Columbia Gorge Fishing Report - 3/16/26

Winter Steelhead

The second major "Atmospheric River" passed recently passed through the Pacific Northwest, and it was a dandy.  Most rivers that see winter fish were at or approaching flood stage.  It seems like we've received about 70% of our winter precipitation in two different rain events this time around.  Things are going to be on the high side for a few more days but we have a fairly dry extended forecast. 

The good news about all the water is that it is sure to move a ton of fish around.  We have approximately one month left of the season and these last few weeks can be the best of the year. The stage is set for a great finale!

From a tactical standpoint, focus your efforts on doing whatever needs to be done to get below the fast surface currents, hold your fly at depth and swing it slowly.  High water is one of the situations where multi-density Skagits truly shine.  Sinking your head below the surface chop dramatically slows your swing.  Some of our favorite options for this are the RIO Pickpocket in F/I/S3, S3/S5/S7, OPST Commando Groove, and on longer rods, the Airflo F.I.S.T.  There are fish to be caught in the high water.  You just need to get your fly down to them and hang it in their face long enough to convince a grab.      

Deschutes Trout

The weather did have an impact on the lower Deschutes, as well.  The White River went from ~370 cfs to ~3700 cfs.  The water from the confluence down to the mouth will definitely be some shade of off-color for a bit.  That said, the Deschutes above the confluence of the White is looking much better.  

A few different things happening in the bug department out there right now.  BWO's, caddis and midges are the most abundant, but be prepared for some "others".  There are a few skwalas and early March Browns out and about, too.  Hope to get lucky and see a little surface activity, but it's predominantly going to be a nymph and streamer program until the flows go down a bit more.  The elevated water is a great time to nymph fish with large/dark stonefly patterns!  Dark leeches work great, too.    

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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Time to Get Salty - Limited Edition Sage Salt R8 and Enforcer! UPDATED

UPDATE 3/11/2026: All remaining stock is now discounted on this Limited Edition Sage Salt R8 Grand Slam and Sage Limited Edition Enforcer Grand Slam Fly Reels

These things are hot, folks!  In stock now, the limited edition Grand Slam Series of Salt R8 rods and Enforcer reels.  Rods available in 9' 8, 9 and 11 weight.  Enforcer reels in 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12.  Get them individually or dial up a fully-custom outfit!  The staff at Gorge Fly Shop has a lot of experience with these products.  Here's the rundown:

Salt R8 Rods

"Easy-Casting" and "Saltwater Rod" are two things you don't often here together, but the Salt R8 broke the mold there!  Let's face it.  Most of us get to go on a flats trip once a year or less.  It's always super windy and you will likely have to make some casts that are a bit out of your comfort zone.  So many failed shots occur because it's difficult to deliver the fly in these demanding conditions.  The Salt R8 truly excels by the fact that it's caster-friendly, but not wimpy.  It will not turn an average angler into a super hero, but it does let most folks deliver in the wind.  It has the low-end power you need, but is not so stout it barely bends.  It casts well in close, but has the punch to send a long one.  It's a great saltwater option for flats anglers of any experience level.    

Enforcer Reels

This reel has been wildly successful for Sage.  It's a sturdy build that can take a beating in a skiff or panga.  They have a minutely adjustable drag system and ample backing capacity.  For those that fish salt and do some spey fishing, the Enforcer balances out Spey rods extremely well.  Many of these reels owned by the GFS staff have gone from the flats right onto Spey rods and back again!  They nailed the aesthetic on the Grand Slam series.  The details are great, but they're not gaudy.  Very tastefully done! 

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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Grundens Boundary Zip: rugged feel without the stiffness: My Take

"I’ll be straight, I didn’t expect to like these as much as I do."

I have tried enough waders over the years to know how this usually goes. You put on something new, you want to like it, and then a few trips later you are back in whatever you trusted before.
That was not my experience with the Grundens Boundary Gore-Tex Zip Wader.

