Deschutes Trout
Steelhead get most of the attention on the Deschutes in September, but the trout fishing should not be overlooked! More favorable water temps have made for some excellent fishing. Caddis are still the main bugs and the trout are paying attention to them daily. Skating a light-colored Elk Hair in the morning and evening has been very productive. Look for most of the action to come on larva and pupa during the day. If you're fishing a pair of nymphs, make sure one of the two is a caddis. October Caddis will also be getting more active in the next couple weeks. Don't be afraid to fish a big October Caddis pupa any time now.
Mount Hood Lakes
There's still a handful of weeks to fish the Stillwater's on the mountain. All the cool evenings have made for some snappy trout. The dry fly fishing on calm evenings has been spectacular. Reports of lakes practically boiling with rising fish have been filtering into the shop. With more cool weather in the forecast, you can expect the Mount Hood lakes to fish well until the end of the season.
Deschutes Steelhead
Not surprisingly, as soon as colder water started being released from the dam in mid-August, the steelhead fishing got really good. It's remained strong ever since. The great news has been the abundance of regular old 3-5 pound A Run fish. These are the fish that made the Deschutes famous! The water temps have been great for dry line fishing. Wet flies just below the surface and skaters have both been effective. Fish are now spread throughout the system, so don't be afraid to fish higher up on the river. One thing to watch for is the presence of Fall Chinook. The salmon will be becoming more of a factor in the coming weeks. These big and aggressive fish have a tendency to push steelhead out of their preferred holding lies. The moral of that story is be sure to finish all your swings. You'll often get grabbed way on the inside in shallow water when the salmon are thick. Don't give up on your cast until you've swung to the hang down and let the fly marinate for a few seconds.
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
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