Spectacular Fishing on the Sixes!

I had my first opportunity to river fish for salmon as a guest of my friend Cathy Needleman.  She and her husband have a beautiful home on the Elk River in Port Orford, Oregon.  We met up at San Francisco Airport December 11th for a short flight to North Bend. 

Our flight landed about an hour late (due to fog and backed up flights), even so, Cathy's parking company had her truck waiting for us.  We made it to her house around 5 pm after about an hour drive and a shopping spree at Safeway for foods for breakfast and lunch plus some wine and a bottle of Champagne.

Her home is beautiful.  It's located in forest with the Elk River running behind her house.  

I unpacked then Cathy helped me organize my clothing for the next day's fishing.  She brought out a warm outer coat and Frog Togs rain gear for me to use.  I brought my own waders, boots, thermal underware and down jacket.  She also had ThermaCare Heatwraps for us - little heat warmers intended for arthritis that stays warm for 16 hours.  She suggested placing one on my neck and one on my back.  Boy, did they work well.

Cathy talked to our guide, Richard, who said he would pick us up at 6:30 the next morning.  We packed the lunches for the next day then we went to dinner at Redfish in Port Orford.  Redfish is a great little French Bistro with local artwork lining the walls and ceiling.  We decided to share a Caesar Salad and the special for the night, Crab Stuffed Ravioli with asparagus.  It was delicious!

Redfish Bistro

I was up early Tuesday morning, dressed and ready by 6:30 am.  It was an interesting process getting dressed.  Thermal pants and top with ThermaCare heatwraps went on first, t-shirt and lined fishing pants next, down jacket and wool socks followed by the waders.  Then I stuffed my feet (covered with socks and wader feet) into wading boots.  Last but not least, Fleece hat and overcoat.  I felt and looked like the Michelin man.

Richard Wolfe (our guide) was right on time.  He and his twin brother, Scott, call their guide service Wolfe Pack Fishing.  I was soon to learn why they are the best in the area.  They are pleasant, funny, and very thorough at checking out conditions - weather, river levels, fishing conditions. 

Our first stop was to meet Barb, the shuttle service that moves the truck and trailer downstream to the planned takeout area.  In addition to shuttling, Barb provides a current fish report.  That helps Richard decide where they want to put the boat in the river and where to take it out for the days' fishing.

It was still dark when Richard backed the boat into the river and tied it off to the shore.  We were on the Sixes River.  Cathy and I got in the boat and stowed our dry bags under the deck in front.

 

Sixes River

This was all very new and extremely exciting for me.  There was much for me to learn.  Richard explained that the salmon come into the river and move from hole to hole up stream on their way to the spawning grounds.  They wait in a hole until rain provides enough water for them to move to the next hole.  Rain also provides water to bring more fish into the stream.  I finally understood why Cathy said we should hope for rain before our trip.

 

Richard

                                     

When Cathy said we would be fishing from a "drift boat", I had no idea that our guide would be rowing us down the river - all day long.  No motors allowed on the river.

Richard rowed us to a spot he wanted us to try first.  Now I needed to learn how to fish using the 5 different rod set-ups.  We had the float (like Brandon uses for white seabass), the Quick Fish lure (with an anchovy strapped to its belly), back bouncing (light weight set up like a halibut rig), a diver jig and a spinner rig for drifting.  When to set the hook was different on each setup. 

Quick Fish Jig with Anchovy

We fished until noon trying hole after hole and river edges with fast flowing water.  There were a couple other boats that had fished the area before we got to the different spots.  We caught up with one of those boats at the take out area.  Their guide was Casey.  They had caught one salmon and one of the angler's was fighting a king salmon he had snagged with his fly rod.  The fish was finally landed and released.  It was an ugly salmon with a fungus all over its' head.  Richard decided to take the boat out and move it up stream to fish another area.

Barb had brought the truck and trailer to this takeout area so Richard put the boat on the trailer and moved us up stream and launched the boat again.  We kept fishing hoping to finally hook a fish.  It started raining at 4 pm which should help for the next day.  By 5 pm, our day consisted of seeing one fish roll on a bait, a couple nibbles on Cathy's line and I managed to snag a tree on my first cast and hook a rock!  It was a wonderful day filled with beautiful scenery, bald eagles soaring, bluejays mimicking eagles, and ducks flying overhead.  With fish so scarce, I had the added joy of learning and practicing new methods of fishing without the embarrassment of losing a fish.

We got back to the house, showered and had a glass of wine while we made lunches for the next day.  Scott, Richard's twin, called to let us know we would be leaving at 6:15 the next morning so we could get on the river before other boaters.  We would be fishing the Sixes again.

We went back to Fort Orford for a fish and chips dinner at Crazy Norwegian.  We met up with the anglers that had caught the fungus headed salmon.  They ended the day with two salmon.  Otherwise the restaurant was empty.  Our waiter said the place is usually full when the fishing is good.  Our Shrimp, Fish & Chips Combo was good.  We spent a little time chatting in front of the fire with a glass of wine after we got home.  Just what we needed before calling it a night.

