Targeting "Big" redbands on the Deschutes?

[DerekWhipple]

Oh it is, but then you start to think about bringing it along "Just to reach that one slot that I can't quite roll cast to". And then you can't just walk past all the juicy mid river water without making a cast. Then one day you'll "accidentally" leave the nymph rod in camp and before you know it you're plunking hot dogs for carp.

It straight up catches a lot of fish in stupid over crowded conditions. Saved my ass a couple of trips. I fish it just like I would jigs for steelhead with a lighter rod.

Well shit, now I gotta bring my streamer rod AND my centerpin rig next time...

 

[PhilR]

that actually sounds like a damn good idea.

Was thinking about something like this for non ff on stillwater, but now the wheels are turning.

 

[Yard Sale]

Cut to the chase and just run plugs on side planers. That way you can just sit in your chair and read comics....

 

[Clarkman]

"ya just gotta let 'er soak"







whoops, wrong thread

 

[Brian in OR.]

When we float from trout creek to harpam we would spook quite a few larger fish when floating down the middle of the river... Just out of reach from the bank

 

[Dustin Bise]

Cut herring and just run plugs on side planers. That way you can just sit in your chair and read comics....

fixed

 

[Brian Miller]

Purists are going to hate this - but when I've gotten tired of fighting the wind and hiking way too many miles occasionally I will rig up a spinning setup with a slip float and get some nymphs wayyyyy out into the river at the campgrounds. Still haven't gone 20" but I've had several at 19".

Well shit, now I gotta bring my streamer rod AND my centerpin rig next time...

In my late teens I had a book that showed a couple of ways of rigging a spinning rod with a casting float and flies. I preferred a (1/8 oz translucent chartreuse) non-slip Torpedo Float with snap swivels at both ends and a UL-LT spinning setup that could cast 1/32 oz lures for high lakes. I would
usually use one fly and make long casts, let sit, twitch-retrieve; repeat. But I would also rig it for lake outlets and inlets with a dry fly above the float and wet or nymph dropper at the end. With a shorter cast I would hold the rod high and try to make the dry dap on top in the current and the wet or nymph sink during a drift.
A couple of years ago I found the book, "Fish Don't Think: How to Catch Fish Using a Fly and Bubble" written by Bob Kayne. He likes to use a (slow action) fly rod with a spinning reel.

To avoid having to carry 2 full setups, I started carrying a fly rod and reel for use where I had room for a backcast, and added a spinning reel. I have a small compartmented fly box that is carried around the neck on a lanyard with flies, torpedo float, a couple of spare snap swivels, and a couple of spoons, (classic 1/16 oz. Daredevle with SBH always seems to work if flies don't). Works pretty well!

Might that work on the Deschutes?

 

[BC33]

I never measure the fish, honestly. And yea, the D is not a big fish river, but the mature redsides, in that current, are every bit of the 20"plus bows I used to catch on the Truckee.....if you stocked the D with triploid bows, and browns, there'd be toads just like all the other places with non-native fish.

 

[HawaiianInWa]

"hot dogs for carp". Love this forum. Hotdog straight up kills it regardless of species. Even bonefish love em'.

 

[Rob Allen]

I never measure the fish, honestly. And yea, the D is not a big fish river, but the mature redsides, in that current, are every bit of the 20"plus bows I used to catch on the Truckee.....if you stocked the D with triploid bows, and browns, there'd be toads just like all the other places with non-native fish.

This is true Deschutes Redsides are very strong for their size. The hottest rainbows i ever caught were from Ennis lake.. A 20 inches there will get you into your backing on the first run, but after that you just bring them in. 14 inch Deschutes Redsides fight you all the way , then threaten to rip your head off if you don't release them right away.

 

[Mike22]

In my experience, my biggest redbands have taken 2-3" streamers fished slowly through deep troughs/slow moving runs.

SBS: 10' 6wt rod, wf floating line, 12' leader, heavy fly, lots of stack mending, slow jigging/short strips.

 

[Rob Allen]

View attachment 274324 View attachment 274325

In my experience, my biggest redbands have taken 2-3" streamers fished slowly through deep troughs/slow moving runs.

SBS: 10' 6wt rod, wf floating line, 12' leader, heavy fly, lots of stack mending, slow jigging/short strips.

Nice fish!

 

[long_rod_silvers]

View attachment 274324 View attachment 274325

In my experience, my biggest redbands have taken 2-3" streamers fished slowly through deep troughs/slow moving runs.

SBS: 10' 6wt rod, wf floating line, 12' leader, heavy fly, lots of stack mending, slow jigging/short strips.

Geez! What a beautiful fish!

 

[Shack]

View attachment 274324 View attachment 274325

In my experience, my biggest redbands have taken 2-3" streamers fished slowly through deep troughs/slow moving runs.

SBS: 10' 6wt rod, wf floating line, 12' leader, heavy fly, lots of stack mending, slow jigging/short strips.

That does not look like a typical deschutes fish, is it from somewhere else?

 

[Mike22]

Here's a more "classic" redband, same technique.