Klamath trip report around Orleans

[nrthcsteel]

Hey all. Well with the next couple weeks filled up with plans I decided to hit the middle Klamath for a couple of days. Now I decided to fish the area around Orleans. May be a little early. Was greeted with some Pee soup green water, from the warm temps and algae combo I gather. I fished above and below Orleans but found the best fishing and a little better water clarity above the fork of the Salmon. Caught a handful of halfpounders and one that was a little better id say. Ive been reading the debate over half pounders so I will post the pick and you can decide for yourself. To me it was a small adult. Just a hint of color showing, and though the picture doesnt show it this fish had some shoulders,it was also a wild fish. Anyway another installment for the "halfpounder or adult gameshow" Almost got chased of the water by a thunderstorm saturday evening and stumbled upon a bear this morning. He was about fifty feet away on the hillside and we kind of had a staring contest. He didnt seem to bothered by me and he layed down and continued watching me. I decided to fish through the run, rather quickly. It was cast,mend swing cast mend Hey bear, swing. Added another bit of excitement to the experience. Never had a bear do that usually they bolt out of there. Well it was a fun trip and glad I went. with the temps dropping and maybe a little rain it should get REALLY good. Hope these pictures work. Kevin
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc120/keving71/grif.jpg
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc120/keving71/tclouds.jpg
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc120/keving71/klstl.jpg

[Adam Grace]

Nice pictures, that's a nice steelhead....whatever people may classify it as. Wow, that bear laying down and not fleeing is a little freaky. I don't know if I would have had the "stones" to continue fishing that run, you're the man! :lol:

Thanks for the report.

[nrthcsteel]

Thanks Adam. As far as the Bear encounter. He was about fifty feet away but he was up on a fairly steep hillside about 25 feet and from the bottom of the hill to the river edge where I was there was thick brush, over head height. I was working my way to the top of the run. It was tough going as there were large boulders all the way. I quickly realized my only exit if for some odd reason the bear decided to charge would be to jump in the river and try to do my best "A river runs through it "mitation"I think after the staredown he was comfortable where he was as was I so I decided to just work down the run. I was probably safer wading down out in the river a little than going along the bank which would have brought me closer to the bear. It was a weird situation but given the circumstances I did what I thought was right and had a plan in case things got ugly. Now if I came across a bear at the same distance on flat ground and he didnt back down or run away????????? Different situation. Every encounter is unique. Thats why I always try and make alot of noise, talk to myself, thrash the brush with a stick especially when alone. This time things worked out. Hopefully there wont be many more next times!!!! Kevin

[Adam Grace]

Kevin, i also meant to comment about how beautiful your handle-section of your spey rod is, very nice.

Is that a Meiser or an Anderson rod, who made it?

[nrthcsteel]

Adam, I bought the rod used from Steve Godshall. Its built on an Anderson 1316 Blank (13"1" 6wt). I believe Steve built the rod himself. Its a beauty and a great rod for the Klamath/Trinity. THANKS STEVE!!! Kevin

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

The Klamath River is a great place to fly fish for Steelhead.

Thanks Kevin.

[WinterrunRon]

Ditto: Very nice looking fish to compliment the handsome rod handle! Thanks for your report.

I'm curious about the water conditions. How warm is the water to support the pea soup effect you encountered?

[Rick J]

I would call that an adult and a gorgeous fish - appears to be over 20"!

Regarding the Klamath and its color - it always has this pea soup color in the later summer/fall due to algea though it seems to be a bit worse this year than normal. The river temps in the lower river often get into the low 70's but I think the fish have adapted to these temps to a degree as it has always been warm in all the years I have been fishing.

The weekend Adam and I were on the river there was a pretty substantial slide on the lower river just above Blue Creek that made teh lower river kinda muddy as well as pea soup green!

[nrthcsteel]

Thanks Rick. Yeah right around twenty going by the grips. Thanks for the algae explanation. Cant say what temp the water was as I didnt have a thermometer. The pea soup effect definatly seemed more apparent below the fork of the salmon and even more as you made your way down toward where the trinity enters. Kevin

[WinterrunRon]

Thanks for the info on the water conditions.

But I have to say that "algae", "warm water", "pea soup" and "muddy" do not invoke in me a passion for wanting to travel to fish that river, or any river, for steelhead. :( Heck, forget travel, I wouldn't walk down to the American to fish for steelhead if it were warm, laden with algae, mudddy and pea soup green. I can't think of more depressing words when discussing fishing for steelhead... :?

[Rick J]

Ron - before you disregard the river take a look at the photos in the post started by Adam on our trip - this is a truly classic steelhead river for fall fish - we were above the slide so not impacted by the mud - the green algae is a typical occurance on this as well as other rivers - still 4 to 5 feet of visiblity - think of it as steelhead green as opposed to pea soup green and maybe it becoems more palatable :)

[WinterrunRon]

- think of it as steelhead green as opposed to pea soup green and maybe it becoems more palatable :)

Rick,

I feel better about it now... thank you. :) I was having an anxious moment with the previous adjetives! Guess my pea soup is thicker than yours. Mine doesn't have 4-5 feet of visibility. In fact, mine doesn't have ANY visibility. I like your pea soup better. It seems that river has it's share of problems, however. Every year it's something.

BTW, what other rivers experience similar condiitons?

[nrthcsteel]

Yeah dont let it discourage you. I in no means was trying to discourage anyone from going there. It was how the water was so I mentioned it. And as Rick said there was still 4-5 feet of visibility and steelhead green may be a better term. Actually it was kind of nice as opposed to crystal clear when every fish in the run darts for cover when they see your truck coming down the highway. In a few weeks the "steelhead green" will probably be gone. The Klamath is an awesome river. Great access, classic fly water around every turn it seems and just an amazing experience all around. It is definatly worth it. Ill be back quite a few times starting in a couple of weeks. Kevin

[Digger]

The Upper Klamath lake is often credited, or should I say blamed for a good amout of the algae. It's a very shallow, nutrient rich lake that has extensive algae blooms (not unlike Bridgeport/Crowley in the e. sierra). I believe enough algae will deplete a good amount of disolved oxygen from the water - not good.

Even though it travels a ways from there, with only 1000 cfs out of Iron Gate, it doesn't clear up much.