Lamson Liquid Max Reel

Lamson Liquid Max reels - Great option for a budget friendly Saltwater reel.  Lightweight, with large arbor means quicker line pick up and faster retrieve. 

Looking for a new reel....Lamson line up has something for everyone.  Call the shop if you have questions about what option might fit your needs the best.  541-386-6977

Lamson Liquid Max Reel

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"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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Just in - Lamson Centerfire Fly Reels

The Centerfire Fly Reel is Saltwater ready with its Cobalt Hybrid Drag System. This drag system is fully waterproof complete with an IPX8 rating. Centerfire comes in two color combination called Eclipse and Citra. The #8 size just arrived in both colors. Other sizes coming soon.

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"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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Grand Opening Thank You

Thank You Everyone 

Over 200 guests came out for our Grand Re-Opening Party of Gorge Fly Shops' New location. So nice to have room for parking, events, casting and just hanging out.

EVERYONE can't wait for next years event and though that has not been decided upon I believe it's unanimous among all that this has to happen annually.

I have to say I don't think anyone of us here at "The Gorge" anticipated the benefit of large events like this to come from moving away from downtown Hood River. The change has brought a new vibe to our fishing community.

The weather was perfect and Mt.Adams in the backdrop just emphasizes the mountain life going on here.

Call it a rebirth, revitalization, or a reunion! Along with this party came a sense of togetherness which I haven't seen for some time in this local fishing community.

We owe it all to you!
Thank you to all the guests who came out and supported us. Also Thank You to all who couldn't make it and yet you shared it, sent your family and your friends. How cool is that!

Thank You to all the Reps. We appreciate your time and your willingness to participate. Your interactions with our customers is invaluable.

Thank You to all the Reps and Manufacturers who donated products for our prize giveaways. Many happy customers won some really great gear.

Thank You to the Deschutes River Alliance and Fly Fishing Collaborative for being on hand to share the good things happening and the long road ahead.

Thank You to Freebridge Brewing and Jola's for the great eats and drinks.

Thank You to our local guides for participating and bringing your boats. Your continued support is much appreciated.

Same Place Next Year!!!

(we'll keep you posted on the date)

Thanks Again from all of us at

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  Join our Team |  Contact Us

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On the Hunt - Targeting Big Smallmouth

Slurped in a hellgramite fly pattern drifted under an indicator deep in a tailout seam on a little canoe stream in Midwestern, USA

Anyone can catch smallmouth bass. Shoot, you might even catch some big ones if you hit the spawn season just right. But when it comes to targeting big fish year around most anglers, (sorry guys but especially most fly anglers), have no clue where to find them. One can always play the game of chance but if you want to consistently find big smallmouth here are some guidelines you need to follow. 

Fish where there are big fish

Not every smallmouth fishery has big fish. They need proper food sources, good growing seasons, not too much angling pressure and ample room to grow. I have fished many small rivers and reservoirs that have a hard time producing big fish. It's not always that big fish are not there. It's just the big fish are so outnumbered by the small eager fish that the odds of contacting a big fish are slim to none. Also, I believe big fish can become well educated through catch and release and many have grown resistant to artificial offerings, fly or otherwise. But despite all that just match the right size gear to your fish and they are all fun. Meanwhile there are things you can do to up your odds for catching the larger specimens in your water. 

100 yds offshore on a rock in 20' foot of water...Smallies live there

Get off the bank

Big smallmouth hate the bright sun and they like security. They didn't get big by exposing themselves to predators. In the heat of summer and bright light of day an angler needs to think safety and shade while still set up on points of interest for ambushing food. Often, late evening, night time and early morning approach is your best odds but if you know where to look in middle of the day you can still find success. 

Stream and small river environments can be pretty easy to pick apart. Determined how deep you can see and double that to figure a starting point for safe habitat. In summer flows I look at outside bends with deep slots and/or undercuts. While wood structure should never be overlooked smallmouth will always prefer rock structure first. The combination of rock and wood should be a sure thing. 

Tailouts! These areas should be probed intently. The top header photo fish was taken from a tailout. The stream he came from is not known to produce big fish. One can fish this stream a lifetime and never see a 20" smallie but that doesn't mean they're not there. It took several drifts and adjustments with a float and fly setup to get him to eat and he ate in the middle of a sunshine day. 

Moon lit summer nights can get smallies looking up

Lakes and reservoirs can be much more difficult in the shear fact that fish have the deep option to retreat to. Focus on areas of sharp drop offs and rocky points. Deep shoreline with shade can be productive. Low light and night time can excel your odds when fish will become relaxed and start to go on the hunt for food. 

