Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation

In 1984, from a discussion with fishing guide Jerry Todd, attorney Doug Robertson started a search to find out who owned the lower 12 miles of the Deschutes River. At the time most of this land was owned by one company. So Doug took an option to buy it. He then set out to find a way to transfer it to public ownership. Shortly thereafter The Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation was formed to purchase this land and turn it over to the State of Oregon . By the end of 1985 the citizens of Oregon owned this land outright, and have access to this magnificent canyon forever. Many more miles of the Deschutes river canyon have subsequently been added and nearly all of the river canyon from the mouth to Maupin, (over fifty miles) are accessible to the public.

This school intends that you will graduate with extensive proprietary knowledge 
of steelhead fishing and spey rod casting.
We will camp on prime water and we will have walking and boat access to miles 
of steelhead runs that will present a divers array of angling problems to be solved.
Classes will be held mid-day.  You will fish with a guide each morning and evening.
Brunch and dinner will be served at times to give you the best fishing periods.
This will give you the best advantage for hooking as many steelhead 
as possible during your stay with us.
Nothing teaches you more about fishing than being where 
fish are being hooked and landed.

You will learn all aspects of spey rod fishing with both floating and sinking-tip lines. 
Learn how to locate steelhead water and how to approach it. 
Watch an expert guide as he fishes and discloses the secrets
 and proven methods that put fish on the beach.  
Get a lot of hands on help so that you too can be productive.
Save yourself years of experimenting on your own.
 
You will be pampered!
You will stay in a very comfortable tent camp on the water.
A Camp Person will be available at all times to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
All cooking and eating will be done in a spacious screen-house.
Comfortable sleeping cots and pads are supplied in double occupancy tents. 
All food & non-alcoholic beverages are included.

Bring your own sleeping bag, clothing, toiletries,
waders, rain gear, rods, reels, flies & tackle.

Price does not include Deschutes Boaters Pass or Oregon Fishing License.
Meet at The Fly Fishing Shop at 5:30am arrive back at 6:30pm.
Date: September 2, 3, 4, 5, 2007 
(1) more students only !
First come, first served.       

The Prowler is a heavy-duty float tube for fully grown fishermen. The Prowler's full-length inflatable floor is a drier ride for you and your equipment. The new stripping apron has a height adjustment for a customized fit. The Prowler boasts three Summit 2 valves making inflation/deflation easy and simple. To keep angler from getting parched during a long hard day of fishing, a 54 ounce hydration bladder is included.
Weight: 16 lbs.     Buy Now!

North Umpqua summer steelhead seem uniquely aggressive towards surface techniques, particularly skated dry flies.  Off all the west slope Cascade streams I guide fly anglers on for steelhead, the North Umpqua is hands down the best steelhead “dry fly” river. Period.  None even come close.  In fact, from June through the end of October, the only technique I have my clients employ on the North is “skatin’um up” I started this practice about five years ago and I haven’t regretted it yet.  Using skaters accomplishes three things for my clients.  First,

it’s without a doubt the most exciting way to catch steelhead.  Second, it allows us to effectively locate and identify aggressive fish, that if we can’t get to “eat” the dry fly, we can usually get them to take a follow-up fly.  Third, it really aids the novice steelhead fly fishermen on how to present and properly stay connected to his fly and make the best presentation possible.  When the fly is skating across the surface and remains so clearly visible to the angler, his mends and line/rod    

control is greatly enhanced. In the winter, its down and dirty.  Deeply sunk and slowly swung flies are the rule.  Broad, even tailouts with good structure are my favorites.  Shooting heads in type IV or type VI are best for getting the fly to the proper depth.  I rarely fish weighted flies and I never “dead drift” patterns on the North.  I live for the “big pull” so swinging bugs is the only thing I do.  Some other guides will use “nymphing tactics” for the winter run, I choose not to and do quite

well. Patterns vary from individual to individual, but first timers to the North should come with a variety of muddlers.  From sparsely dressed size 4, 4X long muddlers for winter fish to tiny little

size 8 or 10 muddlers for surface presentations to summer fish. Other patterns that I routinely use are a variety of skaters using foam shell-backs, Bombers, Moose Turds, Intruder type flies and a variety of “bunny” leeches.  Steelhead of the North are like steelhead everywhere, they are not leader shy so I rarely fish with leaders having less than 12 pound tippet. Locating places to fish on the North is easy.  Simply find a pull-out (there are many along the 31 miles of fly water) find the corresponding trail that leads to the water and get fishing.  Often times a simple look around will reveal the “proverbial rock” where other anglers have stood to successfully fish this particular run.  The North is also unique in that the fish will hold in the same places in a pool year after year after year.  This is one reason why hiring a knowledgeable guide on the North is a very good way to

Buddler
Hook: TMC 5263, #6
Thread: Black 3/0 Uni
Tag: none
Butt: none
Body: Purple Poly Flash
Rib: none
Hackle: none
Wing:  1/4 Red Marabou, 3/4 Black Marabou
Head:  Spun black Deer Hair
Common Sizes: This fly is most often used in size six in rivers like The Deschutes & John Day, Grand Rhonde.  This little fly was first tied by Carl Perry in about 1980 and

became the "go-to" fly for dour mid-season fish on the Deschutes River.  Originally Carl tied the wing with fur from his Black Labrador, Buddy.  Buddy + Muddler = Buddler.  The original under-wing was dyed red squirrel tail.  We found that marabou works well for both wings.  It is tied on a 2X long hook and is very delicate.  The Buddler is very effective when fished broad side in the film; grease line style.