Scott and Richard arrived at 6:15 am.  They had a gift for Cathy.  It was a hand carved salad spoon and fork set made by artists in their home town.  They said it matched the decor in her home.  It's beautiful and does match the other local artwork in her home.

Richard, Cathy & Scott

Richard left and we hopped in Scott's truck.  First stop was to coordinate with Barb for the takeout area and fish report.  Then Scott launched in the same area of the Sixes that we fished the previous day.  We were half way down to the takeout area when Casey came behind us with his guests.  He was in a hurry to get down the river and passed us.  Scott mentioned that he was probably anxious to hit each hole before anyone else got there.  We fished down to the takeout area with the same results as the day before.  Scott mentioned that the depth of the holes change with the rains.  Some actually fill up with silt and are no longer holding.  Guides are so knowledgeable and indispensable in my opinion and both Richard and Scott impressed me.

Scott moved us to a portion of the Sixes up stream where it's forbidden to keep salmon but you could keep steelhead.  After launching, Scott joked that he had taught his brother everything he knows.  A friendly competition between brothers made Scott determined to get us a fish which was why he decided to fish this area.  His decision or competitive nature really paid off. 

We hit a hole around noon that was holding fish.  Scott used salmon eggs along with a live sand shrimp for bait.

We fished the bobber, back bouncing and the diver all of which worked.  When we would hook a fish, Scott moved the boat to the shore and anchored the boat.  He got out of the boat and stood on shore until we guided the fish into the net.  After my first fish, Scott tried to have Cathy and me hold it for a picture.  We failed miserably and the fish ended up in Scott's arms and we simultaneously yelled "Release it.  We don't need a photo."  The next one Cathy landed, I just took a photo of Scott holding the fish with Cathy next to him.

We ended up catching and releasing 9 king salmon and losing another 3 or so before the fish quit biting.  I asked Scott if this hole had a name and he said "no" so I said we should call it "Needleman Hole" after Cathy.  Scott said that may stick.

It was getting late and we were far from the takeout area when Scott hooked a steelhead and handed it to me.  Wow!  The acrobatics.  That fish jumped and jumped then swam into the tree branches.  Scott was maneuvering the boat so I could pull the fish out when the fish made a u turn and swam out.  I fought it until I could guide it into the net Scott had waiting for it on shore. It was my first steelhead.  Scott asked what we wanted to do with the fish and Cathy said it was my call.  I said to release it.  Unfortunately, it had begun to bleed and Scott said it would never live so we decided to kill it.  Cathy and I split the fillets and Scott took the eggs to cure for bait.  It was sad to have to kill her.

It was getting dark so Cathy told Scott to just head for the takeout.  Apparently this had been one of the best days this year on the river.  It had been a spectacular day for us.  Just plain awesome! Scott even filleted our fish for us.  

I really don't know how Richard and Scott do it.  Rowing all day long and we are talking about long days - 7 am to 5 pm on the water. Launching the boat and taking it out to launch again plus the knowledge and fish sense to know where to fish on any given day.  Impressive!

We got back to the house and I popped a bottle of Champagne to celebrate and we certainly had much to celebrate.  Cathy's neighbor, Aleea, decided to join us for dinner.  She picked us up and drove to the Wheelhouse Restaurant in Bandon.  Aleea was fun to have along and share our celebration with.

Thursday we slept in.  It was a day for packing and travel.  We spent an hour in Bandon checking out the little shops in town and grabbing a light lunch before continuing on to the airport.  We got there a little after noon for a 1:30 flight to San Francisco.  Once we boarded the plane, we were notified that we would be delayed for a mechanical.  We were an hour late taking off and in jeopardy of missing both of our connections.  Cathy got a text when we landed that her flight was delayed an hour so she would make her flight.  We landed 10 minutes before my flight was to take off and I had to run to my gate which was about a quarter mile.  When I got there, they announced that my flight was delayed an hour due to a mechanical.  Fortunately we both made our flights and got home in time to have dinner with our husbands.

I had never tasted steelhead before so I cooked a piece I brought  home for dinner the next night.  Sauteed Steelhead with a lemon dill cream sauce.  It was delicious!

I can't thank Cathy enough for her generosity, friendship and the opportunity to share a spectacular fishing adventure with her.  She is one of a kind.  I look forward to fishing with her in the future.

Just a note on United Airlines.  This was the first time I've flown with them and I can't say that I am a fan.  I had an upgraded seat and I thought this would give me some priority.  As it turns out, they board by Group and Window Seats are always Group 3 and Aisle Seats are always Group 4.  As it turns out, all the overhead bins are full when they call Group 4 which is what happened to me on 2 flights.  At least I know the routine now so I'll be better prepared.