Columbia Gorge Fishing Reports - 8.21.2021

Trout - Deschutes River:

The Deschutes is a good place to be right now, and with this nice cooler front, should help the fishing conditions. Portland General Electric has lowered where the water spills from the dam which has cooled the rest of the river. As I write this report, the Deschutes is coming out of Pelton dam at 54 degrees which is great for the steelhead and trout alike. Both of these fish require cold clean water in order to survive and thrive and we have experienced some less than ideal conditions in the river over the last month. The temps at Moody are around 61 in the mornings and rise to around 64-65 in the afternoons which is a big improvement from the 71 degree water down by the mouth early in the month.

ODFW has uplifted the hoot owl regulation on the Deschutes below Sherars Falls however, making the river open to fish all day long. Why they did this is beyond me. At least now we are getting colder water from PGE which should help the fish and their survival rates but uplifting the Hoot Owl made zero sense to me especially when we are in the hottest month of the year. The few steelhead that are making their way back to the D this year need all the help and protection they can get.

The trout fishing has been really good though on a better note! The higher up in the river you fish, the colder the water, and the happier the trout. Caddis is the name of the game this time of year as well as some potential pale morning and pale evening dun hatches mixed in too. Concentrate your dry fly efforts in back eddies right along the shorelines in shallow water. Fish will stack up facing downstream of the main current and eat emerging, adult and dead caddis throughout the day. Nymph fishing is always productive and my go to nymph this summer has been a #16 jig style frenchie. Sinks fast and works great as a dropper under a dry or on an indicator rig. Rubber leg stones are always a good bet and pretty soon, October caddis pupae will start to be important as September nears.

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Mount Hood Lakes:

The lakes are a great place to beat the heat and cool off and catch a mess of fish. Stripping nymphs and small leeches/buggers on an intermediate line is a great method up there. You can use a floating line as well, but I would make a really long leader and some weighted flies to get down in the column. Nymphing with chironomids and balanced leeches under an indicator is another productive lake technique. Have fun up there!

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Steelhead - 

Steelhead fishing has been fair. The numbers this year compared to the 10 year average and even just last year are quite depressing. The fish that are entering the river are swimming upstream fast in search of cooler water. Dry lines and small flies will get it done now through much of September before it turns to skagit and sink tip season. Middle of the day with high sun, sink tips and larger presentations generally work better but you can occasionally coax a curious steelhead towards the surface in the middle of the day.

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Oregon Coast Rockfish

Oregon Coast Rockfishing bite has been stellar and is loads of fun. Folks who are lucky enough to be in a dory style boat hovering over shallow reefs with heavy sinking lines are having no problem getting limits of black rockfish and the occasional keeper lingcod. I’ve also seen some people getting coho trolling pink flies which looks like a riot! Something I need to try. If you don’t have a boat, no problem. The jetties fish well year around when the conditions allow. Go on a calm day when the swell is reported below 5 feet and no rain. Stay safe out there and avoid going alone.

Smallmouth Bass / Carp:

Warm water species is where it’s at this time of year. The carp fishing on the Columbia has been fantastic recently! Patterns that work well are John Montana’s carp hybrid (my go to), bead head san juan worms, and Mr P’s Black Betty. The most important factor for carp fishing is the ability to see them. Good polarized sunglasses and a clear sunny day are integral for your success. There are tons of flats all up and down the gorge where carp cruise and feed, you just have to be willing to pull up google earth and do a little exploring! Smallmouth fishing remains fair to good. Full sinking lines are important if you’re fishing streamers/baitfish patterns. The indicator method is highly productive and requires just a normal floating line.

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-Zach Parker

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Misfits on the fly

Non-target species, do you appreciate them or despise them? 

Fish are opportunist! They rarely pass up an enticing meal. Any well presented fly could be devoured by any fish that reside in that watershed. 

Are all fish inhabiting your water a target species? Probably not. But what does catching a non-target species do to your experience? Is it welcome? Or is it just a nuisance? 

I could tell you a six pack worth of stories of actual anglers losing their shit over a non-target by-catch. Some stories are not pretty. Personally, I don't understand. 

I often read a blog of a professional angler who claims to have over 400 fish species caught on fly rod. Everyone of them is special to him no matter how big or small they are. 

So take the odd photo of the non target fish and remember the good times. In my eyes all fish are beautiful. Remember no matter what species you catch that fish has already survived great odds to grow to the point of being catch-able in the first place. 

