Dave LaCourse wrote:

John R. writes:

BTW, Oregon has "fly fishing only" waters, where you need to use the
entire FFing rig, and "fly only" waters, where the choice of rod, reel
and line is immaterial.

Same as the difference between "Artificial lures only" and "fly fishing only."

Not exactly, because on the "fly only" waters you have to use an actual
fly (which is defined in the regs)--no spinners, plugs, etc. It
practice, it essentially means fishing a fly under a bubble with
spinning gear--a truly deadly technique in the hands of some of the
old-timers fishing for steelhead on the North Umpqua.

Where are you?

Back in Rome. Just returned from two weeks' leave in Oregon, where I
went fishing only twice. Turned very cold soon after my arrival and a
sudden snow storm ruined a planned outing with Bob Weinberger for
steelhead. He went (there was no snow where he was) and had a good
day. I had fished a couple of days earlier on the Deschutes, where I
hooked a nice fish (maybe 28-30 inches) but broke it off at the moment
of trying to land it. A later outing for trout on the Fall River
produced a few smallish fish on Griffiths Gnats, but it was so cold I
had to bug out for the dugout after a couple of hours.

When is the development on the Rapid you wrote about likely to begin?
I'd like to get back there and fish some of the spots below Pondy before
the place goes all suburban.

JR