Uncategorized

Introduction to Odell

Odell lake has to be one of the neatest lakes in Oregon.  High atop Willamette Pass it is at the very top end of the Deschutes Watershed.  Two hundred and fifty plus feet deep in places I have often wondered just how many kokanee could be in there.  It has to be millions.  But back to the koks in a minute.

We’ve made a few trips to Odell so far this summer.  For developed camping it’s hard to beat Trapper Creek campground.  Located right on the lake next to Trapper Creek where the kokanee spawn every fall there’s about 30 well spaced sites it a stand of tall spruce and huckleberries.

Towering spruce, Trapper Creek Campground
Towering spruce, Trapper Creek Campground

It’s a quick trip to the boat ramp which is right in the campground.  And as much as I always think, maybe we’ll get to a hike or some other activities, lets face it, a trip to Odell is all about the fishing.  You can keep 25 kokanee per day here, and if you get your timing right you can limit well before noon.  Well, some people can.  I’ve come close a few times but I’ve always fallen short of a limit.  The bite is always good before the sun hits the water, sometimes it dies off shortly thereafter, sometimes it keeps going and it’s the wind that ends the day for you.

(more…)

Continue ReadingIntroduction to Odell

Opal and Silver on the West Side, June, 2016

I guess if you are posting about June trips during the second week of July that means you are a bit behind.  Such is life in the summer, days are long but they fill up with all kinds of things. We traveled to the west side of Oregon with a couple of objectives, and we actually over achieved.

We launched out of central Oregon on Friday afternoon with hopes of finding a spot to camp on the way to Opal Creek.  Turns out we ended up passing our stopping point but were lucky enough to realize it was the best thing going and we turned around and claimed it after a bit of exploring and backtracking.  This old logging landing on a ridge turned out to be one of the best camp spots ever.  It was full of blooming bear grass, rhododendron, penstemon and several other wildflowers all in full bloom on a forest ridge with nobody around and as it turned out, nobody passed the entire time we were there.

Dream Camp
Dream Camp

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

(more…)

Continue ReadingOpal and Silver on the West Side, June, 2016

Grande Ronde River, June 2016

It had been way too many years since I was on the Grande Ronde (2013 was the last trip), so I was pretty excited to make the trek across the state to get on the river.  The Grande Ronde may just be the prettiest float trip in the state, but that probably depends on what you are looking for.  The long drive and short flow window have limited trips to an every few years kinda affair.  But here we were, after a half day trek to Minam the day before, ready to launch.  As is my usual experience at the launch, it’s the big scene playing out.  People who must, from all appearances, only rarely do this kinda thing.  You’ve seen them, they have gear spread hither and yon, taking up every available slot in the launch, no apparent direction, you could watch them and wonder if they are taking out or putting in they are making so little forward progress.  And here I was thinking it was called a boat launch because, what, you launch your boat there….oh, no, that is the place to make meal decisions, load the cooler and decide what goes in which dry bag, and yes, take a break at the nearest table and eat your full breakfast!  Yes, you wouldn’t expect us to eat breakfast before splaying our stuff out all over the ramp would you?  How would we ever find something to eat until we unloaded everything?  So we pushed the trailer and boat through the willows and…yep, launched and loaded the boat.  OK, enough of the crowd, deep breath….

Chaos at the launch
Chaos at the launch

And we’re off, away from it all, just like that. (more…)

Continue ReadingGrande Ronde River, June 2016