What got me to try them in the first place was simple. Grundens already has a reputation for rugged gear in the commercial fishing world, and that matters to me. When a company earns its stripes in that arena, I pay attention. I wanted that same “built for work” confidence in a zip wader that I could wear for trout and steelhead.

From the first step into the Boundary zip wader, I felt confident. It was new and different, but it did not feel like a gamble. The fit and movement felt natural right away. They move with you instead of against you. They feel rugged, but not stiff. That combination is hard to describe until you have it on your body for a full day of walking, climbing banks, kneeling down, and doing all the awkward stuff that comes with actually fishing.

One thing that surprised me is how protective they feel. Not in a bulky way, more like the material and build give you a little extra peace of mind. I also found them feeling warmer in cold trout water. I am not claiming they are insulated, it just felt like a better barrier than what I am used to.

I will be honest, I was not an automatic fan of the brown color. In photos it did not grab me. In real life, it makes more sense. The more I use them, the more natural they look in the environments I fish. They look better than pictures can capture, and they have grown on me fast.

After several days out in them, I do not even consider going back to other zip waders in the same class. That is the part that surprised me most. I expected “these are good.” I did not expect “these are what I reach for now.”

Boundary Zips are now my "go to". The fit, the feel, and the confidence let me worry less about protecting my investment, and let me enjoy the reason I wear waders in the first place.

Takeaway: If you want rugged without feeling boxed in, these are worth a real try.


Q: Are the Grundens Boundary Zips stiff like some heavy-duty waders?
A: In my experience, no. They feel rugged, but they move naturally when you walk and fish.

Q: Did the brown color grow on you?
A: Yes. I did not love it at first, but it looks more natural on the water than in photos.

Q: Why did you switch from other zip waders in the same class?
A: The fit and “confidence” factor. I spend less time thinking about the waders and more time fishing.

What else would you like to learn about? Leave a comment.
Buyers Guide to Waders

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop Internet Sales Manager | Product Specialist

 

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  GFS Fly Kits |  Contact Us

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Friday's Featured Fly

Beck's Sili Legs Lite is undoubtedly one of the best bonefish patterns of all time. Call it a Gotcha with the huge bonus of rubber legs.  The "lite" version is tied with bead chain eyes for skinny water.  Don't go to the Bahamas without a fistful of these!

About what any steelheader needs.  A fistful of good leeches!  This one checks all the boxes.  Not too big.  Not too small.  Little bit of flash.  Hot cone.  Send it!  Aqua Flies Bunny Hare Leech in black/blue.  In stock now.  

All this dark weather means Blue Winged Olives!  The RIO's Film Critic is one of our favorite emergers.  The upright wing is just big enough to make it visible on gray days.  Fish it alone or trail it behind a bigger dry that you can see well.  If you are getting ready for Sping, check out our Five-Weight Buyers Guide

Catch Dirty PT Hot Pink Jigged - What doesn't this Nymph have going for it? A jig hook, soft hackle, Pheasant Tail, and a hot bead. A fantastic prospecting pattern that has a little bit of everything. We carry them in sizes 16 and 18

Some of the most effective bonefish flies could be described as "plain with a little pop".  Bonefish prey tends to be stealthily camouflaged to match the bottom and avoid detection.  This is where the "POP" comes into play.  RIO's Bone Doctor has an overall tan color scheme with just enough flash to draw attention.  This one works

Doesn't it look like it's about to crawl away!?  Here's RIO's take on the Flexo Crab in tan.  Made quietly famous in the Seychelles, this style of crab has caught the attention of Permit and other crab eaters across the globe.  Guides on Christmas Island love this one for triggers.

It's hard to beat a good cheeseburger!  The fly version has all kinds of great crabby characteristics.  Feczko's Cheeseburger is quietly one of the best bugs for Triggers.  Fun trick fly to try for Permit, too.  

Signature tyer of this fly, Jeffrey Feczkko, reached out to us and shared the story of how this fly came to life. We would love to share it with you.  6 or 7 years ago, in the middle of an atol in the middle of the Indian Ocean, he created what would end up being one of the best flies for trigger fish.  Jeffery is very humbled by the popularity of his fly and appreciates RIO for reproducing this fly.  To note Charlie tried bringing this fly in last year but was sold out!  We are excited to now have it in the shop.  

