 

June 1, 2010

Good new. Now that the General Fishing Season has opened the crowds on the Owyhee river should go down.  The fishing has been excellent in both dry fly fishing and nymph fishing.  You should see Baetis, Caddis, Midges and PMD,s along with some Midges.  There is plenty of food for the fish to feed on and the trout are starting to loose their winter time skinny shape.  Be sure to have a good selection on emergers with you if you are looking for some excellent dry fly action.  These browns will settle into a feeding lane and ignore any adults on the water and just pick off the little buggers in the surface film.  When the dry fly action is slow take out you nymph rod and work the tailouts for the fish stacked up along the seams.

 

May 1 2010

The Owhyee River is currently flowing at about 230 cfs and the fishing has been pretty good.  I haven't seen much of the Swala hatch this year but the river is coming alive with the insects that really matter.  Baetis, Calibaetis and a good supply of Caddis are now on the river.  Be prepared to see any one of these bugs on the water.  You may want to start you fishing with nymphs that represent the above flies.  I like to go with a Bead Head Beatis dropped with a Caddis Emerger or a Green Rock Worm.  You can still work the slow water with Woolly Buggers or size 8 weighted nymphs if the fishing is slow.  Start of working the tail outs and  the deep drop offs.  It would be a good idea to have two rods; one a nymph rod and one a dry fly rod because the conditions change on the Owhyee every minute.

 

April 4, 2010

Baetis (BWO's) are starting to become the dominant bug on the Owhyee replacing the ever present Midge.  When the weather is a little more mild and the wind calms down you will see fish feeding on Baetis.  Keep your eyes open for the Skwala Stoneflies.  Reports coming in from the river show that they a sporadic at best but you should not fish the Owhyee without a few adult skwala's on hand.  The river is still at 30 cfs and probably will stay at that level for the near future anyway.

 

March 22, 2010

The Owhyee River is still low and still fishing good.  Regardless what you here the good ole Owhyee will give you a couple of nice brown trout if you are persistent.  The dry fly action will really heat up if you have the perfect conditions of no wind and a cloudy sky.  But you can only go when you can go and if you see Baetis on the water then you should see brown trout going after them.  Have a good BWO emerger or two with you because chances aer those big browns will be feasting on Baetis emergers.  Midges are still on the menu on the Owhyee as are Crane Fly nymphs and big black Wooly Buggers striped through the slow water areas.  Good luck

 

March 1, 2010

The Owyhee River is still producing marvelous brown trout.  The famous Midge fishing will only get better now that is starting to warm up and the days are getting a little longer.  Over the years these fish have really seen a lot of anglers flies over them so be smart and really take the time to observe as much water as you can until you find a really good run with lots of rising fish.  The most important thing to remember is not to forget the slow water that looks uninviting.  This water will really produce for you this time of the year if you are willing to work it right.  When the midge fishing is slow or tough try tying on your tippet a weighted black Woolly Bugger and work the slow water from front to back.  Most anglers tend to ignore this water this time of the year but it can be the most rewarding water on the river.    If black Woolly Buggers is not your thing then try a large weighted Muddler or Slump Buster.

 

 

October 27, 2009

The spawn is on!  Leave spawning brown trout alone.  The health of the river depends on it.  We are lucky most rivers will close during the spawn but the Owyhee River stays open year round for our enjoyment.  So it's critical to the health of the brown trout population to leave all spawning trout alone.  However, active feeding trout the rules are out the window.  Because the brown trout are spawning is not a reason to not fish this river.  It can be good fishing to rising fish that are taking BWO's and Midges.  It's always fun to watch all those trout doing their thing and is one of only a few places where you can have a ring side view.  At 30 cfs you can fish to rising trout and watch spawning trout all in the same section of river.

