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Nov 21, 2024

Columbia Gorge Fishing Report - 11/21/24

Deschutes Steelhead

Well, it's been a good one! The weather has sure been a bonus this time around. The Deschutes did not experience the dramatic and rapid drop in water temps that we'd seen in the last few years. The lower river has been hovering somewhere around 48 degrees as of late. That's a pretty good number in late November, but it's bound to change in the relatively near future. If you're looking to get a last trip in, go sooner than later.

The bite has been pretty consistent when the conditions have been stable. It's pretty much a sink tip program at this time of year. Whether you get a hairwing down with a sinking leader or go to the Skagit and tip, you'll want to get the fly down a bit. This doesn't have to mean full-on dredging....just get it down a little. Could you still catch one on a floating line? Sure! This is especially true on warmer afternoons. Your best shot with this approach will be in shallower runs where fish don't have to move up quite so far to grab your bug. Either way, there is something really special about catching your last Deschutes fish of the season....or at least trying to. Best of luck to those who give it one more try!

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Deschutes Trout

Trout anglers have been pretty happy out there lately. Similar to the steelhead, the trout don't love when the water is on the rise, but the fish has been solid with stable conditions. The current weather patterns just scream B.W.O.'s! They should be around mid-day most of the time for the foreseeable future. A two fly nymph rig with an olive nymph dropper will be a great way to prospect. Be ready to see emerging bugs sometime between noon and 2:00.

Beyond the bugs, this is a great time to grab your trout spey or single hand streamer rig. This window between fall and winter can provide some of the best streamer fishing of the year. When it's on, it's a silly amount of fun and often produces some sizable fish. Standard leeches and sculpins will work well. Don't be afraid to go big, either. Larger streamers definitely have their days.....especially with the biggest fish in the run.

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Oct 18, 2024

Columbia Gorge Fishing Reports - October 18, 2024

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.

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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!

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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!

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Sep 2, 2019

Columbia Gorge Fishing Report - September 2, 2019

Trout:

Deschutes Trout: Trout fishing has stayed good all summer through out the river. Caddis are still a good bet, dries, pupa or larva will all work right now. This is also the time of year hoppers can produce good fishing along the steep banks. Cloud days will produce a variety of good mayfly hatches. Don’t forget about midges. Small flies like midges are greatly over looked on the Deschutes and can be very productive.

I have talked to a few anglers that have had some great streamer fishing this last week. That is my favorite way to fish the Deschutes. May not always produce big numbers, but it can be big fun! I like to fish my little 3 weight two hander with 10’ of T-8 sink tip along with the following flies. Sculpzillia # 8 (Olive, White or Natural), Kiwi Muddler, Precious Metal and Aqua Flies Char-mer Zonker.

Small Mountain Streams:

The smaller mountain streams have been fishing well. Places like Trout Lake Creek, Lewis River above Swift Reservoir, East Fork of the Hood, White River to name a few. Fish in these locations are small, 6” to 8” average, but they are always looking up. These waters offer great dry fly fishing. Take your light rod and have a blast.

Lakes:

Most of the lakes are still fishing well. They did not get very warm this year. Best fishing is going to be late in the day or early in the day.

Best results have been fishing an intermediate or slow sinking line with a variety of #8-10 leach patters in Black or Brown. Suspending a Balance Leach under an indicator with a floating line has been lethal to. Dry fly fishing has been good in the mid-morning or in the evening with Parachute Adams #14-16, Tilt Wing Callibaetis #14-16, Black Ants #8-12
Stillwater Trout Selection

Steelhead:

Steelhead fishing in the Lower Deschutes River has been good. There has been a good push of one salt fish over the last few weeks. The White River has been spitting out mud off and on for the last week and a half, not very easy to predict from day to day. Is it fish-able when it is colored is up to you. Lots of fish have been caught on the dirty water days while many go home. Remember what we think is low to zero visibility, fish are looking up into light so they see 2 to 4 times as far as we do. Fish a bigger fly and a light sink tip and hang on. There are fish farther up river above the White if you don’t like the color of the lower river when the White is spitting out mud.

