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| A few Salmon Flies are starting to show up on the Lower Deschutes and it should just get better. |
A lot of folks felt that getting out of the house and going for a hike or fishing or anything that they could do to enjoy the outdoors was a safe bet. What better way to social distance yourself from others by going fishing or for a hike. Well, the issue with that was lot's of folks were thinking the same thing. People would drive from quite a ways away and between the locals and those traveling, the trails and sometimes the riverbanks became pretty crowded and as a result. This caused hiking trails to be closed down and only a few fishing spots to stay open. We hope that sooner rather than later we can get back to some sort of normal routine where we have the freedom to go where and when we choose.
NOTE: OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE ANNOUNCED ON THEIR WEBSITE WWW.MYODFW.COM THAT FISHING IS CLOSED TO NON-RESIDENT OUT OF STATE ANGLERS BEGINNING ON APRIL 10 AT MIDNIGHT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
FOR QUICK LINK TO THE PAGE WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT - CLICK HERE.
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| Guide Sam Sickles with a DANDY BowBow from last June! I know we are all looking forward to something like this after being somewhat isolated! |
DESCHUTES TROUT:
Trout fishing on the Deschutes has been good for those few getting out. There are a few Salmon Flies showing up in the lower river and it should just get better. Those that have been fishing have been throwing streamers, which this time it has been pretty good. Fisherman are also swinging small soft hackles and nymph fishing. Even with a few Salmon flies showing up, if you don't fish rising for them your best action will be with nymphs. Fish nymphs such as the T.J. Hooker, Pat's Rubber Legs, Silly Legs or the Terminator (pictured below). If you see fish rising then, Captain Obvious right here, fish the dries like the Chubby Chernobyl the Rolling Stones, or Larimer's Golden Stone to name a few (pictured below). With the warmer weather the trout have been pretty active. Also look for March Browns. If you are so inclined to swing a streamer, use the Sculpzilla, "The One" Sculpin, RIO'S Pocket Rocket to name a few. Our good friend and guide Sam Sickles has been up to speed with all things Deschutes and here is what he has to say...
"Currently the Deschutes is open for fishing provided you are an Oregon Resident. Access is limited to day use sites only with the exception of Deschutes State Park (closed). Toilets are locked and campgrounds closed. At a minimum there will be no legal boating prior to May 20th. The Prineville BLM has refunded and cancelled all Deschutes boaters passes that have been issued. Boaters passes for May 21 and beyond are available. Oregon State Parks are closed 100%, indefinitely, that means closed boat ramps regardless. I am hopeful that things change but I predict Oregon State Parks stays closed until after Memorial Weekend…I hope I’m wrong.
If you want to fish the Deschutes anyway understand it’s going to be crowded, and access is very limited…but if it were me and I wanted to go I’d head to Mecca Flats, it’s open. The trail from Mecca goes clear to Trout Creek so if you’re willing to walk you can find a spot to fish. This time of year you’ll find pre-hatch conditions, pre-salmonfly/stonefly that is. Mostly nymph fishing, some intermittent mayfly action but mostly nymphing. Don’t be without a Pat’s Stone or some variation, I like a tungsten bead on mine. Anglers able to get down river of Mack's Canyon will likely encounter adult Salmonflies and Stoneflies this week, heck maybe today. Water temps have been above 57 for several days down there so here come the big guys.
One last note, I caution you from fishing if there are people everywhere, especially in Maupin. If you show up there and it’s super busy, drive over the hill to Trout Creek or even Mecca Flats. Too many people and the whole thing could get shut down, so use your best judgement when it comes to wide open spaces or a small town in central Oregon."
Good Luck.
Sam Sickles
(541) 400-0855
www.steelheadoutfitters.com
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| Great Selection Of Salmon Fly Dries: Chubby Chernobyl, Norm Woods, Larimer's Golden Stone, Clark's Stone. |
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| Great Selection of Salmon Fly Nymphs: T.J. Hookers, Silly Legs, Pat's Rubber Legs, the Terminator. |
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| Great Selection of Streamer patterns: Sculpzilla, The One Sculpin, Baby Gonga, Pocket Rockets. |
As I have mentioned in several prior fishing reports, fishing streamers is a favorite technique of ours just because the eats are viscous and it is just a ton of fun. When fishing streamers the stripping motion can vary, although consistently they seem to like a "twitch" in motion as the fly swings across the current. That being said, don't be afraid to mix it up and try different styles. Some days they can be pretty picky about it.
