The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Spent a windy opener in Eastern Oregon, with a lot of sight seeing and a little fishing. Left the house at about 9:00 and drove to Fort Rock. A surreal scene out there that reminds me of the pictures I've seen of Ayers Rock in Australia. It is a small volcano that springs out of the high desert.
 

Right next to the State Park at Fort Rock is the local cemetary in the sage wind-swept high desert. We took a walk through the cemetary and I found this headstone that is the epitomy of a real fly fisherman. Looks like William is still kicking, as his headstone has his birthdate as 1921, but no date for heading to that great Cabin Lake in the Sky. I've been trying to find Cabin Lake on my Gazateer, but no luck yet. Sounds like an intriguing place.

There is part of the old townsite in Fort Rock still preserved. We stopped and snapped a few pictures of this church. It was cold and windy and I can imagine life in this area must have been hard when this church was built. The area was settled predominantly by homesteaders back in the 1800's.

Finally arrived at Duncan Lake about 1:00. The wind was still blowing 15-25 mph, and the temperature was in the mid-40's. All in all, a beatiful fly fishing day, for a little while. Launched the float tube and worked the area close to the dam. The wind was pushing lots of debris and fish food against the far bank, and I concentrated my efforts there. I spent about two hours with lots of stikes, and quite a few fish to about 16 inches. They were taking damsel nymphs....Denny Rickards stillwater nymph pattern. Great pattern. Two hours was about all I could take fighting the wind, so I quit to continue touring Eastern Oregon.

We drove down to Summer Lake and spent a little time reminiscing my trips here in the 90's chasing waterfowl on the refuge. Found this pond full of mallards, gadwall and cinnamon teal. The drake cinnamon teal were really pretty in their full plumage.

Finally we heading to the Cowboy Dinner Tree Restaurant out in the middle of nowhere, not too far from Silver Lake. The only serve two items on the menu, steak and chicken. You get either a whole chicken, or a 26-30 ounce top sirloin, along with salad, awesome rolls, baked potato and desert (Peach Cobbler, smothered in real whipped cream). This is not a meal for those on a diet, or watching their cholesterol. No splitting meals per their website. (Cowboy Dinner Tree Website) And it is BYOB on the back deck, as their license doesn't allow them to serve alcohol. Awesome meal that neither of us came even close to finishing......they automatically bring doggie bags, as it is a rarity that anyone finishes the whole steak or chicken.

Back Sunriver late in the evening. Was a very cool and interesting opener, with a lot of scenery and a little trout fishing thrown in for good measure.