Columbia Gorge Fishing Report | 3/24/20

Information accurate to the best of our knowledge at time of writing. Always check regulations the day you plan to go fishing.

UPDATE: Oregon Closures

Not a bad camp spot.  Right on the water near productive runs.  What's not to like about this?!

Can you believe how fast things have changed in the past few weeks regarding were we stand and our current state with the Corona-virus?  On a daily basis things are changing and there is quite a bit of uncertainty on what will happen in the days to come.  While driving downtown Hood River after work, where normally it would be busy with folks shopping and chillin at the local coffee shops or microbreweries, it now seems like a ghost town.

With that said, even though down town was pretty much void of people, I did see more folks out walking their dogs, riding their bikes and getting out for some fresh air.  A few folks, including our shop owner Travis and his son Austin, decided to head out on a week long fishing trip to get away from it all and get some fresh air.  This trip was on the books for awhile and much needed since Travis was covering for me over the last two months while I recovered from knee surgery.  Travis, Lyndsey and Karrie had worked long hours for many days with little time off, so getting away was appropriate and much needed.  Look for a blog post from Travis in the days to come covering his trip and experiences.

Trout: Deschutes:

Trout fishing continues to be good on the Deschutes.  Not a lot of folks out and about, especially right now.  That being said there have been a few die hard fisherman that have been going when they can and the report has still been consistent.  Folks are fishing small soft hackles and mostly nymph fishing but a few streamers as well.  With the warmer weather the trout have been pretty active.  As I type this report, we just had a customer come in who had been camping on the river for two days and he said it got really cold at night but he was able to catch some nice fish during the warmer parts of the day.  He stated that his best fish was a dandy 18" rainbow.  He also stated that he never saw another soul on the water for those two days.

As I have mentioned in prior fishing reports streamers are a favorite of ours just because the take can be viscous and anytime you get a take like that, it's a lot of fun.  At times I would rather get those few vicious grabs rather than more fish nymph fishing.  It's a rush for sure and nothing against nymph fishing, it's just the grab that gets me going.  The more hatches that materialize, streamer could slow down.  I have caught fish on streamers all year long, but they do focus on the hatch of the moment but with 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, if the opportunity comes by.  They will crush a streamer and the eat is pretty exciting.  San Juan worms are always a solid choice if you get to the river and there is a bit of color to it.

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

Austin Duddles is all Braces and Browns.  Don't you just love photos of youth and fishing?

Lakes:

The most accessible lakes right now 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.

SPECIAL NOTE:  Lost Lake is open year around, however the resort doesn't open until May 1, 2020.  If you are up to hike in and fish, you would be rewarded with active hungry fish.

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 (fish, Blue Winged Olives, WD-40 nymphs and streamers such as Skulpzillas and you should see consistent action). Washington: Rocky Ford Creek and Yakima River All of these are great fishing during late winter and early spring can be fun to go explore.  

Travis, with a nice little Brown Trout from the Owyhee River, Oregon.

Steelhead:

The Hood River has been producing steelhead here and there.  I see folks out everyday as I come in to work and the word on the street is that fish are being caught and on a few occasions it has been really good, well, as good as winter steelhead fishing goes.  There is a mixture of gear/bait and fly fisherman out trying to take advantage of the nice weather and a few fish being around.  With the warmer weather, Friday 3/20/20 it nearly hit 70 degrees.  And this past weekend was in the mid 60's  so the warmer weather is welcomed and it seems to get more folks out, even with the current state of which we are in with the virus.  Lots of people out walking, running, cycling and fishing.

With warmer days and colder nights the rivers have been in decent shape, although getting pretty low. 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

With the uncertainty in the days to come with the Corona-Virus it might be a good time to get out and go fishing, before they possibly choose to make everyone stay inside with exception of essential situations.  I know, I know, most of us would consider fishing and essential situation, but they may not think so.

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