- Click here for an effective trout dry fly selection: Trout Dry Flies
- Click here for an effective trout nymph fly selection: Trout Nymph Flies
- Click here for an effective trout streamer fly selection: Trout Streamer Flies
LAKES:
NOTE #1: LOST LAKE IS HOPING TO OPEN BY MAY 1ST, HOWEVER THAT IS NOT SET IN STONE JUST YET. ALSO THE LAKE IS NOT OPEN FOR FOOT TRAFFIC AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. THEIR PHONE NUMBER FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE IS: 541.386.6366. ANY RESERVATIONS SHOULD BE DONE ONLINE AT THEIR LOST LAKE RESORT WEBSITE: LOSTLAKERESORT.ORG
NOTE #2: LAURANCE LAKE HAS BEEN STOCKED AND IS OPEN TO FOOT TRAFFIC TO FISH, HOWEVER, THE DAY USE AREA AND CAMPING SITES ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND A SPOT TO PARK THEN WALK IN IF YOU WISH TO FISH THE LAKE.
If you do hike in to Laurance Lake there could be some flying Ants out, so make sure you have a few of those in your fly box. Also fish a sinking line and strip in leach patterns such as the Hale Bop Leach or Wooley bugger and Bead head Wooley Buggers. Another great technique is to fish Chironomids or a Balanced Leach under a strike indicator. A hint when fishing this technique is to find the depth that the fish are at and then through out the day shallow up because the Chironomid Nymphs swim up and fall back down a bit and as the day goes on they work their way to the surface. It is somewhat critical to find the fish, then when they stop biting shallow up about a foot or so and just follow their progress up to the surface as the day goes on.
For more easily accessible lakes fish down near the Columbia River. Lakes such as Taylor Lake on the Oregon side. Roland Lake and Spear Fish Lake on the Washington side. 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 line works really really well too.
Click here for an effective Stillwater Trout Fly Selection: Stillwater Trout Selection
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| A very nice Spring Chinook landed on the Hood with my Sage One Spey rod a few years back. There is no salmon better tasting than a FRESH Spring Chinook! |
STEELHEAD/SPRING CHINOOK:
The Hood River is still producing some steelhead fairly consistently. Folks are out everyday as I drive and look up and down the river as I come in to work and the word is that fish are being caught and and depending on who you talk to it's been really good (these are the guys that fish it all the time and know the river very well).
A mixture of gear/bait and fly fisherman are out trying to take advantage of the nice weather and fish being around. The Hood has been in decent shape, even though it recently got muddy overnight from the recent past rains it cleared up just as fast and is now dropped a bit and in great shape.
Although I have not heard yet of any Spring Chinook being caught, this is the time of year they start to show up so it could happen if it already hasn't. Most Chinook are caught by the gear fisherman and they rarely come into the shop to chat fishing so, I would be willing to bet that there have been a few caught already, we just don't know about them. Look for it to get better as the days go by.
Click here for an effective Steelhead Fly selection: Steelhead Flies
SMALLMOUTH:
Water temps are still cool but getting warmer. A few folks have been out fishing for Smallmouth and a catching a few. Using sinking lines and Crayfish patterns and getting down is the key right now. Once they're in their Pre-Spawn mode look to get them closer to the banks and structure with a floating lines and poppers or using an intermediate, light sinking line stripping in Clouser Minnows or Bead Head Wooley Buggers and what not.
Click here for an effective Smallmouth fly selection: Smallmouth Flies
The key if you get out and fish, whatever your fishing for, is to have fun, take a deep breath of fresh air, catch fish or not, reflect on the current state we are in and be grateful and thankful for what you have, and take the opportunity you have to help to help others and to defeat this virus junk. Be safe out there, keep your distance from other folks fishing and stay healthy. This too shall pass and hopefully things will get back to somewhat normal sooner rather than later...we love you guys and thank you for your continued support during these weird and trying times, everyone here at the Gorge Fly Shop and our families thank you and appreciate your business and we are grateful that you chose and choose to shop with us! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Gorge Fly Shop Team
John G
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