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The headwaters of the Grande Ronde River originate in the Blue Mountains just south of the town of La Grande, Oregon and after picking up sizeable tributaries like the Wallowa and Wenaha Rivers, the Grande Ronde is a perfect sized steelhead river. Not too big, not too small. Floatable and wadeable, take your pick.
I have enjoyed the late fall steelheading on the upper river, upstream from Troy, Oregon and also the section that flows through the extreme S.E. corner of Washington State. All of the Grande Ronde is beautifull. The photos in this essay are from the lower river where steelhead can be found in almost every good looking run.
On this particular trip I went with buddies Travis Wren, from Bear Bay Lodge and Joe Threadgill, who has guided the Grande Ronde for many years. We floated for three days and landed over 30 steelhead.
All techniques and flies will work. I like to go light as Grande Ronde steelhead average around 5 pounds. My rod of choice is a nine and a half foot, six weight. A floating fly line and a clear tip fly line cover all my needs and flies range from October Caddis type skaters to #6 Purple Matukas and everything in between.
If you are interested in a guided trip like this, just call 866-232-7229.
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