The Klickitat has fished well for those who braved the colored water this year. It has been colored up most of the summer. It will probably be like this until the mountain starts freezing.
Klickitat Super Slammer Kit

Smallmouth:

Smallmouth in the Columbia has still been good. You will find many of the bigger fish holding more in the deep drop offs and rock walls. These conditions do make it more important to use a boat of some type. Best results are with a variety of streamers like; Sculpins, Crayfish, Baitfish, ect. Also try jigged flies like the Jaw Breaker under a indicator on a floating line, it can be really good.

John Day is a great river the fish this time of year for smallmouth. Take a light rod and a pile of small poppers, hang on! No need to fish any sinking flies on the JD, non-stop popper action out there. It is best to float it, but there is good walking access at Cottonwood Canyon State Park. Keep in mind the river starts getting really low this time of year. So make sure your boat can handle the low water. Also keep in mind this river moves much slower so be sure to plan plenty of days to do a float.
Trav

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Aug 24, 2019

Columbia Gorge Fishing Report - August 24, 2019

Austin with first steelhead and on the swing with Harris Anglers

Trout:

Once again the Deschutes has been cooler this year so good trout fishing continues. I was out steelhead fishing on the lower river Wednesday and saw several trout rising to small caddis. It was also overcast so we saw a mixed bag of mayflies . Don’t forget about midges. Small flies like midges are greatly over looked on the Deschutes and can be very productive. This is also the time that you can start fishing a small hopper with a nymph dropper.

In low light or cloudy days don’t forget streamers. That is my favorite way to fish the Deschutes. May not always produce big numbers, but it can be big fun! I like to fish my little 3 weight two hander with 10’ of T-8 sink tip along with the following flies. Sculpzillia # 8 (Olive, White or Natural), Kiwi Muddler, Precious Metal and Aqua Flies Char-mer Zonker.

Small Mountain Streams:

Lakes:

Most of the lakes are still fishing well. They did not get very warm this year. Best fishing is going to be late in the day or early in the day.

Best results have been fishing an intermediate or slow sinking line with a variety of #8-10 leach patters in Black or Brown. Suspending a Balance Leach under an indicator with a floating line has been lethal too.

Dry fly fishing has been good in the mid-morning or in the evening with Parachute Adams #14-16, Tilt Wing Callibaetis #14-16, Black Ants #8-12
Stillwater Trout Selection

Steelhead:

Steelhead fishing in the Lower Deschutes River has been good. My son Austin and I ran up river from the mouth with Todd Harris of Harris Anglers Wednesday morning. The crowds were low and fishing was great. I got two to a floating line and landed one.

Austin who is 12 years old is a spey casting natural and landed his first steelhead on a fly. We stopped into Sam Sickles (Steelhead Outfitters) camp to say hi. Sounded like their fishing had also been consistent and good.

Remember numbers don’t mean much, what matters are the conditions good so you have happy fish. If the fish are happy and the crowds are low you can have very good fishing with low numbers of fish in the river.

The Klickitat has fished well for those who braved the colored water this year. It has been colored up most of the summer. It will probably be like this for the next two to three weeks.
Klickitat Super Slammer Kit

Smallmouth:

Smallmouth in the Columbia has still been good. You will find many of the bigger fish holding more in the deep drop offs and rock walls. These conditions do make it more important to use a boat of some type.
Best results are with a variety of streamers like; Sculpins, Crayfish, Baitfish, ect. Also try jigged flies like the Jaw Breaker under a indicator on a floating line, it can be really good.

John Day is a great river the fish this time of year for smallmouth. Take a light rod and a pile of small poppers, hang on! No need to fish any sinking flies on the JD, non-stop popper action out there.

It is best to float it, but there is good walking access at Cottonwood Canyon State Park. Keep in mind the river starts getting really low this time of year. So make sure your boat can handle the low water. Also keep in mind this river moves much slower so be sure to plan plenty of days to do a float.
Trav