We want to personally thank Jeffrey for reaching out and sharing his story behind the scenes of this incredible fly.

RIO's Banana Stand. This little gem is slightly flashier than other Shrimp Patterns is a great pattern in less-than-ideal conditions for bonefish and redfish. Tied with materials that are subtle yet have a tad of flash, resulting in a highly visible and enticing fly for murky water and low-light conditions

It's dark and rainy here in the PNW.  Some warm Flats Fishing sure sounds good!  Today's Friday Featured Fly is RIO's Smelling Salt.  This one was originally intended for laid-up Tarpon, but works equally well for all things that live in mangroves! 

Big Bonefish in certain destinations love big Flies! These are a few of our favorites for the Bahamas and beyond. Saltwater gear sales have picked up recently.  Weather changes increase the desire to find warm tropical water.  Searching for the big fish that call it home.  If you have not hunted for Bonefish before, you should put this on your bucket list.  Check out Sage's Limited Edition Grand Slam Salt R8 rod paired with a Sage Enforcer limited edition reel.  Our crew has a ton of Saltwater experience.  If you have questions, give us a call. 

No doubt about it.  Some of the best trout spey flies come in natural color schemes.  Aqua Flies' Trout Spey Intruder is a scaled-down, unweighted pattern tied in an intruder-style.  Buggy and wiggly.  This one gets it done!

Cooler fall weather has our minds wandering to the Caribbean. Salt season is upon us! Here’s one of Andros Island’s unofficial official bonefish flies.  The beefy RIO's Gotcha Clouser in size 2.  Simple and deadly!

It's getting deeper into fall, and many of the rivers in the northwest are filling up with coho.  If you're looking for a fly to strip on a single-hander or jig throughout the swing, check out the Starlight Leech Pink.  Heavy eyes to get down and work the twitch that love.

Columbia Gorge Fishing Report - 3/3/26

Winter Steelhead

It feels like we've been waiting for winter to materialize for a few months now, but it doesn't seem to be happening.  Water levels have been up and down, but mostly down!  We've got a little rain in the forecast, which will be great.  We're already getting into winter steelhead crunch time.  Call it approximately six good weeks to go.  The abbreviated timeline certainly helps the angler to some degree.  Many of the fish that haven't ran upriver yet will do so in the next few weeks.  Water temps will likely be good and just getting better.  Warmer water in the back half of the month definitely equates to snappier fish on the swing.  It's easy to fish really hard during the first half of the winter and burn out, but a lot of the best fishing happens in the fourth quarter.  Get out there and give it a try in the beautiful weather!

Deschutes Trout

Trout reports off the Deschutes have been quite good lately.  It's been incredibly mild, and the water temperature is much more favorable than it could be in early March.  The river is in great shape and things are happening!  Kind of a little bit of everything in the bug department.  B.W.O.'s and midges will remain strong contenders for a while, but there's some other activity, too.  These warm days have spurred some early caddis.  There's not a billion skwalas in the Deschutes, but there are definitely enough to carry some just in case.  If nothing else, their nymphs will be getting active.  Indicator fishing with a medium-sized stonefly and a smaller dropper (olive, midge caddis larva, etc) will work well.  Keep the bigger stonefly going and change your dropper until you find the bug du jour.  Stop and watch not and again in the afternoon.  Sometimes the surface activity can be easy to miss if you're not actively looking for it.      

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  GFS Fly Kits |  Contact Us

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Veterans Backcountry Adventures Newsletter Spring 2026

Hope everyone’s doing well as we roll into a new year. This will be VBA’s third full season and we’re seriously fired up about the trips we’ve got lined up. If you haven’t already, please help us spread the word—share the website and encourage your buddies (folks you’re willing to vouch for) to sign up for the newsletter so we can keep growing and get more people out on the water.

