Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Report

Austin with first steelhead and on the swing with Harris Anglers

Trout:

Once again the Deschutes has been cooler this year so good trout fishing continues. I was out steelhead fishing on the lower river Wednesday and saw several trout rising to small caddis. It was also overcast so we saw a mixed bag of mayflies . 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 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:

Most of the lakes are still fishing well. They did not get very warm this year. Best fishing is going to be late in the day or early in the day.

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 too.

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:

Steelhead fishing in the Lower Deschutes River has been good. My son Austin and I ran up river from the mouth with Todd Harris of Harris Anglers Wednesday morning. The crowds were low and fishing was great. I got two to a floating line and landed one.

Austin who is 12 years old is a spey casting natural and landed his first steelhead on a fly. We stopped into Sam Sickles (Steelhead Outfitters) camp to say hi. Sounded like their fishing had also been consistent and good.

Remember numbers don’t mean much, what matters are the conditions good so you have happy fish. If the fish are happy and the crowds are low you can have very good fishing with low numbers of fish in the river.

The Klickitat has fished well for those who braved the colored water this year. It has been colored up most of the summer. It will probably be like this for the next two to three weeks.
Klickitat Super Slammer Kit

Smallmouth:

Smallmouth in the Columbia has still been good. You will find many of the bigger fish holding 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 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