Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Report

Trout:

Deschutes Trout:

Fall has really set in and the trout are in full fall mode. Fall is some of my favorite trout fishing, on the Deschutes especially. Water temps are great, trout are happy and no need to get out there at the crack of dawn.
From here on out you will see more small mayflies, especially on the cloudy cool days. So stalk up on Blue Winged Olive nymphs, dries and emergers. My favorite flies are Dries: Sparkle Flag BWO #18-20, Extended Body BWO #20, Parachute Extended Body BWO #20, Parachute Adams #18-20 Emergers: Sprout BWO #18-20, Challenged PT #18 Nymphs: Bead Head Flashback PT #18-20, Pheasant Tail #18-20, Flashback Pheasant Tail #18-20, WD40 #18-20

You will also see very productive fishing with a variety of midge patterns. I prefer Zebra Midges Black, Brown, Tan #20

When nymphing I prefer drop all of my smaller flies below a bigger heavier nymph. Here are my favorite larger nymphs: TJ Hooker #8-10, Jigged PT #14-16, Jigger PT Purple #16, Bead Head PT #12-16. Many others work, but those are my favorites.

Fall is also a great time to break out the Trout Spey and swing some streamers, wet flies or soft hackles. Trout tend to be very active to a swung fly this time of year. Streamer takes are VIOLENT! Here are my favorites streamers: Rio Precious Metal, Kiwi Muddler, Sculpzila #8 (White, Olive/White, Natural) and Beaded Wooly Buggers #8 variety of colors.

Small Mountain Streams:

Fall is also the best time of the year to fish the small creeks and streams around The Gorge area. 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:

Some of the best fishing you will find in our lakes is over the next month. Fish are very active all day this time of year.
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 through the evening. Favorite dries are Parachute Adams #14-16, Tilt Wing Callibaetis #14-16, Griffiths Gnat #18.
Stillwater Trout Selection

Steelhead:

Fishing on the lower Deschutes continues to stay really consistent. There are fish throughout the system now, but the lower 20 miles of the river is still the most productive. Remember many of those upper Columbia Steelhead like Clearwater fish will park in the lower river until as late as Christmas. There has been great dry line fishing when light levels are low or overcast. Put on the sink tip and go deep once the sun hits the water.

The Klickitat has been in great shape with few people on it. Those who know the river well are doing great right now. Water temps have cooled so dry line fishing is going to be very limited to none. Go deep with a sink tip for best results on a swing. Fishing a fly under and indicator from a boat is also very effective.
Klickitat Super Slammer Kit

John Day River has started producing some fish over the last few weeks. The early rains and cooler weather is going to really help the JD see some fish much earlier than we have seen in the past few years.

Smallmouth:

Water temps are cooling now so Smallmouth fishing starts to slow down now. The Columbia will still be good for another few weeks and would be your best choice.

Trav