For anyone new, have them sign up through the website, then email me directly at john@vbaor.org to get the password for the Upcoming Trips page. Just have them mention who’s vouching for them and how they’re connected to the community.

The website is now updated with the 2026 calendar. You’ll notice we’re offering fewer events this year. Unfortunately, we didn’t land the funding we were hoping for, so we had to scale things back a bit. That said, our spending strategy over the last couple of seasons really paid off—we’ve already got all the rafts, camping gear, and camp kitchen we need to run float trips. That means our main expenses moving forward are food and fishing tackle. Katie and I are actively working to find funding to help cover those gaps.

I also want to remind everyone that I’m always open to doing smaller, shorter trips. Anything from a day trip to a three- or four-night float. If I’m around, I’d be stoked to make something happen for you and a couple buddies or your family.

Lastly, 2025 was an awesome season for VBA. The level of participation was incredible and the support from our vendors was huge. Thank you to everyone who came out—it was so great seeing you all and meeting your families. I finally ran the numbers and realized we got 78 people on the water last year. Holy crap. That’s pretty amazing.

Tight Lines,

John Messenger

veteransbackcountryadventures

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  GFS Fly Kits |  Contact Us

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Columbia Gorge Fishing Report - 2/13/26

Winter Steelhead

Well, it finally rained!  Not enough to blow out many systems, but plenty to motivate some fish movement.  We're back in a little dry spell, but there is more precipitation coming in the near future.  The forecast looks a little more normal for the next couple weeks which will certainly help the fishing.  

Lots of rivers will be trending toward low/clear here for a few days, but that's not the end of the world.  You can always go fishing when the water is low, and it can certainly make the fish a lot easier to find.  They don't mind holding in shallow water when the river is steelhead green, but they definitely don't love to do that when the water is clear.  Deeper buckets show up like a beacon and that's where you can expect to find the biters.  In theoretically ideal conditions, they could be just about anywhere.  Sometimes to the point that it gets in your head!  That is a great thing about low/clear.  The holding water is greatly reduced and it allows the angler to focus primarily on what deeper water with color is out there.  It also reveals the details of spots you've caught fish before in higher water.  

One other thing to keep in mind about winter fishing is that the window isn't that long compared to that of summer fish.  Winters are on a rapid mission to get upriver and spawn.  There isn't a long holding period.  Hard to believe, but we only have a couple months left, give or take, of prime time.  Go when you can and put the advantage of time with fly in the water in your favor.  As things drop and clear, try some brighter flies.  Pinks, reds and oranges can draw some pretty violent grabs in these conditions! 

Deschutes Trout

There's some wintery weather coming soon.  In the trout world, that means B.W.O.'s!  Not sure why those bugs like crummy weather so much, but they really do.  Some of the best B.W.O. fishing happens in the nastiest weather.  Look for them to be rather active this coming week.  Be prepared to imitate all stages of their life cycle.  Nymph fishing will be the best option in the morning.  Try a larger point fly with a small trailing fly to imitate the olive nymph.  Tiny Pheasant Tails are a great choice.  As you slide into the middle of the day, keep your eyes peeled for fish targeting bugs as they emerge.  A few favorite patterns to match this stage are the Film Critic, Sparkle Flag and Sprout B.W.O.  Look for the duns to be on the water sometime between noon and 2:00.  Try a Double Vision or Parachute Extended Body B.W.O for this stage.   

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  GFS Fly Kits |  Contact Us

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Deschutes River Alliance Annual Auction 2026 - February 21st - Get Your Tickets

The annual Deschutes River Alliance Auction and Gathering is the best event to meet-up with friends, share stories and plan new adventures while helping raise critical-needed funds to help DRA’s efforts to protect and improve the lower Deschutes River. 

What To Expect 

— A crowd passionate about protecting the lower Deschutes River 

 — Enticing live auction packages only available at the event 

 — Golden Ticket Raffle: $100 each, only 100 tickets sold

 — Robust silent auction All brought to you by our generous sponsors!

 The DRA Auction live event is Saturday, February 21st, at The Redd on SE Salmon in Portland, Oregon.

Get Tickets