Sep 15, 2021
Simms Freestone Chest Pack
Sep 7, 2021
Scott Fly Rods
Looking for a Scott Fly Rod? Give us a call. Good chance we have it!
Sep 3, 2021
Columbia Gorge Fishing Reports - 9/3/2021
We have great stock of Airflo Fly Lines and Airflo Spey Lines
Trout - Deschutes River:
Trout fishing on the Lower Deschutes River has been very productive. With the recent steelhead closures, many people are switching gears to fish trout this fall. Lots of people, myself included, don’t want to give up fishing two handers this fall just because steelhead fishing is closed. The trout spey fishing on the Lower Deschutes in the fall can be epic.Water is cooling, days are getting shorter, and the trout are looking for big meals to fill them up before the winter ahead. I primarily utilize my trout spey to fish small streamers with a little skagit scout head and 10 feet of T-8 sink tip. The tight line grab is very similar to that of a steelhead grab but it happens a lot more often. Give it a try this fall if you plan to be fishing the Deschutes.
With some cold water still coming out the dam, and some cool night time temperatures, the trout are eating aggressively trying to fatten up before winter. All the standard nymphs are working great as well as October caddis pupae as your lead fly. There is some dry fly opportunity still with caddis and some small pmd mayfly hatches going off in the afternoons.
The lakes are a great place to beat the heat and cool off and catch a mess of fish. Stripping nymphs and small leeches/buggers on an intermediate line is a great method up there. You can use a floating line as well, but I would make a really long leader and some weighted flies to get down in the column. Nymphing with chironomids and balanced leeches under an indicator is another productive lake technique. Have fun up there!
Steelhead -
I am sure many people reading this report have already heard the news of the steelhead closure on the Deschutes River. As of September 1, the Deschutes from Sherars Falls down to the Columbia River is closed to steelhead fishing in hopes of protecting the fish that are returning in what’s been a record low number year so far. It is important as anglers to abide by these regulations and understand the reasons behind the closure, as it is important. Don’t be surprised to hook a steelhead if you are trout fishing though as they tend to be very trouty in what they eat, nymph wise especially. ODFW will re-evaluate at the end of this month to see if they will keep it closed or open it back up in October. Give us a call at the shop if you have any questions regarding this closure or any other regulations on the Deschutes.
Oregon Coast Rockfish
Oregon Coast Rockfishing bite has been stellar and is loads of fun. Folks who are lucky enough to be in a dory style boat hovering over shallow reefs with heavy sinking lines are having no problem getting limits of black rockfish and the occasional keeper lingcod. I’ve also seen some people getting coho trolling pink flies which looks like a riot! Something I need to try.
If you don’t have a boat, no problem. The jetties fish well year around when the conditions allow. Go on a calm day when the swell is reported below 5 feet and no rain. Stay safe out there and avoid going alone.
Smallmouth Bass / Carp:
Warm water species continue to fish well. Carp fishing will remain good through the next couple weeks before it will start cooling off and the true PNW fall weather rolls in. Bass fishing remains strong on the Columbia as well as the Willamette.
-Zach Parker
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
"Fly Fish the World with Us"
Sep 1, 2021
Simms Tributary Sling Pack
Tributary Sling Pack is the easy wearing, sized-right storage solution for productive days on the water
Aug 21, 2021
Columbia Gorge Fishing Reports - 8.21.2021
Trout - Deschutes River:
The Deschutes is a good place to be right now, and with this nice cooler front, should help the fishing conditions. Portland General Electric has lowered where the water spills from the dam which has cooled the rest of the river. As I write this report, the Deschutes is coming out of Pelton dam at 54 degrees which is great for the steelhead and trout alike. Both of these fish require cold clean water in order to survive and thrive and we have experienced some less than ideal conditions in the river over the last month. The temps at Moody are around 61 in the mornings and rise to around 64-65 in the afternoons which is a big improvement from the 71 degree water down by the mouth early in the month.ODFW has uplifted the hoot owl regulation on the Deschutes below Sherars Falls however, making the river open to fish all day long. Why they did this is beyond me. At least now we are getting colder water from PGE which should help the fish and their survival rates but uplifting the Hoot Owl made zero sense to me especially when we are in the hottest month of the year. The few steelhead that are making their way back to the D this year need all the help and protection they can get.
