Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Report (1.17.16)

Jan 18, 2016

Columbia Gorge Fishing Report (1.17.16)

Fishing Report

We had one week of low water conditions, and now our local rivers are on their way back up. This is great news for winter steelhead junkies. In an typical year, there is a lull in steelhead numbers during mid to late January, before the later spring fish start really coming through in mid-February. Not that there are not a whole bunch of fish around; winter has been great so far and our rivers are full of steelhead. So don't look at the Bonneville Dam counts and come to the conclusion that there aren't any fish around. It only takes one and there are plenty of nice steelhead in all of our rivers.

As long as the Pacific Ocean keeps pumping rain and snow at us, we should continue to see great fishing throughout the region. Pick your favorite river and get your swing on. Just keep an eye on the levels and don't try to fish rivers when they are too high. Some of them dirty up really quick and others can stay in great shape after heavy rains. Some rivers get really high and are dangerous to wade or float, so please be aware of your surroundings and conditions

Rainbow trout fishing has been great on the Deschutes. It is now open for trout all the way to Pelton Dam. Midges and Blue Wing Olives are the most productive patterns right now, but streamers have been working well too.