Fly Fishing the Owyhee River. John Wolter

      Owyhee River (Southeast Oregon)

       Location: The Owyhee River is 1 ½ hours west of Boise, Idaho; 45 minutes south of Ontario, Oregon; 5 ½ hours east of Bend, Oregon; and 4 hours from Sun Valley, Idaho. Flight service into Boise.

      In 1932, the Owyhee Dam was completed near Adrian, in eastern Oregon, creating the 53-mile-long Owyhee Reservoir. This fishery is fairly new, compared to many other tail-waters. In 1990, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife started stocking brown trout, and protected them with catch-and-release angling to provide a trophy fishery. Traditionally, the river has

      been managed as a put-and-take fishery for rainbows, and different rules for the different trout species continue. Over the last 20 years, the browns have thrived, making the Owyhee one of the finest tailwaters in the nation for trophy brown trout. Browns here average 16 to 18 inches, with many fish in excess of 20 inches.

      The high desert canyon is comprised of towering cliffs and unusual rock formations. Sagebrush and wildlife abound. The willow-lined river encompasses a series of pools connected with shallow runs, but few traditional riffles. The pools are slow-moving, almost stagnant, and usually deep. The runs are mild, with large rocks creating countless holding areas for fish. The river is a walk-and-wade fishery due to its narrow riverbed and several shallow runs. There is little need to float the river, as the road parallels it and access is extremely easy.