fish4trout,
If you do take the road from Nevada through Frenchglen as Jonezee recommended …consider strongly staying at Frenchglen …or even better IMHO stay and eat at the Diamond Hotel…Diamond, OR…
I concure with Frenchglen…kinda Hemingwaynesque…you can sit out on the front porch of the ice cream parlor/tavern and watch the world go by, a nice nature park is close by. Get use to out houses and porta potties. In July you will probably see buses with bird watchers galore. The Malheur valley is probably one of the premier bird watching sites in North America.
Ducksterman and Jonezee I was in Burns just a few weeks ago and was told that the old French Glen Hotel was closed down. Don’t know why. Several years ago I worked on the Roaring Springs Ranch south of French Glen and on days off a few of us would go up there and have lunch. Loved that place. I know some folks from over that way and I have emails out to them to see if they have any info on the old hotel.
Rocky
Wow Rocky, the times they are a changing. I hope it is still open, what a great piece of Americana. I must say however, it is along way from anywhere and it must be hard to hack out a living with just tourists to count on. I hope someone revives it soon.
The last time I was there, we threw the husks of the peanuts on the floor and drank beer from icy cold bottles. At least I have the memories, firsh4trout will be making his soon.
Jonezee… I am very excited to make this trip and I am very courious about the ponds you are talking about. I will have to check my Gaziteer when I get home tonight. Are these ponds right off the hwy?
Born to fish forced to work.
Alan
They are close to the red lava ashphalt road, however it is a little bummy dirt road into the ponds. There is a very nice parking lot at Krumbo with toilet facilites and a boat ramp a tie-up dock. I don’t remember much about Mann, that was many years ago. I highly reccommend Krumbo for the nice fish and easy access. Don’t let the color of the water scare you off, that azure color is natural and the fish like it. Like I said, you will mostly be encountering local’s. Yes, even sheep herders and cowboys fish.
and there’s Fish Lake up in the Steens…probably will be open by then.
Fished Krumbo 2 years ago…road improved…in fact the whole operation is quite user friendly …they even now have overhanging wheelchair access decks to fish from and really not obtrusive …right then fishing was ok but a little slow…didn’t get there last year…greener pastures…but likely will this May…by the way it’s quite a large reservoir…big enough to withstand our recent drought years…this is going to be a great water year…
[This message has been edited by ducksterman (edited 28 March 2006).]
If you get over around the Blitzen River watch out for rattlesnakes. There’s a bunch of them. Two people were bitten in that area last year. One at the Page Springs campground and I believe the other was a little further down river.
Rocky
The worse case of rattelsnakes I ever encountered in Oregon was on the John Day river. Every cow path seemed to have them sunning themselves here and there. However, I remember they hightailed it when we approached rather than confronted us. I have a single shop Winchester model 47 16ga I carry sometimes in rattler country. It breaks down nicely and the number 7-1/2 bird shot will put them in their place…if you see them first. I won’t shot just to kill them…there are too many anyway…and I don’t like rattler on a spit…only once did I have to shot one that was heading my way. Some of the best and hugest white fish I ever caught came out of the John Day.
I learn more about the world while talking to myself when fishing alone
Reminds me of fishing and hunting the snake [anybody know Dug Bar?]…jumped out of the boat to go after some chukar and almost onto a rattler…being younger then reflexes were good and a hip shot took the head off…skinned and mounted…
When I first started the Deschutes…clawing and crawling alone the steep bank and brush I look up and a sign says “Rattle Snake Protection Area—do not disturb the snakes”…give me a break…and it was an official sign…
Ducksterman if you want to see rattlesnakes on the Deschutes fish it during the salmon fly hatch. Them snakes are out grabbing them huge bugs quicker than the fish. You get so jumpy around there that time of year if a persons fly reel clicks just right you’ll have to go home and change your shorts.
Rocky
Rocky,
That’s exactly the hatch I was fishing when that stupid sign appeared.
I was probably sittin in the Oasis tavern in Maupin when you guys were out tripping over rattlers…That’s were I first encountered a muddler minnow to use on the trout…that was over 35 years ago…I also used quite well a Brad’s Brat. Local pattern, kinda like a light orange/brown caddis. Saw a lotta snakes that looked like rattlers, but were pretty safe to be around. I remember, just above Box Car Rapids, a long hike down and a longer hike back out. I don’t think at my age I could do that again, oh well back to the Oasis. Jonezee
Their malts were out of this world…after 3 days on the river…
[This message has been edited by ducksterman (edited 28 March 2006).]
ElkHunter - Chickahomney, I almost forgot it…now you are working the brain here overtime. Chickahomeny as I remember was a giant motorhome park, I think it would do homage to the biggest truck stop in America. I never saw so many campers, trailers and motorhomes in one spot. No cover for miles around…not exactly fly fish heaven. Trust me, I’m not knocking your advise, It just brought laughter after all those years. Chickahomeny, a big camper city in the middle of no where. LOL, thanks for the memories.
[This message has been edited by Jonezee (edited 28 March 2006).]
Motorhome park is not quite the word for it. More like a city. They have done some improvments there and it gets fished hard at times. But it holds some big trout that almost make it worth it. It damn near dried up the last few years but it is full now. Can be good fishing for an irrigation pond. Best to fish it early morning or late afternoon after the winds die down. One thing about that country over there almost any body of water that is wet year round has fish in it.
After all this talk you guys got me wanting to fight the snow for a trip this weekend.And to think I was saving that money I will have to spend on a trip to pay some bills.
Rocky
You guys are killing me, I have SE Oregon stuck in my head. I talk to one of my fishing buddies yesterday and we decide we need to make a trip up to the desert in Oregon. I do research on-line and through old magazines and we decide on the Chickohominy Reservoir for the last weekend in April. Then I get on-line this am and you guys are bursting my Chickohominy bubble. I cant belive that place really gets crowded way out there. Then I keep hearing about the wind. Maybe Krumbo is a better choice???
Born to fish forced to work.
Alan
Unless your heading to Bend and fish the central Oregon area…Chick is not on the way to anything. It is between Burns and Bend…an Oasis in the middle of nowhere. Krumbo, then go from there. IMOHO
Well, it won’t be crowded at Chik. then…
Be prepared for any kind of weather then…
I can deal with the weather a lot better than I can deal with the crowds! From what I understand it should fish very well at the end of April correct?
Born to fish forced to work.
Alan