Flying Fishing
flying fishing image
E ‘early fall here in Southern Oregon.
The trees are full of color, and so are the rivers and streams.
flying fishing picture
If you’ve ever wanted to witness firsthand the power, majesty and the persistence of salmon and Steelhead, then you owe it to yourself to jump in the car, jump the next train or bus, or take off the first plane to Medford Oregon . And do not forget your boots.
The Rogue River is home to one of the last great runs of native salmon and Steelhead in the lower forty-eight, and part of the wild and scenic Rogue is home to reach Falls.To Rainie Rainie Falls you have to drive to the town of Merlin on past the village of Galice, and park at the trailhead on the south side of the river just before the Graves creek bridge, which is the beginning of the section of the wild and scenic Rogue River. Rainie Falls, which in this time of year is a ten-foot plunge over boulders and rocks, and works itself into a solid class five river rating, it seems almost impossible to navigate on both floating direction.Most portage around the falls or take the line and their boats and rafts along the “fish scale” on the north side of river. However, if you are willing to take the trip of two miles to this small wonder, but naturally you will be rewarded with one of the best shows on earth here.
The leap of salmon and Steelhead as they try to climb the waterfalls is a sight to behold.
For most people, the nearest where they will witness this incredible strength of mind, when you take the remote and flipped to the National Geographic channel, just in time to see a slow-mo, a group of three-dimensional pixel jump in the air. Tail flapping, body twisting and trying to stretch beyond a natural barrier – which did not seem like a big deal on the road to the valley.
flying fishing idea
All this so they can pro-create and die.
Of course the Steelhead just do this to pro-create, so it can be a bit ‘higher up the chain fish IQ.
Now, if I were a salmon to reach the falls – I think to myself: ‘Why I want to exhaust myself dodging sea lions, motor boats, fishing lines, ten foot waterfall, the water borne fungus that can destroy my gills and prematurely end my “fish sex ‘run, and even more fishing lines – only to bury some eggs in the rocks and wait for Mr. Right to come by and spray his manhood fish on my cuddles’.
If it were me, I take a couple of jumps inside my heart falls, call it good and return to sea for another three years of gorging myself on fish and ocean adventure.
But that’s just me.
The fish of the Rogue River have different intentions and may God bless them for making the effort to keep the species in tact.
On this day early fall fish are very active and seems almost like a sort of Olympics pescatorial is taking place here at the falls. Sometimes, 05:56 fish can be found at once in the air. These are big fish too, some going as big as fifty pounds.
It seems that every fish has its own method of attacking the height of ten feet, some are in a leap tall arching rainbow, some falling into the fire like a bullet, and some flip flops in the air in a style “Fosbury”. (Incidentally, the legendary Dick Fosbury grew up in Medford – I wonder if he got his style from watching the salmon jump?)
flying fishing ideas
Again and again, the fish relentlessly try to maneuver over the falls.
Some hit the rocks on the side, Steelhead seem to have some place right there where they are constantly trying to hit a “fold” in running water, and other mis-time their jumps and feebily fall short of the falls. Sometimes you see a mighty fish gather the power to reach the magical place where you can push their fins once more over the limit and the upper level.
Amazing.
Think about it, these small in comparison to ourselves, the creatures have the strength to jump on a circle of basketball. If you or I could do that we could quit our jobs, sign contracts Nike healthy, and go fishing all day! In fact, I think Nike should consider the “Slammin ‘Salmon” basketball shoes, with a smiling Rainie Falls Salmon – because I know I’ve seen more “hang time” to fall Michael Jordan has never exhibited on the court. You could also take the twenty million dollars they would pay an athlete, and put it in the direction of Salmon and Steelhead habitat restoration!
We must have sat for half an hour, watching the big stunts and trying to see if we could recognize the same fish who were taking multiple jumps at the falls. It ‘hard to believe that there is such a great success rate, but judging by the number of fish that make it superior to spawn in the river – most of them.
But not before exhausting themselves at the falls.
There is fishing at the falls, and if you plan to fish you must go at least three hundred yards downstream.
If you’re still in the mood for some more demanding hikes, you can continue downstream, but the path is not nearly as worn, there are rocks, creeks and Blackberry to navigate, and there is plenty of bear sign along the road. We walked up to Whiskey Creek, and flyfished for a while ‘for some of the legendary half pounds of the Rogue River canyon.
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The days are shorter during this time of year so be sure to leave ample time to make the round trip, with our late start we only had one and a half of fishing time, and made it right out in the dark.
For the most part, the fishing was just an afterthought this afternoon …
… On this day, was the true appreciation for the Steelhead and salmon, and once a witness of these great fish in their quest for a return to their birthgrounds, I defy you not to come away with a healthy respect for the salmon and Steelhead– and perhaps for the great spirit and determination of survival of the species in general.
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