Speywater Seasons on the Swing: A Guide’s Reflections from the Grande Ronde River

The Grande Ronde River has long held a special place in the hearts of Northwest steelhead anglers. The picturesque landscapes, robust wildlife, and abundance of swing water are highlights for any Grande Ronde expedition. So much so that even on those sought-after days of dry fly eats and multiple fish to hand, it often feels as though the steelhead are a special bonus to an already incredible day. For the last 10 years, I have been fortunate to spend the month of October floating the lower canyon in search of steelhead as a guide for Speywater Lodge. Through those years, I have found that while I may be there to catch fish, the Grande Ronde has even more to offer. 

What started as an attraction to seemingly limitless steelhead water and the allure of waking dry flies through the autumn colors has since blossomed into a full-blown love affair with the place, people, and fish that call the river home. These days, I occupy the role of trip leader for our overnight float trips, alongside a world-class crew of fellow guides and camp staff. Whether it be a phenomenal meal to finish the day or sharing laughs and stories from seasons past, having a solid team around you is of the highest importance for any great float trip. 

For guests, the float offers a chance to be completely immersed in the pursuit of summer steelhead. The logistics are taken care of, you simply must wake up, don your waders, and step into the first of many prime steelhead runs of the day. Be it your first experience spey casting for steelhead or just the latest foray in a love affair with the sport, there is something special waiting for everyone in the lower canyon of the Grande Ronde. The opportunity to raise a wild summer steelhead to a waking fly is as good here as anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. Which is to say, if the fish are there and the conditions are right, we have a great chance of an explosive encounter. The early season, from late September through the first weeks of October, is prime time for fresh fish on the move with a desire to chase down a fly on the surface and pounce. 

Anglers looking to improve their skills, both in two-handed casting and presenting swung flies for steelhead, will find a perfect opportunity to level up with the help of our guide staff. From the beginning, our top priority at Speywater, besides catching steelhead, is to teach our guests and help them improve their skills. Rewarding for both guests and guides, the focus on quality instruction gives anglers something to take home besides pictures and memories. 

Regardless of dam counts and run projections, the last several seasons on the Grande Ronde have provided good fishing with reasonable success throughout. The 2024 season was no different, with many encounters and fish to hand utilizing all manner of swung fly techniques. While the first few weeks of our season are often characterized by low water and hot afternoons, it’s common to find the most explosive fish of the season between late September and mid-October. In the right runs, low and clear water can be a blessing rather than a curse and is often capitalized on early and late in the day. During midday, we may be seeking out shade and fishing subsurface, but our minds are always wandering toward the last hour or two of daylight, with visions of muddlers and foam waking flies disappearing in the boil of a hot wild fish. There are great opportunities for floating line presentations throughout our season, but year after year, it’s the first trip or two that stand out in my memory as the best window for dry fly fishing. With the late September - early-October trips, guests have the opportunity to intercept the early returning wild fish that often push into the over-30-inch category.

Looking forward, 2025 looks to be another great season for the Speywater float trips. With a returning crew of experienced guides and staff, a positive trend in fish numbers over the last few years, and the promise of the usual awe-inspiring scenery of the lower canyon, it is hard to imagine that this year will be anything but more good times. While we are all tempted to derive expectations from run forecasts and fish counts over the Columbia and Snake River dams, it is important to keep in mind that Speywater has been here through the good and the bad, and despite what the fish may or may not do, we will provide a world-class experience on and off the water. We are all looking forward to yet another season of adventures down the Grande Ronde: sharing laughs, improving fishing skills, and making the most out of an incredible experience with our guests. As always, we'll catch them where we find them. 

Words and images by Matt Katibah
Matt Katibah is a professional guide based in Oregon’s Rogue Valley. Each year, Matt returns to the Rogue River to guide from November through April, before transitioning north to the guide the Deschutes River, on his way to Western Alaska’s Kanektok River, and later Washington’s Grande Ronde. Matt is a passionate and accomplished Spey caster, and offers expert instruction in fly fishing and casting, with a focus on two-handed rods and Skagit line systems. Emphasizing a swing-only approach to steelhead angling, he is dedicated to helping both novice and experienced anglers refine their technique, cover water with purpose, and discover the unique effectiveness of the swung fly.

For more information on the Grande Ronde river and an update on current availability, please contact our expert Jake Crawford below.