“I can’t believe we’re 20 minutes from Portland!” Boy, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that one. But it’s a fact- with all the rainforest-y feels of a coastal Northwest river, minus all the drama that comes with the crowds, the day float from Dodge Park to Dabney Rec Area provides the discerning spey caster with more than a day’s worth of fun and challenging runs- just a short drive from PDX and about an hour from the Gorge. This big, beautiful, undammed river is born high on the west flanks of Mt. Hood- at the base of the Reid Glacier.

The Sandy is prone to sharp spikes and slow drops in flows as winter storms roll in from the North Pacific. The fish move on the spikes and settle down as the river drops, and this is the game we play. As the hunters, we benefit from the fact that the Sandy’s water clarity usually improves rapidly after a big spike in flows and we rarely miss a day of fishing due to poor water clarity. As the quarry- the anadromous species that are home to this river take advantage of the sheer size of the Sandy and its deep runs and complex structure. It’s ‘unicorn hunting’ at its best.

Each year, we look forward to winter steelhead season. The Sandy produces some of the biggest, healthiest fish that we’ll see all year. The chance of hooking one of these minty colored beauties is damn well worth the effort under cold, often wet skies.

Dependable rain gear is a must. Your guide will provide flies, tackle and a hot streamside lunch. Two-handed rods available upon request.

Not included in cost of trip: Fishing licenses, wading equipment.