KLAMATH RIVER – KENO
OREGON FLY FISHING
Species: Redband Rainbow Trout
Fishing Season: October 1 to June 15
Peak Season: May 15th to June 15th, October to November
Rates: $450 per boat/day (2 people per boat)
Method: Nymphing under indicator and swinging flies on sink tips
Hatches: BWO, caddis, damsels, PMD, as well as fathead minnows, tui chubs and sculpins
The Klamath River at Keno is 6 ½ miles of exhilarating whitewater with fast pockets and smooth pools, holding numerous 17 to 19 inch rainbows including fish up to 24 inches. Fish from comfortable fly-fishing rafts outfitted with leaning posts and solid fishing platforms. The river here cuts through a deep canyon. Except for the occasional sturdy walk-in bank angler, we are the only ones boating and fishing this section. Open October 1 through June 15. The Keno stretch is closed in the heat of summer from June 16 to September 30 to protect the fish. Typically we can fish the Keno stretch from May 1 to June 15 and October and November.
The Klamath River begins in Klamath County, Oregon, flowing from Lake Ewauna which is connected to Klamath Lake via the Link River. Many have heard of Klamath Lake and especially Klamath Lake fishing, with its big native Redband Rainbows and of Klamath River in California as host to steelhead fishing. In between is a river overlooked. But the Keno reach is a great remote, wild and scenic Klamath River canyon fishing experience providing a great search for big healthy native Redband Rainbows. This stretch of river has some wild action on up to class IV rapids so we fish from our rafts with fishing frames. With this setup you have the comfort and stability of seats and leaning posts from a watercraft that can handle the big fast water and fit through some narrow chutes. And that's just the water side of the adventure!
This river is difficult to fish from land because of the canyon terrain, and boats are mostly nonexistent because most folks aren't ready to tackle the whitewater (and shouldn't try!). As a result the Klamath River - Keno fish don't see much pressure and are healthy, fat football size fish. This trip is usually action packed with hook ups on these great fighters.