The trout fishing has been really good though on a better note! The higher up in the river you fish, the colder the water, and the happier the trout. Caddis is the name of the game this time of year as well as some potential pale morning and pale evening dun hatches mixed in too. Concentrate your dry fly efforts in back eddies right along the shorelines in shallow water. Fish will stack up facing downstream of the main current and eat emerging, adult and dead caddis throughout the day. Nymph fishing is always productive and my go to nymph this summer has been a #16 jig style frenchie. Sinks fast and works great as a dropper under a dry or on an indicator rig. Rubber leg stones are always a good bet and pretty soon, October caddis pupae will start to be important as September nears.
The lakes are a great place to beat the heat and cool off and catch a mess of fish. Stripping nymphs and small leeches/buggers on an intermediate line is a great method up there. You can use a floating line as well, but I would make a really long leader and some weighted flies to get down in the column. Nymphing with chironomids and balanced leeches under an indicator is another productive lake technique. Have fun up there!
Steelhead -
Steelhead fishing has been fair. The numbers this year compared to the 10 year average and even just last year are quite depressing. The fish that are entering the river are swimming upstream fast in search of cooler water. Dry lines and small flies will get it done now through much of September before it turns to skagit and sink tip season. Middle of the day with high sun, sink tips and larger presentations generally work better but you can occasionally coax a curious steelhead towards the surface in the middle of the day.
Oregon Coast Rockfish
Oregon Coast Rockfishing bite has been stellar and is loads of fun. Folks who are lucky enough to be in a dory style boat hovering over shallow reefs with heavy sinking lines are having no problem getting limits of black rockfish and the occasional keeper lingcod. I’ve also seen some people getting coho trolling pink flies which looks like a riot! Something I need to try.
If you don’t have a boat, no problem. The jetties fish well year around when the conditions allow. Go on a calm day when the swell is reported below 5 feet and no rain. Stay safe out there and avoid going alone.
Smallmouth Bass / Carp:
Warm water species is where it’s at this time of year. The carp fishing on the Columbia has been fantastic recently! Patterns that work well are John Montana’s carp hybrid (my go to), bead head san juan worms, and Mr P’s Black Betty. The most important factor for carp fishing is the ability to see them. Good polarized sunglasses and a clear sunny day are integral for your success. There are tons of flats all up and down the gorge where carp cruise and feed, you just have to be willing to pull up google earth and do a little exploring!
Smallmouth fishing remains fair to good. Full sinking lines are important if you’re fishing streamers/baitfish patterns. The indicator method is highly productive and requires just a normal floating line.
-Zach Parker
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
"Fly Fish the World with Us"
Aug 18, 2021
Ross Animas Limited Edition Trout Unlimited Fly Reels
Limited Edition
Supports Recovery and Restoration for Colorado's Animas River
Size 5/6
Shop Ross Reels
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
"Fly Fish the World with Us"
Aug 14, 2021
Simms Freestone Sling Pack - New for 2021
With a compression molded workstation, cavernous main compartment and zippered accessory pockets, plus a comfortable, fully-functional shoulder strap, the Freestone Sling is the ideal technical fishing pack for productive days on the water.
- 330D Nylon Ripstop fabric with polyurethane backside coating is lightweight yet durable
- Semi-structured main compartment with D-shaped two-way zipper enables access to large pocket.
- Zippered secure stash pocket with key clip for phone/key storage; secondary stash pocket at top of pack holds lunch or extra layer.
- Fully integrated net sheath with D-ring for utility leash attachment
- Fully functional and ergonomically shaped shoulder strap with tool attachment port and adjustable sternum strap
- Accessory attachments include Tippet Caddy and Floatant Holster, internal keyclip
- FABRIC TECH: 330D Nylon Ripstop Fabric with backside PU coating and face DWR treatment; 200D Polyester Liner
- DIMENSIONS: 17" x 8.5" x 8"
- CAPACITY: 12L
- WEIGHT: 1.8lb
- ITEM #: PG-13373
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
"Fly Fish the World with Us"
Aug 12, 2021
Oregon Department of fish and Wildlife - Important Announcement
Update 8/12/2021
Reported on August 11th, 2021
SALEM, Ore.—Hoot owl restrictions that closed salmon, trout and steelhead fishing at 2 p.m. are now lifted on the Deschutes River from Moody Rapids (river mile 0.5) upstream to Sherars Falls. Permanent rules are in effect from Moody Island upstream to Pelton Dam.