Big streamers equal big fish right? Sometimes!

I find the go big or go home approach works best when fish are up and active such as times like early season, spawn season and some low light conditions including cloudy and rainy days. But more often then not my big summer catches are on topwater or suspension tactics. Big streamers should always be an option but I warn you, be quick to set it down and reach for another tactic. 

This crawfish was spit up by a 14 inch smallie. It sits next to a 5" Swinging D. Big is not always the answer but it certainly should not be overlooked

Suckers for topwater

Topwater is probably your best game for big summer bass. The great feature of topwater is even if they fail to eat sooner or later bass will give away their location and current attitude. While we wish for solid strikes be aware of your fly being met with refusals, swirled on, or an aborted strike attempts. You can get a good read on a bass' current mood by how they react to a topwater. Even if their current mood is not desirable for you chances are you will witness this mood change at some point through the day. Use the information of any topwater reaction to measure their mood and if necessary try a different approach.

Deer hair Sliders can elicit good strikes with the realistic dive, swim action on strip retrieve and bubble trail they produce

The suspension approach

When streamers don't get attention and topwater gets refused I reach for a float and fly. It might sound odd that I will apply a float to my bass game but I find it extremely affective. While I couldn't tell you the last time I indicator trout fished because it's been so long ago, I can tell you I've fished an indicator for bass less than a week ago from this writing. I personally no longer go bassin' without a rod rigged with float and fly. 

But why? Just because bass won't chase a streamer or break surface for a topwater doesn't mean they won't eat. Bass themselves can often get into a suspended, or lazy state and easily resist tried and true techniques. 

I use this for an example: Think about your favorite desert. For me that is ice cream. You just finished a big dinner on a night out. The server ask if you want desert? "Hmm, no thank you". A mix up happens or maybe your server is working for a better tip and the next thing you know there is a dish of ice cream in front of you. Are you going to eat it? I bet you a fly rod you'd at least take a couple bites. 

Sage Method 690-4, WaterWorks Lamson Force SL #2, Scientific Angler Amplitude Anadro WF6F

Smallies are no different. They may not always be in the mood to eat but a carefully place attractive food item will rarely be passed upon. This is where the suspension technique really shines. Place an offering in plain view that either drifts naturally through the holding seam or sits stationary in the mr. smallies shaded holding pocket and chances are he'll eat it. On many occasions, Float a fly under an indicator can make your day go from tough to incredible real quick. Also, don't be confuse that it's just a small fish technique. I've landed some of my biggest smallies with float and fly. 

Wrap it up!

Of course fishing is greatly a game of chance and many just get lucky, but to consistently catch big smallmouth bass a scientific approach is needed to succeed. I've fished for smallies most of my life in waters from east to west and north to south. I darn near always find fish but rarely find the fish I call trophies. Although, I am finding those 20" plus fish more often than ever and I can tell you I had to learn new tricks and change the way I looked at these predators in order to more consistently achieve trophy hunter success. Solely playing a game of chance I just no longer find acceptable.

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop
Read more Greg's Post...

"My Passion For Fishing Is A Lifelong Pursuit Of Discovery"

X Marks the Spot, Sage's 7wt Smallmouth Slayer

Bass fishing... I know what you're thinking, "they're just stupid bass", but it is one of my favorite past times and a ton of fun.  Hooking and fighting a bass on a fly rod is a totally unique experience, and something I recommend for everyone to try.  Don't get me wrong, trout, steelhead, and bonefish are all fun to fish for, but to many, bass are readily available and generally pretty happy to bite a fly.

Now, you don't need anything really fancy to catch bass, but that's not my style.  I'm a go big or go home kind of guy when it comes to fishing gear.  I like to know that my equipment is not going to hamper my success and that the only one to blame for not catching is me!  When looking at rods to kick up my bass game for the Columbia River, I knew that I had to go big!

SAGE X BIG!

Spring Cow fishing fast and shallow with Sage X 790

I will say, that after fishing the Sage X 790-4 for over a year, you would be hard pressed to find a better smallmouth bass stick.  This rod is crazy light and mega powerful.  I have never cast a 7wt with so much oomph.  I am able to cast flies I would normally fish on a 9wt with this rod!  And did mention how light this rod is?  It weighs as little as my older 4 and 5 wt!  It is insane how Sage was able to pack so much power in such a light stick.  The power to weight ratio is off the charts with this boom stick.  Paired up with one of the lightest reels ever, the Lamson Force SL II #3 at a mere 4.41 oz, and I could cast all day with no fatigue.

