Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Report 5/13/2019

Austin Duddles is on the stillwater game

Trout:

Deschutes Salmon/Stone fly hatch is on! It has been a good week of fishing in the lower river. The bugs are popping out pretty heavy up around Maupin now, with reports of bugs all the way to Trout Creek. I would fish the old standby’s; Norm Woods #6-8, Norm Woods Rubber Legs #6-8, Larimer’s Golden Stone #6 and don’t forget the Chubby’s Golden #6-10. The secret weapon can be the Chubby Purple #6-10. Nymphs; Pat’s Rubber Leg’s in Black, Brown, Olive #4-8, Tungsten Pat’s Rubberlegs Black/Brown #6-8, Trout Retriever in all three colors (Yellow Lab, Choc. Lab, Black Lab).

If they are not on the big bugs don’t forget the following; Caddis, PMD Mayflies and Yellow Sally’s. These hatches can produce great numbers of fish and can save the day when the fish are not eating Stones.

We have some cloudy weather coming up this week which is what I like to see for streamer fishing. That is my favorite way to fish the Deschutes. May not always produce big numbers, but it can be big fun! I like to fish my little 3 weight two hander with 10’ of T-8 sink tip along with the following flies. Sculpzillia # 8 (Olive, White or Natural), Kiwi Muddler, Precious Metal and Aqua Flies Char-mer Zonker.
Deschutes Salmon Fly Dry Kit

Lakes:

Laurance Lake has been fishing well after being closed last year, well worth the trip. Lost lake is it’s usual consistent self. The higher country lakes are still snowed in, but you should be able to start getting into most of them in the next week or so.

Best results have been fishing an intermediate or slow sinking line with a variety of #8-10 leach patters in Black or Brown. Suspending a Balance Leach under an indicator with a floating line has been lethal to. Dry fly fishing has been good in the mid-morning or in the evening with Parachute Adams #14-16, Tilt Wing Callibaetis #14-16, Black Ants #8-12
Stillwater Trout Selection

Steelhead:

We are seeing a few early summer fish in the Hood, Sandy and Clack. Not much pressure on them this time of year, it can be worth a trip.

Look forward to Klickitat River season opening on June 1st
Klickitat Super Slammer Kit

Smallmouth:

Smallmouth in the Columbia have come alive, fishing has really picked up. You will find lots of fish in the shallows and back waters of the Columbia. Best results are with a variety of streamers like; Sculpins, Crayfish, Baitfish, ect. Also try jigged flies like the Jaw Breaker under a indicator on a floating line, it can be really good.

The John Day is pretty high right now, there are fish being caught, but not ideal.
Bass Flies

Trav