 

October 7, 2009

Now that we have some cooler weather you should see a lot more Baetis and Mahoganies on the river.  You'll see some Baetis and Midges in the morning followed by Mahoganies in the afternoon.  The nymph fishing is still pretty good.  Use tandem bead head nymphs with enough lead to keep them moving down river.  Have your dry fly rod ready because those Browns and start keying in on dries at any moment.  If things slow down a bit try using a Hopper pattern or a big Woolly Bugger to throw through some of the slow water.

 

September 23, 2009

Not much has changed in regards to the Owyhee river.  However if and when we get some cooler weather you will see some newer May flies on the water. Look at that time for BWO's and Mahogany's.

 

September 15, 2009

The Owyhee river is still producing PMD's and Caddis however this may change as Autumn brings in cooler weather.  You may start seeing some Baetis and Mahogany Dun action this time of year and the best time for that is in the afternoon and early evening.  So there you have it, you may or may not have May flies but you can still catch trout nymphing the obvious water.  There still are plenty of Hoppers out and I wouldn't go to the Owyhee with out a good selection of Hoppers.

 

September 4, 2009

The flows on the Owyhee River are around 200 cfs and the fishing has slow during the day because of the heat and summer time slow period.  However the Owyhee is going to bust loose as the weather cools down.  September can be one of the best times to fish the Owyhee River with PMD's, Mahoganies and Baetis topping the chart for May fly activity.  But for right now it's still Hopper action and early morning nymphing.

 

August 24, 2009

Anglers are reporting that the Brown Trout action on the Owyhee has slowed down which is not unusual this time of year.  However, if you fish the Owyhee a lot then that should not intimidate you.  Most reports coming from the Owyhee have been the same. Slow.  All the more reason for you to go and give it a try.  There won't be the fishing pressure you might see is if the word was the fishing was great.  So I say go and have a good day's fishing.

August 17, 2009

The Owyhee River is running at around200 cfs.  Your strategy should be the same as the last report.  The PMD's are still coming off with some predictability and if you time it right you can really wallop some nice Browns.  The key is to figure out what stage the Trout are feeding on during the hatch.  If you match it right you're going to have a fine afternoon of fishing.

 

August 5, 2009

The river flows on the Owyhee River are currently at 211 cfs.  The fishing has been pretty good.  My advice is to break you fishing down into three components and fish this river one component at a time.  1.  The morning should be devoted to nymph fishing.  Work the tailouts and quick moving water until around noon.  2.  Around this time switchover to terrestials, Hopper's in particular and work the entire river.  Stopping at only good hopper water and moving through quickly.  3.  By mid afternoon to early evening you should see some PMD's and Caddis on the water.  work over pods of fish in long deep tailouts or cruise the river looking for rising fish.

July 22, 2009

Morning nymph fishing has been excellent.  Work the tail outs with enough weight to keep your flies moving through the entire run.  The  afternoon PMD's should start around 3:00 along with the Caddis so you can start early or come later but if you with to fish all day use a Hopper during the slow time.  Drive the road and look for the obvious Hopper areas and work them quickly.  Then move to the next spot.  Hopper fishing is fast action if you don't get a strike the first couple of times chances are you'll be wasting your time if you continue to cast over and over.

June 25, 2009

You should find plenty of PMD action on the Owyhee River.  Starting around mid morning  and going in spurts through out the day until early evening has been the report recently.  Between the PMD's and Caddis you will have plenty of action.  The best time to fish is mid week where you can have pretty much the whole river to fish without much fisherman traffic.  Work the tail-outs with your nymph rod and have your dry fly rod ready a near.  The fishing has been good.

June 10, 2009

The river is fishing quite well right now. The river flow is around 280cfs which is just about perfect for wading. You want to fish this river with two rods. A nymph rod and a dry fly rod will give you the right equipment to fish this river successfully. On the nymph rod use a two nymph system with a split shot or two and fish the tail outs from the end to the beginning. Most of the Browns are being caught in this water. Caddis flies are abundant and you should be ready to switch over to dries when the opportunity shows itself.