Nov 25, 2019

Columbia Gorge Fishing Report - Thanksgiving Edition - November 25th, 2019.

Sunrise is just around the corner, so close but so far away.  Where I took this photo is was 24 degrees! Burrrr!

Hey folks - Happy Thanksgiving!

With Thanksgiving just a few days away I bet there are a few of you that have a little time off and would like to get out and fish before old man winter truly sets in.  We here at the Gorge Fly Shop wish you all the best of the Thanksgiving holiday and hope that we all take a few moments to consider the things that we are thankful for.  We here at the shop are very, very thankful for all our friends, families, and you, our customers and potential customers.  Thank you all for making Gorge Fly Shop possible!  We greatly appreciate every one of you.

REMINDER ALERT:  We are having a toy drive in the shop and between now and Dec 23rd if you bring a toy in to donate to Columbia Gorge Children's Advocacy Center (CGCAC) we will give you a 10% discount for same day purchases on your entire order!

TROUT:
Deschutes Trout: (Nothing new to report except much the same from last report)

Fishing's great and crowds are low. The Deschutes has some great late fall and winter fly fishing. One great thing is there is no need to get up early, the best fishing is between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. From here on out the crowds will be low, leaving lots of great water for the rest of us.

From now on you will see more small mayflies, especially on the cloudy cool days. So stock 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 a VIOLENT! Here are my favorite streamers: RIO Precious Metal, Kiwi Muddler, Sculpzila #8 (White, Olive/White, Natural) and Beaded Wooly Buggers #8 variety of colors.

LAKES:

You can still get to virtually all of our mountain lakes, although that may change because we have snow in our near future according to the weather forecast. Keep in mind Laurence Lake is now closed.

The best thing about fishing lakes this time of year is that the best fishing is mid day, when it's the warmest. No need to get up early and freeze your tail off.  I used to tell customers when I guided "the fish don't bite until we get there!" In other words have another cup of Jo next to the heater, the fish now winter is coming and they are hungry.

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 afternoon, but will slow as water temps drop. Favorite dries are Parachute Adams #14-16, Tilt Wing Callibaetis #14-16, Griffiths Gnat #18.

STEELHEAD:

Deschutes:

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. You can still fish dry lines, but it is definitely slower now. I would recommend go right to a sink tip, you will see better results.  We know folks that fish the lower river with streamers for trout through out the winter and do quite well, something to think about.

Klickitat:

I was able to get out on Friday and fish for a few hours and the traffic was very minimal.  There were only a few drift boats and several anglers on foot.  Those who have been fishing the river on a regular basis are doing fair. The air temp when I was out was 24 degree and ice had formed along the bank on the rocks and grass as well as the guides on my rod. The water temp was COLD, in the mid 30's. Go with a sink tip for best results on a swing. Fishing a fly under and indicator from a boat is also very effective and a good choice, since Klickitat steelhead like to be lazy when it's cold and hang in tight seems.Fishing a sink tip with a slow swing is a good idea, even though I scored no love during those few hours I fished, it was still gorgeous out and I had a great time.


REMINDER ALERT: The Klickitat CLOSES the end of November for steelhead fishing.  Get out there before you have to wait six months before it reopens in June.

John Day River:

Has fished well this fall. Fish showed up early this year with the early rains. So there are now fish through out the system. Remember the John Day is a slow moving river so make sure you bring some lighter or short tips. I prefer a RIO iMow7.5’Float/2.5’T8 or T11, or at times even an Airflo Polyleader in various sinking rates depending on water level.  If water is really low, don't be afraid to try summer tactics.  I have used my Scandi line with a slow sinking or even an intermediate sinking polyleader before. Steelhead will congregate in deeper slower pools if it gets really cold and this is a way to target them.  When fishing the John Day it is also a good idea if you find a fish in a run, there is a good chance there could be others.  Don't be afraid to go back through it with a different tip/fly, or even take a coffee break and let the run rest a few minutes before going for it again.

SMALLMOUTH: 
Water temps are cooling now so Smallmouth fishing is pretty much done. The Columbia will still be good for another few weeks and would be your best choice but fish can be hard to find.  Focus on deeper water and slowing down your retrieve.  The fish don't disappear I just think they hunker down to save energy and it takes some work to get them to bite.

REMINDER ALERT:  Free fishing weekend November 29th & 30th, Thanksgiving weekend!
*The FINE PRINT: Area closures, bag limits and all other regulations still apply.

Get out there, be safe and we just might see you out on the water.

"Remember if you can't find it at the Gorge Fly Shop...You don't need it!"

John G.

GORGE FLY SHOP | AROUND THE WORLD!

Our much appreciated customer, Rich Felber of Cedar Springs, MI with a beautiful steelhead that he caught with his new Hardy Marquis Salmon #1 reel on the Rouge River in Michigan!- Great Job Rich! 


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