Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Reports

UPDATE: 7/23

The Hex Hatch is on now at Lost Lake. There have been a few scattered bugs seen over the last week, but the last two nights have produced a good hatch. If you want to fish the Hex Hatch I would start about 6 pm by fishing the nymphs. About 8 pm switch over to cripples or adults. You will want to fish until dark, so bring a flash light.

Trout:

With our cooler than normal conditions the Deschutes is still fishing very well through out the system. Caddis have been the most productive for most anglers. I would fish Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis and Outrigger Caddis in tan and grey, sizes #16. For pupa I would use #16 tan or grey; Deep Six Pupa, Sparkle Pupa, Bead Head Sparkle Pupa and Prime Time Caddis Pupa. Be ready to stay out late, the fishing the last 45 minutes or so of the day has been very good as Caddis come back to the water to lay their eggs. In addition to dry’s swinging soft hackles can be very productive.

When ever we get the higher humidity days be ready for a good mayfly hatch like pale morning, pale evening duns and we will start seeing some mahogany duns. Don’t forget about midges. Small flies like midges are greatly over looked on the Deschutes and can be very productive.

This is also the time that you can start fishing a small hopper with a nymph dropper.

In low light or cloudy days don’t forget streamers. 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 Micro Trout Spey 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.

Small Mountain Streams:

The smaller mountain streams have been fishing well. Places like Trout Lake Creek, Lewis River above Swift Reservoir, East Fork of the Hood, White River to name a few. Fish in these locations are small, 6” to 8” average, but they are always looking up. These waters offer great dry fly fishing. Take your light rod and have a blast.

Lakes:

Laurance Lake has been fishing well after being closed last year, well worth the trip. Lost lake is it’s usual consistent self. This is the best time to hit the small higher mountain lakes before the heat slows them down. This is a great time of year to fish our local lakes, they fish really well right now. During the hot days the carpenter ants will hatch. These ants drive fish crazy.

Still no sign Lost Lake’s Hex hatch, a few early single bugs reported. No real hatch yet reported, but I don’t expect to see the peak of the hatch until about the end of July to first part of August. It has been a comfortable average to cool summer here which generally means the hatch is the fourth week of July or so. We may see a few early bugs, but doubt if it will be very intense. I have people at the lake that will let me know when they see the first few signs of a real hatch.

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:

There are a few anglers that are catching fish on the Deschutes. The Dalles Dam counts have been above the magic number of 200 a day, which generally means that there are good fishable numbers in the lower part of the Deschutes River. You don’t need many of these early Summer Steelhead to have good fishing, they are not stressed out and tend to be good biters. I would stay in the lower 10 to 15 miles of the river. Be ready these early fish are HOT!!!

Fishing on the Klickitat had been good for the early season Summers, but the river has been colored for a few weeks now. It has been bouncing between 12 and 18 inches of visibility. I personally would fish it, but that is me I tend to really like colored water. Growing up fishing the Hood and Klickitat I have caught many fish in these conditions.
Klickitat Super Slammer Kit

Smallmouth:

Smallmouth in the Columbia River has still 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, ect. Also try jigged flies like the Jaw Breaker under a indicator on a floating line, it can be really good.

John Day River is a great river the fish this time of year for smallmouth. Take a light rod and a pile of small poppers, hang on! No need to fish any sinking flies on the JD, non-stop popper action out there. It is best to float it, but there is good walking access at Cottonwood Canyon State Park. Keep in mind the river starts getting really low this time of year. So make sure your boat can handle the low water. Also keep in mind this river moves much slower so be sure to plan plenty of days to do a float.
Trav