Spring Chinook & Pre-Spawn Bass season started off in normal fashion, then the weather threw us a curve ball with summer like conditions.

Great for the fisherman but not so much for the catching. The water temps reached 65 in April!

Smallmouth spawned on the full moon in April instead of May, the river level dropped to the lowest levels I’ve ever seen for Spring and the river moss has choked out the Salmon fishing. We finally threw in the towel on May 1.

Good news is the bass fishing has been good for numbers and size plus the Shad are filling the river.

I want to thank everyone who had their Salmon trip cancelled or rescheduled to the Fall for your understanding.  Here are some Salmon photos before the moss took over.

However, as always it truly won’t bust open until April and May. I thought it might be different this year with much warmer and drier conditions
than normal… apparently the fish did not.

We did have some good time Smallmouth fishing in wonderful weather…. no Stripers or Springers…YET
Any day now that will change.

Happy to report it won’t be long before I’m sharing reports of a river full of Springers ( please Lord let it be) and huge Pre-Spawn Smallmouth being caught on the Big K Loop!

We won’t start running trips for them until last week of March, through June.

Don’t forget we also are due for a great run of American Shad peaking Mother Day through Fathers Day!

Well, what once was a slow start has now turned into red hot Steelhead fishing on the Umpqua. This last week has been fantastic for plugging as well as sidedrifting. The Thompsons from Bend had the trip of a lifetime with 18 steelhead…we think…. you know it’s good when you lose count.

We had several youngsters catch their first Steelhead this week which is so cool (job security).

Scott Haugen was at the Big K with his family. They promptly started out the morning with his wife and son landing a double! If the rains aren’t too heavy this should continue!

I’ll be at the Sacramento Sportsman Show next week in the Big K booth # 3129 while the rest of the guides will be here fishing Steelhead. I can be reached this week at 541-430-1736 or todd@bigkoutfitters.com

If you want to beat the crowds and fish in total seclusion at the Big K give us a call. 1-541-459-2276

Smallmouth are feeding hard in anticipation of cooler weather,  Salmon are in the river in full force and the weather is perfect!

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Featuring free seminars, sweepstakes and demonstrations by Oregon experts, Cabela’s in Springfield is gearing up for the fall hunting and fishing seasons with the Big Game Classic August 25-26.

Oregon’s Gary Lewis, author and TV host of Gary Lewis’ Adventure Journal, and Todd Harrington, Fishing Program Director with the Big K Ranch, will be conducting seminars Saturday, August 25. Gary will lead two seminars – one on black bear hunting and the second on finding public land hot spots for mule deer and blacktail. Todd shares with you the Royal Flush, a quest after five fish, all in one day on the Umpqua River. Don’t miss these informative, hour-long seminars, with two of Oregon’s top experts.

Plus, attendees can enter for the chance to win a prize package valued at more than $11,000.  No purchase is necessary to enter, the contest is open to legal residents of the United States age 18 and over at the time of entry.  See store for complete details.

Experts representing local conservation partners and organizations will be in-store including:

• Oregon Hunters Association
• Mule Deer Foundation
• Safari Club International
• Travel Lane County

Plus, don’t miss our Sunday seminar, Blackpowder and the Beast: Hunting with a Muzzleloader, and other weekend product demonstrations, which are all geared toward the fall hunting seasons.

The Springfield store is located in the Gateway Mall at 2800 Gateway St., Springfield, OR 97477. Visit www.cabelas.com/springfield for complete event details or call 541-349-5760. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Bass fishing is still king here on the Ranch, but not for long as we have started fishing fall Kings in the lower river. Most days have been good and will continue through October.
The Smallmouth action on the Ranch is still on fire, lot’s of fish and good topwater action as well! This will continue until the weather cools off.
We have very limited openings left for Salmon fishing this fall I’m guessing we will be booked out by next week so…

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Our first Salmon trip is August 13 so stay tuned!