Deschutes Steelhead
It's been a great season on the Deschutes. Consistent fishing started early and remains strong. The later portion of the season should prove to be good for those willing to deal with colder weather. It looks like fall has officially made its showing in the Gorge, so be prepared for some crisp mornings.
The bite as of late has been all over the map, particularly on the lowest portion of the river. Fish are certainly being caught but you definitely need to put some time in...or just get really lucky! The return of Fall Chinook notably messes with the steelhead fishing for a bit in late September and the first couple weeks of October. Fortunately, the salmon should be nearing the end of their life cycle soon and the steelhead fishing will improve.
One thing to keep your eye on is the water temps. With much colder nights in the forecast, the water temperature is starting to slide. The fish don't love when the temp is dropping on a daily basis, but they get happy again when it stabilizes for a few days. Getting your fly down a little bit in colder water can dramatically increase your odds. That doesn't mean that you have to dredge, but switching from a floating polyleader to a slow sink can be a game changer.
Deschutes Trout
Fall is such a wonderful time to trout fish the Deschutes. The cooler water just makes the fishing a lot better. The trout know that winter is just around the corner and they try to pack on some weight before the water temps start to slow them down. Expect to see a smattering of caddis and BWOs in the afternoons. Nymph and streamer fishing will be great. Though it may be blasphemous to some, have a handful of egg patterns in your arsenal, too. Indicator fishing with an egg trailing a heavy nymph is a homerun with all the salmon present. Like it or not, trout love eggs!
Local Lakes
We are nearing the end of stillwater season here on Mount Hood. Please check the regulations as many of the lakes in the Central Region close at the end of the month. If you have the opportunity to give it a try, focus your efforts on the later half of the day and expect the bite to fade as soon as the sun is off the water. It's been getting pretty cold up at elevation and the snow level is getting lower and lower. The warmest part of the day will present the most opportunities.
Hatches are noticeably on the decline, but there will still be some chironomids buzzing around in the afternoon. Indicator fishing with a balanced leech and chironomid dropper will be a great bet. Be prepared to slim down your tippet at this time of year. As the water cools, much of the suspended algae dies. The water can be gin clear and switching from 4x fluoro to 5x and 6x tippet will make a huge difference.
For those looking to extend their stillwater season, we've just received some glowing reports from the Justesen Ranch! It gets rather hot out in Grass Valley, but that time has come and gone. Water temps are ideal and the fishing has been fast and furious. These private lakes will stay open until the weather gets really bad. If you haven't been to this ranch, put it on the menu. The scenery is spectacular and your party will have a private lake all to yourself for the day. It is well worth the drive and the rod fee!
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
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