A nice rainbow that couldn't resist a Jigged Balance Leech pattern
COLUMBIA GORGE FISHING REPORT - 7/15/19
Trout:
Laurance Lake: Still fishing well, putting to rest the idea that the season may not be so good from the closure and maintenance from all of last year. Some folks have come in and said that they have had some of the best fishing they've experienced in years.
Remember: You can only keep fin-clipped trout (hatchery produced) and can only use artificial lures and flies. These rules were put in place to protect native Cutthroat and Bull Trout also found here, which must be released unharmed. There's no limit on Smallmouth bass you may catch.
Lost Lake: Consistency, is the word here. Now's a great time to fish the higher mountain lakes before it get's too warm and the fish turn off. During the hot days, carpenter ants hatch and the trout go crazy for a good ant pattern. Don't recommend going to a lake without any, if they are present, you can do well to have them in your fly box!
We are getting calls daily regarding the status of Lost Lake’s Hex hatch. Nothing yet to report as the hatch has not started, but don't fret, the hatch typically shows up about the end of July. It has been a rather cool summer and this typically means the hatch will start around the end of July or so. We may see a few early bugs in the next week, but doubt if it will be very intense. Trent, who works up at the lake said that he would let us know when they see the first few start to show.
Effective techniques include fishing an intermediate or slow sinking line with a variety of #8-10 leech patters in Black, Brown or Olive. Indicator fishing with a slip bobber set up and a floating line has been deadly. Recently I fished a lake (not Lost Lake) and caught about 35 trout and all but one was caught on a Balanced Leech and a Chironomid set up. On this particular lake, I didn't witness much top water action during the time I was there. Dry fly fishing at Lost Lake 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. Also be on the look out for Damsels.
This fine specimen (Hexagenia limbata) landed on my truck as I was preparing to load the pontoon at the end of my fishing time! Wouldn't you know it. Look for the hatches to get stronger in the days to come.
Small Mountain Streams: About the same as last reported. Smaller mountain streams have been fishing well. Trout Lake Creek, Lewis River above Swift Reservoir, the East Fork of the Hood, and the White River to name a few. Fish in these locations are small, 6” to 8” average, but they are always looking up. Not super picky when it comes to fly patterns and because of this it can offer great dry fly fishing. Take your light rod, some Caddis flies and have yourself a big time.
Steelhead:
The counts over The Dalles Dam have been between 200 - to 300 per day, which typically means good fishable numbers in the lower parts of the Deschutes and Klickitat Rivers. Early Summer Steelhead fishing can be good, even with somewhat low numbers because the crowds aren't as high in number and the fish seem to be good biters. These early fish are energetic and full of gas!
A hot little ticket...an early summer Steelhead on the Klickitat River! Some of the best fighting Steelhead you will ever encounter this far from the ocean!
Klickitat River: Had been seeing some good fishing for the early season, consistently finding fish with pretty much all tactics working, says our long time friend and guide Travis Wallace of Western Waters Guide Service. There have been a surprising number of fish coming into the system on a daily basis, unfortunately the heat and wind as of late have made the river unfishable. Keep an eye out for cooler temps, because when the river comes into shape there will be a bunch of new fish that have not had any pressure, that combination can make for some special days with HOT fish! To learn more about what is "FISHABLE WATER" and what isn't, check out my past blog articles where I break down the early, mid and late season strategies for the Klickitat River and show photos of what I would fish and wouldn't. This has a wealth of information for you from years of guiding it. You will see at the end of the blog links to the other articles:
Guided fishing for the Klickitat River:
- Travis Wallace: (509) 850-5125
- Sam Sickles: (541) 400-0855
Smallmouth:
Columbia River: Has been good. You will find many of the bigger fish starting to hold more in the deep drop offs and rock walls. These conditions do make it more important to use a boat of some type. Best results are with a variety of streamers like; Sculpins, Crayfish, Baitfish, Bead Head Wooley Buggers etc, fished on a full sinking line. Also try jigged flies like the Jaw Breaker under a indicator on a floating line, it can be really good, especially on rock ledges.
A full sinking line, a Crawfish pattern, and a tantalizing retrieve scored for a few fish!
John Day: Summer fishing for Smallmouth on the John Day River, if you haven't already heard about it, can be a boat load of fun. Why you ask...because lots and lots of top water action using poppers and such. It doesn't matter if most of the fish you catch on the popper are on the smaller side, it's still a kick in the pants. If you really want to tackle trying to catch the bigger Bronzebacks and forgo the top water feeding frenzy, try using a sinking tip or a weighted Clouser Minnow to get down where the big boys live. Otherwise take a light gear rod and play the game of seeing if you can cast somewhere that you won't catch a fish! It is best to float it for sure, but there is good walking access at Cottonwood Canyon State Park.
That's it till next time. Have fun whatever your pursuit and stay safe out there!
John Garrett
Gorge Fly Shop
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
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