Deschutes Trout
The weather has been pretty decent out on the Deschutes lately. Fish are settling into their typical winter patterns. This entails focusing the majority of your efforts in slower and deeper water. They will occasionally sneak into faster chop in the afternoon on warmer days, but the slow stuff has been the most productive. On the nymphing front, a big fly/small fly combo has been the ticket. Something heavy, like a T.J. Hooker, trailed by a Zebra Midge or B.W.O. nymph will work well.The streamer fishing has also been good. We found the fish to be rather streamer-sensitive on our last outing. The little olive sculpin was not producing like it often does. Switching to a small black leech made a huge difference. They can be maddeningly specific like that sometimes. If your normal streamer doesn't do it in a likely spot, don't be afraid to change flies and go through the same run a second time. You wouldn't think the fly would be as important on an actively moved presentation, but it sure can be. Deschutes trout in a nutshell!
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Steelhead
It's many Steelheaders' favorite time of year...Winter! There are definitely fish around across their range. Some of the better reports of late have been coming from the greater Portland area rivers. The North Coast is also kicking out some early fish. Though the peak of the run is a way off, this is an ideal time to chase winter fish. There should be a couple quiet weeks remaining before the full-blown chaos ensues. The relatively lower numbers of fish in early January keeps the crowds down. This presents the chance to cover more premium water that hasn't been touched. It's the perfect time to fish a favorite river that gets crowded in February. We're going to see some water this week with the latest system coming off the ocean. Opportunities abound in the near future.Shop Steelhead Flies
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
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