I've caught many catfish on the fly with the biggest to date being 10lb. This one was in a rock crevice exactly where you'd expect to catch a big bass. He hit hard and headed for deep water. The fly is my own version of Chuck Kraft's Clawdad. He fought hard and never gave up. A respectful catch in my eye's. 

On a few rare occasions I've witnessed a non target species directly interfere in the pursuit of the target species. It's disappointing but it happens. You can't blame the fish, they are just opportunist. This jack pictured above ran out in front of the target Tarpon and snatched my fly. The picture reminds me of this event.

Once past the challenge of finding crappie catching them on the fly is the easy part. Patience is needed but they are willing eaters when given a chance. 

Although I've caught a few random crappie when bass fishing it wasn't until I started targeting them with float and fly methods that I was able to find consistent action. They are beautiful fish, loads of fun and make a great shore lunch.

The catch of a bluegill or sunfish is not such a big deal but what attracts me is the variation of colors and sub species. This one pictured is a great example of this. 

While easy taken on small streamer flies the real fun to these is dry fly with flies like small dragons and damsels. I've seen sunny's leap out of the water to grab a damsel fly.

Below, this Spotted Bass came from the Ozark region. They resemble largemouth but strike and fight more like what smallmouth are known for.

 This healthy fish with crimson red eyes was quickly returned to live and fight another day. 

Catfish on Popper!? Yes, it's true and has now occurred twice for me.

This cool looking rock bass is considered genetically unique to the White River watershed and is officially named the Ozark Bass. 

Perch tend to hug bottom so to catch them your fly better be hugging bottom too. Find them, get a fly to them and it's game on!

Not sure of the species of this jack salmon caught in the southern Chile region. While small in size it put up a hot fight with many blistering fast runs and several aerial leaps.

Several walleye have bit me off before I actually landed one on the fly. Light tippet is no match for their sharp teeth.

If you fish water with White Bass, same family as the Striped Bass, you cannot help to eventually hook up with one of these. They can be a ton of fun if you happen upon a school of them. Action can be fast and furious.

Caught alot of the Columbia River Pike Minnow or formerly known as a Squawfish. This one Gabe caught might be the largest I've seen. They fight hard at first but quickly give in.

Dan caught this healthy specimen 

I can think of many more by catches that I just don't have photos for them such as freshwater drum, black drum, shark, whitefish, pike, chub, sculpin and even caught a sturgeon while bass fishing on the Columbia. 

I enjoyed everyone of these catches. Just like the fish, I guess that makes me an opportunist as well.

Greg

On the Hunt - Warm Water and Fly Rods

Do you warm water fish with fly rods? 

I've got to say in the past decade I can count on one hand the total number of fly anglers I've witnessed warmwater fishing with a fly rod on my local lake meanwhile on the trout stream you have to set up camp and claim your rock. What's up with that! I luv fishing trout but forget the crowds! I guess that's why I do most of my trout fishing in the winter time.

I know what you are thinking. Well Greg, you need a boat and I don't want that hassle. I get that! But wait, I've fished all spring on warmwater without a boat and have quite a rack up of species including bass, crappie, sunfish, walleye and catfish. 

Topwater bugs account for a lot of bass but weighted crawfish and streamer patterns fished around rocky structure will produce the majority of your multi species catch. 

Mr. Walleye fell to my float and fly technique. He was positioned right on a vertical dropping rock face. Perfect for a fly to fall in and hang several feet down under a float. With a little wind movement and a couple twitches, it was game on!

So when your trout water has a larger angler hatch than caddis flies and your favorite steelhead run is being swung through tighter than a flea comb maybe consider your local warmwater. You might not only find some solitude but also some eager multi species.

Check out tricks and tactics in my many other On the Hunt Articles
Greg

Big, River Smallmouth

Big Smallmouth in rivers are pretty rare. River life is a harsh environment to grow fish over 20". This Susquehanna River Smallie measured 22". 

I spotted her behind a giant carp on the flats, a common occurrence in the summer months. It's the ultimate match of angler and fish. Clear water requires the utmost in stealth. One wrong move and you can wave goodbye.

The cast is everything. Cast too close will blow your chance. Cast too far away and you won't get her attention. What the sweet spot is can change daily. Got to keep your calm!

I have a healthy list of Smallmouth over 20" but it's a short list of Smallies over 22". This one will not be forgotten and it lives to fight another day. 

Greg