Featherweight Combo for Hucking Bugs

I have fished a myriad of lines on this rod, from floating to fast sinking and it handled them all with ease.  The line speed this rod puts out makes casting in the wind or with heavy flies so much easier and less exhausting.  And, as you might know, it rarely stops blowing in the Gorge.

This is a performance rod, no doubt about that.  The swing weight and sharpness make this rod sing, especially with the right lines.  It does feel slightly more forgiving and deeper loading than the Sage One, which is likely due to the new graphite Konnetic HD tech.  You can cast pretty darn easy with this stick, but give it a good punch and double haul and the line speed smokes!

After a year of testing, here are my favorite lines on this Sage X 790 canon:

Floating- bass bugs, poppers, float n' fly or fishing the top foot of the water column: Scientific Anglers Wavelength Titan

Poppers as the sun drops

I also cast the Rio Directcore Flats Pro when it got hot late last summer.  This is THE line for this rod in tropical locales.  Bonefish, reds, sea trout, whatever!  Load it up and watch it fly!

Intermediate- streamer- Rio Coastal Quickshooter or SA Titan Full Intermediate.  Both lines rocked on this stick, but I might give a slight edge to the Titan as it shoots better with the textured coating.

Fast Sink- streamers, crayfish- SA Titan Int/S3/S5.  You probably see a theme by now, but the Titan lines are made for a rod like this.  I even threw the super fast sink Titan S3/S5/S7 WF8 and this rod got it done!  That line weighs as much as a WF10 standard FYI...

Skagit- OPST Commando with 10' T-8 sink tips.  I have had a blast chucking this stick on little creeks for steelhead and coho.  The power and speed of this rod is perfect for the quick Commando heads.  The 790 X loved the 275gr head.

Sage X + OPST Commando= HO Slayer

A couple quick notes on line selection for this rod:
1.  Do not get a light line for this rod
2.  If you throw big or heavy stuff, go mega heavy, like the Titan, Outbound Short or Quickshooter  3.  For highest linespeed and tightest loops try a Rio Bonefish/Bonefish Quickshooter or SA Bonefish line or as mentioned above, Rio Flats Pro

As you can probably tell by these notes, there are some caveats with this stick.  This is no finesse rod, and my thoughts on making this a trout streamer stick are out the window.  This is a no holds barred, bad to the bone 7wt, not some lily-livered trout rod.  Line choice does matter too, and unless you are a great caster, overweighted lines are the way to go.

Bronzeback Love

For those of you curious about aesthetics and specs, here are a couple photos...

Sub 10oz rod/reel/line 7wt!!!

A simple, elegant rod finish, a la the Sage One

Hard to capture, but the rod is a dark black spruce green, not jet black like the One

My biggest gripe is this reel seat.  I know it is light, but it just does not fit a $900 rod

My thoughts on aesthetics are just that, thoughts, and I know Sage is pursuing performance rather than looks, but given the price tag, I personally wish they would incorporate some beauty into a rod of this caliber.   They make Ferraris beautiful, why not Sage rods?

Aesthetics aside, I have to say that after a year getting to know this rod, that there probably isn't another 7wt this light with this much power on the market.  The Loomis 790 Asquith is the only one in this ballpark.  So, if you are looking for the ultimate bass rod or bonefish rod look no further than the Sage X 790!

Tight Lines!




Ryan Van Duzor
Gorge Fly Shop | Product Specialist
541.386.6977


Read More from the "Bearded Pescador"

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

News Release - Waterworks Lamson Center Axis Rod Reel System

Center Axis

Lamson is getting into the rod business but not in the usual way. I've come to appreciate all my Lamson reels for the bare bones lightweight feeling they provide. They match up great to all my modern ligthweight fly rods. If you have a rod that feels like a chore to cast look close at your reel weight. Often times a rod that feels club like or heavy swing can be cured by reducing the weight of the reel.
The new Center Axis takes this approach to the fullest level by fitting the fly reel as part of the rod. I'll be seeing and casting these next week at I-CAST and I'm sure we'll be hearing more about them.

Watch the vid...

Waterworks Lamson - Center Axis from Waterworks-Lamson on Vimeo.

I'll see you on the water...But you probably won't see me!

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop
Read more Greg's Post...

"My Passion For Fishing Is A Lifelong Pursuit Of Discovery"

Lamson Fly Reels - Spool Removal, Retrieve Conversion, Maintenance Video

Lamson builds some great fly fishing reels. It doesn't matter whose fly reels you own they all need some care and maintenance from time to time. This brief video highlights the three most important operations you will need to know for spool removal, retrieve conversion and maintenance of your lamson reel.

