Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Reports

Trout: Deschutes

We are still in full on winter trout fishing mode on the Deschutes. Still very consistent this winter, only the last few days has the river came up much at all. Overall the river has ran fairly clear with the rain the last few days. If you get there and there is a color to the water and you are struggling, just put on a San Juan Worm or small egg pattern and hang one. Also be sure to move around.

Remember the Deschutes has some great 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.

There have been the usual good Blue Winged Olive hatches on the cloudy cooler days. Keep in mind that the colder and nastier the day the more concentrated the BWO hatch is. 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

Hand Selected Fly Kits

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.

Colored water flies: San Juan Worm Red, Wine, Purple #10. Small Egg patterns Pink & Orange

For those that want to swing some streamers, streamer fishing will slow down a little during the winter, but you can still get them on Streamers. The key is fish your streamers slower than you do the rest of the year and keep moving.
Here are my favorites streamers: Rio Precious Metal, Kiwi Muddler, Sculpzila #8 (White, Olive/White, Natural) and Beaded Wooly Buggers #8 variety of colors.
Trout Flies

MOST SAGE RODS AND REELS GET FREE FLY LINES

Lakes:

We are fairly limited on the lakes that you can fish this time of year due to snow in the high country and the lakes being frozen. The most accessible lakes in the winter are down near the Columbia. Taylor Lake on the Oregon side. Roland Lake and Spear Fish Lake on the Washington side.

The best thing about fishing lakes this time of year is that the best fishing is mid day. No need to get up early.

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 or Chironomids under an indicator with a floating works well to. The biggest thing in the winter is fish your flies very slow.
Stillwater Trout Selection

Other Great Winter Trout Fisheries:

Here are some other great winter trout fisheries across Oregon and Washington to think about. Oregon: Crooked River, Donner Blitzen River, Malhuer River and Owyhee River. Washington: Rocky Ford Creek and Yakima River All of these are great fishing during the winter and can be fun to go explore.

Steelhead:

The Northwest has seen a good amount of rain over the last few weeks and steelhead are moving into the rivers. Most of them are a little high right now, but once they settle in fishing should be good. Best fishing should be on the North Coast Rivers, Sandy River, Kalama River, Hood River and Clackamas.
Steelhead Flies