Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Reports

Trout

Deschutes River:

I fished the Deschutes around Maupin last Saturday and the trout fishing was really productive for me and my buddy. We fished mainly above the white river as she was still spewing dirty water into the D. The white should finally begin to stabilize as there is more cold and dry weather in the forecast so look for fishing in Mack’s Canyon to the mouth to be fishable this weekend.

Fish were all over a size 8 charcoal brownish rubber legs stonefly and ate that fly 75% of the time and my dropper which was a red lightning bug the other 25%. I didn’t feel the need to change up flies at all as those two were hooking plenty of nice 12-17 inch redsides.

I noticed the fish were definitely stacked in the slower pools and runs with some depth, as well as back eddies. The faster riffles where you’d fish in the summer, simply did not produce. There was a small blue wing olive hatch around 2pm but it was short lived and the trout weren’t looking up.

I also threw the trout spey with a small olive sculpin pattern which picked up a few fish later in the day when the sun had gone behind the hills which was a good cap to the day. Always fun hooking trout on a tight line swing.

S hop Trout Flies

Lake Fishing:

Lakes are pretty much done for the year. Too cold up there this time of year but if you are brave enough you could probably encounter decent fishing in the middle of the day.

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Summer Steelhead

Deschutes River:

Steelheading continues to be tough as the season winds down to a close here. There are still some opportunities here and there but it is getting to be that late season time where most people are getting ready to call it quits and prepare for the winter steelhead season ahead.

It was a good year this year, despite so many other negatives 2020 has brought us. Lots of nice, big, mature summers this year around the Deschutes, and not as many of the smaller one salt steelhead. Let’s hope this is a sign of years to come and healthy fisheries.

For now, it is time to cranking away at the vice and get the sink tips and heavy skagits out for the first winters to start arriving.

I’ve already heard of a few hatchery winters being bonked on the Oregon Coast. The wild ones will not be far behind as usually the first big rain in late December/early Jan will get it going. Stoked!

Hood River:

Not a lot happening in the Hood lately. Chinook season here is closed. There might be a few hatchery coho around and some old summer steelhead that are still hanging around. Come late December and January, there will be winters showing up and the fishing should turn back on for fresh, chrome, mature winter steelhead. Shop Steelhead Flies

Smallmouth Bass/Carp:

Smallmouth fishing has remained pretty tough recently. Fish are still fairly spread out making them tough to find. Sinking lines with streamers and crayfish patterns are getting it done down there. People gear fishing have a better advantage of getting their presentation down in their face quicker.

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Shop Bass Flies

Stay safe out there and best of luck!

-Gorge Fly Shop