Follow these easy Maintenance Tips below-

• Do NOT lubricate the drag, you may take the gland cap off and remove the roller clutch and rinse with water. Allow the drag parts to dry thoroughly prior to re-assembling the drag. No lubrication is necessary and it may even cause issues with the inner workings of your reel.
• A small amount of WD-40 may be applied to the handle in order to remove any dirt build up between the handle and the handle shaft.
• Make certain that your line stays clean and free of cracks and debris, this can cause frame/finish damage.
• Important- IF the gland cap is removed for any reason, always make sure its back on tightly. And check it periodically even if it isn’t removed.
   

In Saltwater Environments-

• Always be sure to rinse your reel under fresh running water after every use in a salt environment. Occasionally rinse the drag of the reel thoroughly by taking the following steps. These steps are not necessary at the end of every day of fishing, but at the end of each trip. 

1. Remove the spool.
2. Unscrew the gland cap and remove the red clutch assembly.
3. Rinse all of the components and inside the drag cylinder thoroughly with fresh running water.
4. Allow all of the components to completely dry.
5. Re-install all of the components.

*Use of salt water specific equipment-rinse such as Salt-X® will not harm
your reel or the drag system and can greatly increase the effectiveness of
salt removal.*

For Spool Removal- 
Hold the reel towards your body as shown below. Grasp the edges of the
frame with your fingers and place your thumbs on the spool at the locations
shown below. While pushing the frame towards your body with your fingers,
push the spool away from the frame with your thumbs.
*DO NOT REMOVE THE DRAG KNOB OR THE TWO-HOLED NUT IN THE CENTER OF THE DRAG KNOB*

Redington Chromer Two-Hand Spey and Switch Rods

"And On the Seventh Day We Hucked"

Fall colors in full bloom. The Redington Chromer 7136-4 got the job done and done very well!

First off, let me just state for the record that the title of this article is not just a catchy sales slogan, but something George Cook has said several times when referring to the Redington Chromer and in fact what I can confirm to be truly - A FACT! More on that later. When Georgie (our Redington Rep) first revealed the Redington Chromer to us at the Gorge Fly Shop I became super interested in it. What caught my eye was its unique design with the Polymer pinch grip sections on the handles. The main reason for this is that I’ve been a longtime fan of monofilament running/shooting lines for the extra distance and line speed that is generated by a “slicker” shooting line.

After using mono shooting lines for years, it’s almost impossible for me to use a “fly line type” of shooting line for any length of time. This is not to say that they are not a quality product and can’t get the job done, they can and do get “r” done, but for me and what I am used to, and what I like most, mono suits me well. I have used lots of different running/shooting lines that are available on the market and believe me each one has its issues or drawbacks. Maybe in the future I could do a breakdown of pros and cons of each running line that I have used, but not today. Today I want to focus on the design of the addition of the Polymer pinch sections on the handle and the benefit that it has for the mono lovers or the folks who are on the verge of trying a mono type shooting line.

A few years ago RIO created the “GripShooter” shooting line which incorporates a thick “fly line type” handling section to help prevent the slipping of the mono through cold, wet fingers and yet still have the benefit of a mono shooting line. The very fact that Rio would create such a line is proof of the benefits of a mono shooting line and the need to help anglers transition from the fly line type of lines to a mono type shooting line. Essentially giving the angler the best of both worlds. Although Rio’s mission was accomplished with the creation of the “GripShooter” and many made the switch, I felt that the shooting line was slightly slowed down by the fly line handling section until it transitioned into the mono shooting line and then, shot out like a rocket. But remember I am so used to mono that any fly line type of shooting line seems slow to me, and that if you’re transitioning from a fly line type shooting line to a mono type, you may not notice the difference, and I would highly recommend the GripShooter if you need a line to help you transition. The bottom line is the need to help alleviate line slipping from your fingers in wet and cold conditions because this is the major issue anglers have with mono shooting lines.

Jamey slips on the big rock at the tail out of “Magic”, a sweet run on the Deschutes River. I was told by Sam to huck it out there as far as I could so I launched a cast that left only a few wraps of my running line still on the reel and hooked that fish right on the lip of the tail out about 20 feet away from him. The Chromer had no problem helping me get the distance I needed for success.

