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View Full Version : Grande Ronde River Steelhead Float Trip



Bill Kiene semi-retired
02-05-2005, 11:17 AM
Rick Jorgensen invited Don Rotsma and I to go on a 4 day float trip in mid-October down the Grande Ronde River with the Scott O'Donnell outfitters. I have heard about this river for about 20 years now and in resent years it has even gotten better runs of steelhead (people too). A top quality float trip will probably give us the best shot on the river and the outiftter and guides we are using are Spey specialists as well.

Chris Pasley has fished this river many time and says October and March are both prime times. In October the dry fly fishing is suppose to be very good with fish from 4 to 8 pounds. the river is in eastern OR/WA and drains into the Snake River.

Scott O'Donnell's web site:

http://www.piscator.homestead.com/home.html

http://www.piscator.homestead.com/files/JoByhp.jpg

Our trip is full but you can contact them for your own SH dream trip.

Rick J
02-08-2005, 03:57 PM
fished up on the GR with Scott a year and a half ago - we fished out of the Speywater Lodge in Troy - the place was built by John Fogerty of Creedence fame!! It was a great experience though fishing was not red hot as we hit a cold snap and the river dropped close to 10 degrees in the time we were there! Scott and the other guides (including Mike McCune) are great guides and wonderful spey fishing instuctors!! And Steffanie, Scott's wife, will cause you to gain 10 pounds in the 5 days - food is exceptional!!

This river is probably the best looking steelhead river I have ever seen with continuous run after run of fabulous holding water. Thsi year I opted to go on a float trip on the lower section of the river and a bit earlier in the year just to try something different. It is a great adventure for anyone interested. Going with Bill and Don will make it just that much more enjoyable. It will be interesting to see if Bill can out-talk and out tell stories with Scott!!