Grindstone Lakes

Why I fish

 People ask me why I love to fish. Well, there are lots of reasons.
I think it is that sometimes there are just those fish that never fully show themselves. Just a splash is all I will get if I'm lucky! The line goes slack and then I'm left with an empty pit in my stomach. For the rest of the day I find repeating thoughts in my head of......  Was it the one? What the heck did I do wrong? It sure felt big?  Or, WOW that fish schooled me! 














These are the moments that keep me coming back. Always searching for that one that got away.
This is why I fish.

Oregon Sage Rat Hunting Tips

 Sage Rat season is here!!! The Spring weather is finally showing us few nice days and we are being rewarded with a target rich environment this year.

As Kids most of us can remember heading out to the desert with our Families to try out our first pellet gun or .22.  We had finally graduated from pop cans and paper to actual moving targets.

Now that we are adults, helping our local farmers out with varmit control still brings the same joy that we found in our youth.

Today though, the days of leaning on a wheel line or fence post with open sights are behind us. The technology that is available to us today makes us much more effective at controlling the population out there.

Being an Outfitter I have had the opportunity to view many different styles of shooting in past 5 years. I've learned a lot about the sport and just wanted to share a few things that will make your next Sage Rat Shoot much more enjoyable.    

1. A .17 caliber  is the new .22 If you haven't tried one yet go get one!! :-)

2. Don't go cheap on optics for your guns!! A good scope makes all the difference when trying to shoot a target that is the size of a tennis ball.

3. Try to get elevated! If you don't have a platform in the back of a truck.  Or you just can't drive in a field because the land owner doesn't want you to.  The next best thing is a standing shooting stick.  The few feet you gain, opens up so many more targets.


 4.  Take a good lunch and lots of water!!
Staying well fed and hydrated will help looking through a scope all day long.

5. Find an area that doesn't poison there fields. Or an area that hasn't been plowed for a few years.

6. Going with an outfitter takes out all the leg work that is takes to find the ideal place, ideal gear, providing a great lunch and will try they will do their best to make sure that the limited time you have off from work will be as productive and fun as possible!! www.lakeinthedunes.com

 I hope you all have great shooting this season.  Remember, don't wait till the grass is to tall to see, the time is now!! Have Fun!!!

 

Catch and Release

Now that you've made a solid connection with a trout of a life time, your job begins to make sure that fish can live to see another day. 
 Remember that the less stress a trout experiences during the catching, the faster it's going to revive and this makes the releasing easier.
 Hopefully you use only barb-less hooks or flatten the barbs on the hook you'll use.
 Try and land the fish as soon as possible.
 Tightly woven nets with rubber materials are better as it will not damage the trout's scales, fins or gills.
 Fish internal organs are also easily damaged so don't squeeze them or grip too tightly. If you really need to hold the trout, clasp it near the tail and turn it briefly on its side or upside down to immobilize it. Refrain from touching or putting a finger into its gills. You're going to do this because you want to take a picture of it so get the camera ready beforehand.
 If the hook appears to be deep and not easily removed, cut the line and leave the hook in the fish.
 When releasing your fish don't just let it go.
Don't force it. Don't push water through its gills. Just hold it steady with two gentle hands. It will go when it is ready. This may take time, but be patient.
 Remember, just because a fish swims away when released, this does not mean damage has not  been done and that the fish won’t still die in the upcoming hours or days from the experience. But, by considering all of these factors and trying to minimizing their stress, the fish will have a better chance of survival to be caught again on another day.

International Fly Fishing Film Festival

Lake In The Dunes and The Grindstone Lakes invite you to Come Join us April 4th at 7pm at the Tower Theater in Bend for the International Fly Fishing Film Festival. Get your tickets at Fly And Field Outfitters in bend quick! They sell out fast. And Check out the trailer here http://vimeo.com/34054073

Fly Fising Lakes in Spring

 With the unpredictable weather that spring brings, fly fishing lakes can be a challenge. With cooler water temps the fish don't always give away their location with the explosive dry fly takes of summer. So where do we start once we've found ourselves staring at a lake that seems to be lifeless?

Here are just a few things that I've learned.

First I look for any source incoming water. A fresh source of water typically provides a little warmer temperature.  Also it can bring bug larva down a stream or kick larva out of the mud. Fish tend to gather around these areas when the rest of lake is still waking up from winter.

If there is no fresh water I look for a little deeper water. I put on an intermediate or sinking line to get to the bottom.  It is my belief that the deeper water is slightly warmer in the spring than the surface water that is exposed to the cooler nights, rain, wind and sometimes snow. Also this is wear the majority of the feed is.

As far as techniques go I have found that when with fishing leaches and nymphs, the slower the retrieve, the better.  Cooler temps and less feed options have the fish wanting to excerpt as little effort as possible. Slower strips and longer pauses is how its done.

Chironomids under an indicator with slight to no movement at all is also very productive. Just make sure to get your depth set about a 12-18" off the bottom.

And when all else fails bait fish patterns work well.  One big meal for a fish can be pretty enticing when there isn't a lot of other food sources yet.

Happy Spring Fishing!!!

Sharing the outdoors with our youth

Taking time to spend a day with our youth is priceless!!

The Future of are outdoor sports depends on moments like these.



Special thanks to Gary Lewis, Matt and Dara Smith, Loren Irving and Lake In The Dunes for a great day!!