COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE FISHING REPORT | 5.8.2020
TROUT
DESCHUTES RIVER:
GOOD NEWS! Some of you already know this if you've been to the "D" to trout fish in the past couple of days, if you haven't, the Salmon Fly hatch is on, and the lower river is pretty active with bugs and they are scattered up river as well. Look for the peak to hit Maupin in the next couple of weeks. That being said, look for the human hatch to materialize as well, although with the Covid Virus still looming over our heads, who knows maybe it won't be quite as crowded as usual.
Everyone anticipates this time of year and anxiously awaits the arrival of these large, fun to fish Salmon and Stoneflies. Grab your favorite 5 or 6wt rod and make a plan to get away and fish before it slips away. One tip for you if you don't already know is when fishing the salmonfly along the banks or under trees, look for the foam line to cast into and if a foam line isn't there wait until there is one and then cast into it. Foam lines gather food because of the current flow and fish will feed in those lanes. Some of our favorite dries to fish during the hatch are the Chubby Chernobyl #6, Chubby Norman #8, Rollin Stone #4, Rollin Stone #6, Norm Woods #6 and Larimer's Golden Stone #6 to name a few. We have put together a "go to" bug selection on our website and here is a link to the page:
If you get to the river and you're not seeing fish rise to the surface, try nymph fishing for them, they are feasting on these bugs and the river will be full of the nymphs so if there is no surface activity nymph fish will be an effective way to go until you start to see action on the surface. We have a great selection of nymphs including Tom Larimer's Copper Back Stone, Pat's Rubber Legs,
Silly Leg Stone, T.J. Hookers and Trout Retrievers to name a few.
NOTICE: BELATED UPDATE!
Oregon reopened hunting, fishing May 5
Non-Oregon residents will be allowed to hunt and fish in Oregon starting May 5, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The department is lifting restrictions as the state loosens restrictions on all recreation in Oregon. Oregon and Washington are to open salmon and steelhead fishing on the Columbia River next week.
“We want to thank non-residents for their understanding of the temporary closure,” ODFW Director Curt Melcher said. “We are also announcing a special refund policy for non-residents who purchased fishing license documents between April 6-15, which is about the time when Washington announced their extended closure of all hunting and fishing.” - Curt Melcher ODFW Director
Recreational crabbing and clamming are still closed until further notice as most beaches are still closed and those who don’t live on the coast are advised not to travel there. Many non-residents who purchased hunting and fishing licenses before Oregon closed those to non-residents are eligible for a refund, which is available through the department’s website at https://dfw.state.or.us/
LAKES:
NOTE #1: LOST LAKE IS OPEN HOWEVER IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A YURT RESERVATION YOU CANNOT DRIVE IT TO THE LAKE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO PARK OUTSIDE THE GATE AND WALK IN. THE TRAIL AROUND THE LAKE IS OPEN FOR HIKING AND FISHING. THERE ARE NO BOAT RENTALS OPEN EITHER. 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 BOAT RAMP IS OPEN FOR USE HOWEVER YOU STILL CANNOT PARK IN DAY USE OR CAMPSITE AREAS. THE LAKE HAS BEEN STOCKED AND IS OPEN TO FOOT TRAFFIC TO FISH, HOWEVER, YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND A SPOT TO PARK THEN WALK IN IF YOU WISH TO FISH THE LAKE.
If you walk 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. 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.
STEELHEAD/SPRING CHINOOK:
The Hood River is still producing a few late winter steelhead and we've had some reports of a few Chinook now being caught. Look for that to get better as more fish come in. Most of the Chinook have been caught down river near the mouth at this point. Both gear and fly fishers have been lucky enough to land fresh, spring Chinook! If you are swinging a fly for them try flies such as listed below:
- Click here for a great selection of Chinook flies: Chinook flies:
- Click here for an effective Steelhead Fly selection: Steelhead Flies
SMALLMOUTH:
Smallmouth Bass fishing has been picking up in the last week. I have seen some photos of some dandy Bronzebacks. It will only get better and the warmer days of summer start to show up. 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
That's it for now, have a great weekend and be safe and healthy out there. Enjoy every minute you've been given and make the most of them. We'll see you out on the water!
The Gorge Fly Shop Team
John G.
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