Well it’s a great time to be out on the water. Seeing how we live next to some great Smallie fishing, let’s talk bass… We are getting real close to some of the finest bass fishing of the year on the Columbia. It’s been good, but as the water warms up a bit, it’s going to get better. This is typically the time of year when bass get together to spawn. The males seek out shallow water areas to build a nest and entice the ladies. Their hormones start to rage and they develop a little aggression management problem. As far as the Columbia River System is concerned, there is likely some spawning going on in the segregated ponds but the main river is still a bit cold.
Our resident Bass expert, Greg Darling has been hitting it pretty hard lately. Here’s what Greg has to say:
“A lot of the males are starting to show up in the spawning areas now. They are the nest builders and caretakers. Seeing them so shallow means that they are wanting to get it done, but we’re not quite there yet. Right now we’re seeing fish in spawning areas but not bedded down. You know, they are moving in and out of these locations and it can change on a daily, even hourly basis. It really comes down to the right temperature range to get them going and since the river has been reluctant to climb over 57 degrees it’s been pushing things back a bit. That said, most of the fish we’ve been finding have come in water that is between 3 – 10 feet deep on olive and brown streamer patterns. Working close to the river bottom with buggers and crawfish patterns can be pretty deadly out there.”
Greg was kind enough to share a few photos. Here are a few shots from the Columbia and Greg’s favorite pastime.
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| Greg with a nice Columbia River Small Mouth |
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| Nick and Company |
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| Nice to be there |
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| Nice Bass! |
Well the trout on the Deschutes have had a bellyful lately but they are still rising to the big bug. Most of the Salmon Flies are now outnumbered by the slightly smaller Golden Stones with the brunt of the activity upstream of Harpham Flat. Since the hatch naturally progresses upstream, expect the upper reaches of the lower Deschutes (from Trout Creek on up to warm springs) to hold on the longest – maybe another couple weeks max. By this time, fish are starting to get over the same ole flies so mix it up if they aren’t showing the interest. Stay in tune to other flies that you may come across. Yellow Sallies, Caddis and PMD’s may make an appearance and trout may want to eat em.
Some fine fishing has been had recently on our area lakes. Folks dragging their float tubes or pontoons up to Lawrence Lake, Goose Lake or Lost Lake are getting into them, with the majority of fish being taken on bugger patterns. Fish are still pretty shallow so full sink fly lines, in Intermediate – type 3 densities, are a great way to go this time of year.
Welcome back! Another round of summer run steelhead are making their freshwater journeys home and the tributaries along the way are really cooperating. Numbers are climbing by the day over Bonneville Dam. The Clackamas, Sandy and Hood Rivers should continue to fish well as long as levels and clarity hold on. The Klickitat may start to see some numbers by the end of the month and the low portions of the Deschutes should pick up come early to mid July.
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