Columbia Gorge Fishing Report | 3/12/20

Austin Duddles, son of Travis and Lyndsey Duddles, Gorge Fly Shop owners, is ready for
anything, wadered up and ready to go!

CORONA-VIRUS IS NOT A DRINKING PROBLEM - GET OUTSIDE, PUT YOUR QUARANTINE SUIT ON (I.E. YOUR WADERS) AND GET AWAY FROM THE CROWDS. (Disclaimer: I am not making light of the virus, it's a real deal, I am just saying, go outside, get some fresh air.)

Trout: Deschutes:

Can you believe how fast time is flying by?  We are already near the middle of March and with the nice warmer weather we have had lately, it makes you want to go outside and soak it up after being mostly inside all winter.  Trout fishing has continued to be really good on the Deschutes.  Reports are still coming in that it has been very consistent according to a few local anglers/customers who have been fishing it regularly recently.  Anglers have been fishing small soft hackles and mostly nymph fishing and occasionally tossing some streamers too.  With the warmer weather the trout have become pretty active and look for a few more dry fly hatches to take place as we go along.

This time of year, streamers are a favorite of ours.  The more hatches that materialize streamer fishing will seem to slow down.  I have caught fish on streamers all year long, but the do focus on the hatch of the moment.  That being said the bigger fish are opportunistic and will eat a big meal (streamer) rather than sip on flies you can barely see all day.  They will crush a streamer and the eat is pretty exciting.  If you get to the river and there is a bit color to the water and you are struggling, just put on a San Juan Worm.

This time of year look for Blue Winged Olive hatches on the cloudy cooler days. Keep in mind that the colder and nastier the day the more concentrated the Blue Winged Olives (BWO) hatch is. So stock up on BWO nymphs, dries and Emergers.

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.  And don't forget a few streamers such as the Sculpin, the "ONE" Sculpin, Rio Precious Metal, Sculpzilla to name a couple. The key to streamer fishing when it's cold is to slow down and give the fish a bit more time to get to it.

Click here for an effective trout fly selection:  Trout Flies

Lakes:

The most accessible lakes in the winter this time of year are down near the Columbia River. Lakes like 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.


Click here for an effective Stillwater Trout Fly Selection: Stillwater Trout Selection 

Other Great Winter Trout Fisheries: 

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.

Another Nice Winter Steelhead that a customer of Sam Sickles landed and released.  Sam Sickles
can be reached at 541.400.0855 | steelheadoutfitters.com | samsickles@gmail.com

Steelhead:

Steelhead have moved into the rivers it seems, although still not in huge numbers it has been encouraging to see the counts over Bonneville Dam increase to the point folks are catching a few more fish locally lately.  Proof is in the crowds that we see at the mouth of the Hood River.  If folks weren't catching fish there wouldn't be as many people fishing it.  Funny thing is that only the die hards are out there day in and day out suffering for the cause and then when word gets out, more folks are excited about trying and why not.  With the warmer weather we have had lately its a better combination to get outdoors rather than the freezing cold temps and no fish wouldn't you say?

With warmer days and colder nights the rivers have been in decent shape, With no rain and still fairly cold night the rivers should stay in fishable shape.  Best fishing should be on the North Coast Rivers, Sandy River, Kalama River, Hood River and Clackamas, or further west to the coast and Tillamook area.

Click here for an effective Steelhead Fly selection:  Steelhead Flies

Smallmouth:  

Water temps are still cold enough to the point that smallmouth are not very active now and won’t be until spring.

Click here for an effective smallmouth fly selection:  Smallmouth Flies

If you have the opportunity Avoid the Corona-Virus and get outdoors and go fishing!

Be safe out there, we may see you on the water, and if we do, keep your distance, just to be safe. . .

Gorge Fly Shop Team

John G

GFS | FROM AROUND THE WORLD:

GFS Customer, Brent Hill with an 18# Peacock Bass, his biggest of many caught on his recent trip! Well done Brent!