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Grande Ronde
The Ronde has become a sort of Mecca for summer run steelhead fishing with the fly in September and October. Many different techniques are employed to hook these feisty fish that are in the 5 to 9 pound range. Anything to skating dry flies to nymphing are effective ways to produce these aggressive fish. These trips are special for more ways than one, with the aggressiveness of these fish having multiple fish days is not uncommon. Also the remoteness of this valley gives you the feeling that you are the only one on the river. This river is also finicky it is the type of river that in one week you can hook well over 20 fish and the very next week you can hook 5. Because of this I am offering 3 and 4 day packages on this river.
Three day package: two days of floating and one day of walk in guiding around the camp site.
Four day package: three days of floating and one day of walk in guiding around the camp site.
Your trip will start with setting up camp at the middle section of the river. After camp and instruction we will fish around the camp site as there is plenty of access and good water around the base camp. The next two or three days depending on the length of the trip will be all day fishing adventures, most other trips are only 8 hours long the float days will be closer to 10 hours in length or longer. If you choose to camp and not stay in Clarkston or Lewiston, breakfast lunch and dinner along with refreshments will be provided with the exception of breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last.
The fishing on the Ronde will be swung flies on a floating line, we will be fishing dry flies and submerged flies for these fish. We use spey patterns buggers and dries, all depending on the fishing conditions. Although these fish are not the biggest summer-run fish in the state they are the most aggressive and acrobatic fish. Hooking any fish on the Ronde is an experience you will never forget. The picturesque nature of an untouched river canyon in Eastern Washington, having a screaming steelhead break the stillness of the air, takes you back 100 years when SUV's and Mega Malls did not rule the land. People all over have taken vacations to Hawaii and Mexico along with other tropical places but even if you have done all of these in the past the only vacation that you will discuss once going on a fishing vacation on the Grande Ronde, is your trip to the Ronde. It Keeps you coming back year after year, the harsh ruggedness of the land is an indescribable beauty that sticks with you year round nagging at you to come back next fall. For a taste of what the canyon has to offer check out our Grande Ronde photo gallery.
Equipment needed for this trip is sleeping bag, pillow, air mattress, and changes of clothes for at least 4 days. Now I must warn anybody coming on this trip, this is an unimproved river there are no houses and rarely can you find running water, showers and indoor plumbing only exist in certain places be prepared for actual "roughing it" camping RV's cannot make it to the base camp small pull behind pop up trailers can be brought down the road but if you are not used to pulling a trailer it could be ill-advised. If you have a tent that is a bonus but one can be provided at a small fee. We use 6 or 7 wt fly rods spey or single handed. One will be provided for you but if you would like to use your own you are more than welcome to bring your equipment.
Grande Ronde Checklist:
If you are in need of any of this stuff please visit Pacific Fly Fishers Mike or Ben know exactly what you need to stay warm and comfortable for your day on the river. I work closely with these two and if you let them know that it is for a trip with me you can receive a discount on certain items.
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