Oregon Fishing Report - Columbia River Gorge and Beyond

Is it finally mid-February? Hmm, how long before we ask the same question about April? Although time supposedly passes at the same rate, It’s sometimes difficult to accept this as scientific law. For hardy, winter steelhead anglers it may feel as if it “took forever” to reach this calendar page. Yup, February… we’re trending towards a world of warming water temps, more light and greater numbers of fish in our area rivers. Yes, finally. Now that we are here, tomorrow will come sooner. I don’t care what the academics say. The best days are the short days! When we’re on the water, so much can happen in a blink. It only takes a few, and there goes the day, on down the river. Let your passion speed it up. If the end of April doesn’t just appear from the depths of nowhere, you haven’t been fishing…

Opposing Forces.  Courtesy: Jeff Hickman

Reports have been mixed this past week with chrome encounters seemingly determined by which river you’re on. The Clackamas has been hot from Barton Park and below. The Sandy – fair from Dodge Park and below. The Hood: a few hook-ups here and there- mostly down low, close to the river mouth. Our rivers should sweeten their hospitality this week, as levels remain fairly steady and water temps warm.

By the way, if you feel like casting some little dry flies to hungry trout, The Deschutes has been experiencing some great Blue Wing Olive hatches lately. Look for these bugs to pop early to late afternoon, especially if there is some lingering overcast. Nymph the eddy lines and the slow portions of the pool but stay awake. Be ready to twist on the dry when the snout appears!

"The Gorge"

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Oregon Winter Steelhead Report 02-02-2012

The personality of the Oregon River is certainly a dynamic one, and at no other time of year is this quality more evident than during the meat of winter. I guess our rivers, especially those on the western flank of the state, exhibit a sort of bi-polar disease – excessive highs and excessive lows. As much as the river may try to maintain some sort of stability, weather yanks the ebb string and weather yanks the flow string. I have friends that, due to no fault of their own, have to take a drug called Lithium to remain steady. Our rivers are afforded no such medication when dealing with issues so dominant such as the ever-flowing Jet Stream.
 

Steve: Back in the saddle again!

So how is her mood today? Well, she is feeling steady, let’s say. Prior to this week her bi-polar charm has dominated for much of the winter. Our watersheds have seemingly been plagued by raging waters that are quickly replaced by cool, low trickles – Warm, wet systems followed by cold, high pressure systems. When this is the case, anglers should pounce on the falling flow, because levels and ideal coloration will not stick around for long.
Disclaimer*** Steelhead can be hooked in all weather and river conditions! It will always remain tough to hook one when your fly is not in the water…

Got to love that tube fly purchase!

This week our rivers are flowing in that steady, “sweet spot”. If they were medicated for the sake of our own personal whims, this is what their personality would resemble. Levels have been dropping gradually and a fairly stable pressure system is forecasted for the following week. Over the past few days, anglers have been hooking up to sprinkled pods of willing steel on the Hood, Sandy and Clackamas Rivers. Take advantage of present conditions out there. For winters like the one we are experiencing this year, days like this are a luxury.

These shots come courtesy of Steve Turner and guide, Jeff Hickman, from earlier this week on the Clackamas River.

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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"Fly Fish the World with Us"