Cooler nights and other factors (seasonal changes to angle of sun on the water) are contributing to cooler water temperatures that are suitable for steelhead angling in the lower 50 miles of the Deschutes River.
Also effective today, these hoot owl restrictions are being expanded in the Willamette Zone to include all tributaries of the Clackamas, Molalla, Sandy rivers and Scappoose Creek. Salmon, trout and steelhead fishing are now closed in these waterbodies from 2 p.m. to one hour before sunrise.
Willamette Zone changes are needed because continued low flows, abnormally high water temperatures, and drought are causing difficult conditions for fish. Water temperatures are warmest in the afternoon, so closing fishing at that time reduces stress on fish when they are most vulnerable and susceptible to post-release mortality.
For the latest on fishing regulations in your angling zone visit https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/
Cooler nights and other factors (seasonal changes to angle of sun on the water) are contributing to cooler water temperatures that are suitable for steelhead angling in the lower 50 miles of the Deschutes River.
Also effective today, these hoot owl restrictions are being expanded in the Willamette Zone to include all tributaries of the Clackamas, Molalla, Sandy rivers and Scappoose Creek. Salmon, trout and steelhead fishing are now closed in these waterbodies from 2 p.m. to one hour before sunrise.
Willamette Zone changes are needed because continued low flows, abnormally high water temperatures, and drought are causing difficult conditions for fish. Water temperatures are warmest in the afternoon, so closing fishing at that time reduces stress on fish when they are most vulnerable and susceptible to post-release mortality.
For the latest on fishing regulations in your angling zone visit https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/
It’s going to be a scorcher out there, and fish are feeling the heat, too—on top of facing a severe to extreme drought in most of Oregon. Thus, ODFW is asking you to fish with care during heat wave.
To help protect fish over the summer, ODFW will be announcing emergency regulations for some fisheries next week. These regulations will go into effect July 1. Remember any in-season regulation changes are always posted in the angling zone of the Recreation Report – Fishing Report so don’t forget to check it before you go fishing.
What to expect beginning July 1:
- “Hoot owl" regulations may close fishing in some areas in early afternoon to protect salmon, steelhead and trout during the hottest part of the day.
- Bag limits may be removed in some reservoirs before water gets too low for fish.
Fish with care:
Starting now, we are asking you to take extra steps to help fish during the heat wave and until conditions improve:
- Fish early in day when water temperatures are cooler.
- Look for trout in deep, high elevation lakes or shaded streams near headwaters. These places are often cooler. More tips on high lakes fishing
- Warmwater fishing is also a good choice right now, see ODFW’s guide https://myodfw.com/articles/
warmwater-fishing-oregon- introduction - Use your judgement. If conditions where you want to fish seem especially severe (low, warm water), consider fishing somewhere else where water conditions are better.
Catch-and-release: When fishing in areas that may require you to release the fish, be sure to:
- Use appropriate gear and land fish quickly. The longer the fight, the more stressful it will be on the fish.
- Avoid removing the fish from the water.
- If taking a photo, cradle the fish at water level and quickly take the picture.
- Remove hooks quickly and gently while keeping the fish under water.
- Use long-nosed pliers or hemostats to back out a hook.
- If a fish is hooked deeply, cut the line near the hook.
- Revive fish (point them into slow current or move them back and forth until gills are working).
- When possible, let the fish swim out of your hands.
Trout stocking changes:
The stocking schedule may change at short notice due to water conditions that don’t allow for stocking. Some hatcheries are also releasing fish early due to low flows/high temps at hatcheries.
Changes may not show up in the stocking schedule so check the Recreation Report for the latest information.
ODFW thanks you for taking steps to help fish during this severe drought and heat wave.
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