Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Report

Quick Tip: "Always make sure you have a fly on the end of your tippet while fishing.

Going a half hour without one is...no good!" Rookie mistake - Lyndsey Duddles.

Trout:

Deschutes Trout: Although trout are not the main focus on the Deschutes this time of year, trout fishing can be quite good. In fact it can be downright awesome. Caddis are still a great choice, dries, pupa or larva will do well, also take a few Hoppers cause this is the time of year for them. Also streamer fishing, which is a favorite of ours can be productive. Maybe not in numbers but in excitement. Nothing like a solid "I want to kill and eat this thing type of grab when swinging and twitching a streamer". Fish your trout spey rods here with 10’of T-8 sink tip, or any of the sinking Airflo Polyleaders / RIO Versileaders along with the following flies. Sculpzillia # 8 (Olive, White or Natural), Kiwi Muddler, Precious Metal and Aqua Flies Char-mer . For those who want to nymph/Czech nymph fish, this can be super productive if you're good at it. Try balanced leech patterns or tungsten jigged nymphs to get down quick.

Small Mountain Streams:

Much the same here, 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 still are fishing well. 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

Admiring a beauty before letting her go! photo - Sam Sickles

Steelhead:

Deschutes River: Steelhead fishing has been good for those who are going. There has been a good push of one salt fish over the last few weeks and with water conditions getting better the fishing has as well. The White River had been spitting out mud off and on for the last couple weeks, but it has gotten much better. Folks have been doing really well and getting two to three opportunities a day at fish. Standard operating procedure here, starting out in the morning fishing your Scandi line with a surface fly or subsurface fly and once the sun hits the water fish a bigger fly and a light sink tip and hang on. Deschutes Steel Destroyers Kit. , Aqua Flies Summer Steel Slayers Kit.

Guided Fishing Info:

Sam Sickles of Steelhead Outfitters:

Web - http://steelheadoutfitters.com/
Ph - 541-400-0855

** A side note to the Steelhead is that word on the street is that there are quite a few Chinook in the system as well, so don't be surprised if you hook into a nook while swinging for steel.

Klickitat River: Has cleaned up and is fishable and has fished well for those who braved the colored water this year. According to Travis Wallace of Western Waters Guide Service..."Klick is in great shape, swung up two yesterday and one today so far, and haven't done any bobber fishing!" It has been colored up most of the summer, so this has been a welcome sight. Klickitat Super Slammer Kit

Guided Fishing Info:

Travis Wallace of Western Waters Guide Service:

Web - https://www.westernwatersguides.com/
Ph - 509-850-5125

Sam Sickles of Steelhead Outfitters:

Web - http://steelheadoutfitters.com/
Ph - 541-400-0855

** Side note to the Klickitat as well, is don't be surprised if you hook in to a Chinook when your trying to Steelhead.

Beautiful Deschutes River Steelhead - Photo: Sam Sickles

Smallmouth:

Columbia Smallmouth top water action has heated up. Now is the time to grab your bigger rod, like your 7wt or 8wt and throw as big of a surface fly you can. Other techniques still work well including sinking lines with Clouser Minnows and other type of streamers but for excitement wise, the best action and most exciting action is the last part of the day when the Smallmouth really key on the surface offerings. You can get some downright EXPLOSIVE eats that will make your heart stop and hold your breath. One hint here, on the surface takes don't set the hook until you feel the pull.

Have fun out there and be safe. If you need any supplies stop on by.

"If you can't find it at the Gorge Fly Shop, you don't need it!"

John G.