Tag: Crooked River

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A Week to Regroup

A wade in the stream is always Tip’s first move

As we brace for an upcoming heat wave, we have time to reflect on this past week.

Crooked River

The knee is improving and stitches have been removed, but not much activity occurred. For Jack, that means we didn’t go fishing.

However, we did set up some camp chairs by the Crooked River and watched the wildlife, while sharing a cheeseburger from the Tastee Treet.

So, I guess the week wasn’t a total failure..

Brown butterfly feeding on blooming yarrow

The weatherman is handing out “excessive heat” warnings in Central Oregon, and it looks like those alerts will carry through the week.

These type of temperatures are hard to escape even in the depths of a river canyon. Unfortunately,  river wading is off the list for now, so I guess we’ll hide out in the AC comfort of home.

Summer heat has cast a brown hue to the grasses

Although we are thinking about venturing to higher elevations of the Upper Deschutes  .  .  . we will just have to see.

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Now it’s Summer

Along the banks of the river

Back on the Crooked River again this week. Fishing is getting good and the weather is perfect for a day of sitting along the stream.

American Kestrel (adult male), this small falcon is rusty above with slate-blue wings and two black slashes on the face.

In June the kestrals show up and we may have discovered a nest site,

Though it’s on the back side of an old snag  .  .  .  on the opposite side of the river  .  .  .  making it difficult to confirm.

Kestrels typically hunt ground prey like small mammals, lizards and large insects.

There was a lizard exchange that first drew our attention to the fact that this pair of kestrels might not be just using the tree as a feeding station.

Northern Flicker (juvenile) is larger than most woodpeckers in Oregon.

Next time we visit, I’ll wade the stream and get a better angle.

For now, we will be content with images of summer blooms, a young flicker and mourning dove also enjoying the water.

Of course, there are some pix of fishing and Tip keeping watch.

Look at that cast  .  .  .
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Getting Outside

Fishing buddies headed to the stream

The week offered a mixed bag of weather, starting with some warm sunny days and ending with overcast and even snow flurries.

We took advantage of any nice days with time on the river.

The snow has disappeared at lower elevations, but stream levels are still low and it’s possible to get in some fishing. We stopped at a favorite day use area to enjoy a relaxing afternoon.

 

Later in the week, clouds moved in and temperatures dropped, bringing a short-lived dusting of snow.

We retreated to the kitchen and turned some of last summer’s fruit into jelly.

The days are getting longer so we expect there will be way fewer impediments to our travels.

In the meantime. we’ll finish up the last of winter’s chores.

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This Might be Spring

The sun feels good on your face

It’s only been a week, but what a difference that has made.

We enjoyed clear sky and spring-like weather for the first time in months. Well, it seems like months.

This season has started to shift, bringing on a typical Central Oregon spring  .  .  .  that is,  frigid mornings with warm afternoons.

It’s about time.

You don’t need to catch fish to enjoy fishing

We headed to the Crooked River, and while layers were still required attire, the camp chairs and picnic at river’s edge were a welcome change.

No fish were caught, but a good time was had by all.

Runoff has started. It will fill streams and hamper fishing, but the weather it seems will not interfere with our outings  .  .  .  at least for a while.

Off to the river

And with that we’ll get back out into the High Desert.

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Foggy Start to a Perfect Fall Day

Our morning starts under a cover of low clouds

We continue to enjoy a perfect fall. The few days of rain are offset by clear skies. Morning temperatures start around freezing, but by afternoon we’re flannel shirt comfortable.

One never knows when the winter snows will slow travel, so we are living in the now.

Mornings, recently, have started with a shroud of fog. Pine trees are glazed in frost, but our morning drive is not hampered by black ice.

Parked at a favorite spot

This week we were back on the Crooked River. There are a lot less people on the river as the weather gets colder. Our favorite picnic site is usually empty . . . the whole camp ground . . . the entire day!

Waiting for the rod to get strung

Last year the Crooked was drawn down to dangerous levels and while it has taken nearly the entire season, good stream conditions have returned, as have the fish.

He knows a good spot to start
From here Tip can keep an eye on everyone

This time of year conditions are perfect for the Euro-nymph rig. With each progressive season, I get better at choosing the right patterns, as well as presentation. I had a very productive morning.

Afternoon sun on the river … perfect day

By noon the gray sky had shifted to blue and the sun offered a bit of warmth. Not camp chairs on the bank warm, but not mittens and down vest cold.  A dram of spirits in a fresh cup of coffee pushed the rest of the chill from our bones.

 

Jacqueline prowled the riparian for photo ops, I broke down the rod, and we headed to Prineville to share a Tastee Treat Cheeseburger for dinner.

Perfect fall day!