Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Report

Trout:

Deschutes Trout: Trout fishing has stayed good all summer through out the river. Caddis are still a good bet, dries, pupa or larva will all work right now. This is also the time of year hoppers can produce good fishing along the steep banks. Cloud days will produce a variety of good mayfly hatches. Don’t forget about midges. Small flies like midges are greatly over looked on the Deschutes and can be very productive.

I have talked to a few anglers that have had some great streamer fishing this last week. 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 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:

Steelhead fishing in the Lower Deschutes River has been good. There has been a good push of one salt fish over the last few weeks. The White River has been spitting out mud off and on for the last week and a half, not very easy to predict from day to day. Is it fish-able when it is colored is up to you. Lots of fish have been caught on the dirty water days while many go home. Remember what we think is low to zero visibility, fish are looking up into light so they see 2 to 4 times as far as we do. Fish a bigger fly and a light sink tip and hang on. There are fish farther up river above the White if you don’t like the color of the lower river when the White is spitting out mud.

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 until the mountain starts freezing.
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