Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Report

Trout - Deschutes River:

This is a great time of year to fish the Deschutes. The snotty weather is ideal for B.W.O.’s. Look for that to be the predominant hatch du jour with midges coming in a close second. Expect to find most active fish in slower tailouts and back eddies, particularly early in the day. As the day wears on and the water warms, fish may start sliding up into faster riffles to feed on active nymphs. The hatches don’t create a frenzy of rising fish every day, but due to their presence, B.W.O. nymphs and midge larva will be deadly below the surface for the foreseeable future.

Streamer fishing is also a great option throughout the winter months. Sometimes a larger offering can be very appealing in the colder water. Experiment with a variety of leeches and sculpins until you find what they’re interested in. Vary your strip and pay attention to a cadence that’s working. The right streamer and strip is often the difference between a few bites and a bunch of fish to hand.

S hop Trout Flies

We have great stock of Airflo Fly Lines and Airflo Spey Lines

Mount Hood Lakes:

Going to be awhile before we see any mountain lake action. Stay tuned...

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Steelhead -

Things are happening in the winter steelhead department! Early reports filtering in from the coast and the greater Portland area have been positive thus far. With a little luck, that could be a good omen for the rest of the season. One thing we’ve had plenty of so far is water! Heavy rains on the coast brought many rivers to flood stage, but the upcoming flow predictions look great for early January. Keep an eye on water temps if you’re fishing any river that may be impacted by melting snow. Snow runoff can rapidly cool the water on a warmer day making fish a little less willing to move aggressively for a fly. Swing speed, or lack thereof, becomes critical under these conditions. Consider switching over to a multi-density or intermediate Skagit in colder water. Either of these lines will dig a bit deeper and dramatically slow your swing. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

For the latest on fishing regulations in your angling zone visit https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/