Going back even before the creation of the GripShooter, anglers who wanted to help stop line slipping from their fingers would use non-adhesive tape (like that used on golf clubs) to help them solve the mono dilemma. I say all this to lead up to this point…In steps the Redington Chromer. Seriously a sight for sore eyes. I don’t know, maybe it was Georgie, who thought of the idea for the Polymer Grips, but its genius. They should give the man a raise! It’s one of those ideas that you wonder how come we hadn’t done this sooner. Brilliant but simple. The Polymer grip doesn’t hurt the effectiveness of the rod at all. It certainly, in my opinion, doesn’t hurt the aesthetics of the rod, in fact I think the rod looks pretty sweet. I love the matte black finish and even how the word “Chromer” on the rod shines like a freshly washed chrome bumper on a classic car (see photo below). On a clear sunny day you better make sure you have your shades on while fishing with the Chromer!

Better wear your shades

I am also a big fan of the price tag on this rod. I’ve said this before but I believe it’s a better rod than the price tag indicates. Travis, the shop owner has a saying and it certainly is true with most rods and that saying is… “If you don’t want to spend more money on a better rod then don’t cast one.” I will tell you this, if you were to put the Redington Chromer on the counter with the rest of the rods that I have tested and used in the same price range, even up to a few hundred dollars more, I would, without hesitation, fight you over the Chromer.

On the first full day of fishing this rod, I only had one time that the line slipped from my grip and that was no fault of the rods. I was purposely trying to see how loose I could pinch my mono shooting line against the Polymer Grip before it would slip. No joke, the Chromer does exactly what it was designed to do, and it’s just innovative enough that I think the idea will be around awhile. There are numerous other things I like about the Chromer besides the Polymer Grip, like the cork handle, it fits nicely in my hands and feels super comfortable, this is a big deal for me. I don’t like a thick handle, it doesn’t feel right to me. Its light in hand at only 6.8 ounces (I didn’t weigh it, I am actually taking their word for it and honestly don’t feel like I have to weigh it because it feels light in my hand). I fished with my Hardy Bougle #4 on it and it felt a little rear heavy due to the weight of the reel but when I fished it with my Lamson Litespeed #4 on it the Litespeed balanced the Chromer absolutely perfectly. It is important to place your fore grip at the position where the rod balances while casting, for comfort and power, and the Chromer and Litespeed balanced at the point my fore grip was exactly in the middle of the Polymer Grip. It does have a smooth fast action as Redington claims and It cast effortlessly at normal casting distances but when you need that extra umph to huck it out of bounds it has no problem accommodating you. Put a little more power into your bottom hand and watch it launch. By the way I put a RIO Skagit Max 525 grain head on it when I need to use a sink tip and a RIO Scandi 450 grain head for surface work.

Bottom Line:

The Chromer is legit, a dandy, worth every penny, and I would highly recommend it to anyone shopping around for a rod in this price range and as I said earlier, even a few hundred dollars more. The only drawback that I can come up with on the Chromer when compared to rods in its class is that - I DIDN’T COME UP WITH THE IDEA!

The Details:

• Super-smooth fast action
• Down locking reel seat for improved in-hand balance
• Polymer Pinch Grip sections on top and bottom handles
• Polymer grips maintain body temperature for comfortable winter fishing
• Matte finish blank for flash reduction
• Section tips epoxy coated to prevent sticking
• Full Anodized aluminum reel seat
• Premium grade cork handles
• Fully protective Cordura rod tube with dividers
• Lifetime warranty

The Specs for the 7136-4 Chromer:

• Handle - “C” (pictured above)
• Length - 13’6”
• Line weight - 7
• Rod weight - 6.8 ounces
• Skagit Grain Weight - 500 +/- 550 (the Rio Skagit Max 525 grain was MONEY!)
• Scandi Grain Weight - 425 +/- 475 (the Rio Scandi 450 was dead on!)
• Price Tag - $399.95

A well-deserved break after hundreds of cast…I think I like this rod. I like it a lot!

Remember, if you can’t find it at the Gorge Fly Shop, you don’t need it!

Gorge Fly Shop
John Garrett | Product Specialist
541.386.6977

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

New 2014: WaterWorks Lamson LiteSpeed IV

The Lamson Litespeed has been a top selling reel since introduction long ago. Lamson has done a great job making sure that this gem of a reel has kept up with modern technology along the way. Introducing for 2014 is the generation IV edition litespeed. Following the trend of less is more concept the new Litespeed IV is lighter yet than the previous model. In the picture you can see the curved spool geometry for the backing storage. These reels really do spool backing better than traditional flat spools.

WaterWorks Lamson LiteSpeed IV

Notice the retrieve knob has been moved inward a small amount. This allows for a quicker retrieval rate. Not new to gen IV litespeed but if you look close you can see the counterbalance machined into the rim of the spool eliminating the need for an added weight attached to the reel.