Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Columbia Gorge Fishing Reports

Trout - Deschutes River:

Lower Deschutes River

The salmonflies and golden stones are still going strong. The number of bugs in the grass is starting to die down, but the fish are still keyed on top. At this stage of the hatch using a smaller Clark’s Stone or Orange Stimulator pattern will get more eats than a big chubby. Fish have seen plenty of those by now.

There has been a lot of recent rain, clouds and thunderstorms throughout Central Oregon. This means…Green Drakes!! I have been hearing reports of electric green drake hatches where they begin popping like crazy out of nowhere. If I was hitting the Lower right now I’d definitely have some of these in my dry fly box. Caddis and pale morning duns are the other two bugs to have on your radar going forward. Look to fish these small flies in back eddies where trout will line up right off the shoreline. Some good pmd patterns include: film critics, parachute pmds, hackle stackers and comparaduns in size #16-18.

Nymphing is getting it done in the mornings as well before the hatches get going. Euro and traditional indicator rigs with two flies, a stonefly and a small caddis or mayfly imitation, is the ticket.

Don’t forget to purchase a boaters pass if you are floating any part of the Lower Deschutes. They can be purchased at recreation.gov and are required to have when floating.

Middle Deschutes River

The big bugs are few and far between now on the middle but fish are still occasionally eating them on top. Pale morning duns, caddis, and yellow sallies are all important on this section in between Bend and Lake Billy Chinook. Attractor dries like renegades, parachute adams, stimulators and yellow humpies are all good searching patterns too.

Upper Deschutes

The upper Deschutes has been pretty good the past few days. There have been consistent pale morning dun hatches happening between 12-3pm most every day the past few weeks. Fish are keyed in and looking up for sure. They have been hatching in a #16 and hackle stackers, comparaduns and film critics have all been productive patterns. Lots of good brown and rainbows to be had in this section above Benham falls. In between Crane Prairie and Little Lava Lake has been really hit or miss since the opener. I don't think there are a ton of fish in there right now as the water level seems a little low. Fishing closer to Lava and Crane will likely have more fish. Little streamers around the cut banks are super productive when there are fish present. Dry dropper fishing in the pools will get it done as well.

Metolius River

The Met green drake hatch has yet to really take off. There have been some sporadic hatches on cloudy humid days the past few weeks but the consistent hatches everyday is still to come. This weekend with the wet and warm weather it could really start to happen.

I’d definitely bring the nymph and streamer sticks. Nymphing will be your most productive method, particularly euro nymphing as it gets down in front of the fish in such an effective way that indicator rigs can’t replicate. Lots of caddis and pale morning dun activity too so have a good arsenal of dries as these hatches can start to happen at any time.

Bull trout reports are good. Streamers in the mornings and nymphing in the afternoons. The biggest thing I’ve learned over my years of fishing the Met for bulls is to use flies that are unique with a lot of movement that those bulls have likely never seen. We are well past the days where you can show up to the Met and expect to catch a pile of bulls by tying on a simple dolly llama. Think outside the box with streamer selection. All black, and white & olive are some of my favorite color combos.

S hop Trout Flies

Mount Hood Lakes:

Lake Update.

The lakes up around the mountain are in full swing! Fishing intermediate lines with small balanced leeches and wooly buggers never fails. In certain parts of certain lakes you can get away with a floating stripping these same flies but generally you’ll want a slow sinking line to help get down. Still water indicator fishing with chironomids, pheasant tail nymphs, dark assassins and balanced leeches is another method that can be really fun. Seeing a bobber drain never gets old!

Shop Stillwater Flies

Steelhead -

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

Smallmouth Bass / Carp:

Smally fishing has been pretty solid recently! Good catches have been reported slow stripping streamers. The RIO meat sweats is a great pattern that can imitate a lot of different things. Olive and tan are my favorite colors for smallies. I use an intermediate sinking line with a weighted bug and slow strip and twitch my fly in. This is a super fun fishery right in our backyards. Smallmouth put up a heck of a fight and are another great fish to challenge yourself to learn.

Won’t be too long before we’ll be stalking the flats of the Columbia looking for 20lb goldfish cruising the shallow flats. Carp fishing will humble you up really quick. Great practice if you have a saltwater trip coming up. These fish require accuracy and stealth to have success.

Shop Carp Flies

Shop Bass Flies