Simms Heavyweight Base Layers - Stay Warm in these!

Sometimes a little extra insulation makes all the difference when fishing in the winter, and that starts with the right base layer. If you need something that goes beyond the traditional thin pieces, check out the Simms Heavyweight Base layer Bottom.  They feature a micro-grid fleece that adds a great deal of warmth without much additional bulk. These things are cushy! Stay warm. Fish longer.  Catch more!

Shop Simms Heavyweight Base layers here!

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  Join our Team |  Contact Us

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Columbia River Gorge Fishing Reports - 3/9/2023

3/9 Fishing Report

Deschutes Trout

The trout fishing has been quite good lately out in the desert.  One of the biggest bonuses of fishing the Deschutes right now is the solitude. Having so much water to yourself always ups the odds. The standard winter hatches are still rolling right along.  B.W.O.’s and midges have been active to some degree on a daily basis.  One noticeable fishing change as of late has been the effectiveness of stonefly nymphs.  They’re always a good choice on the Deschutes, but the fish have seemed to be favoring the bigger offerings lately.  Heavy jigged patterns, like the T.J. Hooker, have been absolutely deadly.  Trail the bigger bug with a midge larva or B.W.O. nymph and you’re in business.  Aside from nymphing, the Trout Spey fishing has been really heating up.  This will continue to get better in the coming weeks as fish begin to feed more in shallower water.  The dry fly bite has been sporadic.  Finding a good surface fishing right now seems to be mostly a matter of luck.  The bugs have been around, but rising fish have been hard to track down.  Pretty much a, “right place at the right time” luck of the draw situation.  This will also improve when we start to see some warmer weather.

Shop Trout Flies 

Winter Steelhead

This winter season has been shaping up a lot like the last few.  There was a good flurry of activity out of the gate followed by a bit of a mid-season lull.  The extreme cold at the end of February did not do us any favors.  If there is one thing that gives steelhead a hardy case of lockjaw, it’s plummeting water temps.  Fortunately, it looks like we’ve moved past the cold fronts for the time being and some good reports have been coming in.  It looks like the western part of the state is going to get some much-needed moisture this week.  The impending flow spikes should get some fish moving.  Look for the fishing further east to continue to improve through the course of March.  Historically speaking, the numbers out here tend to go up quite a bit for the next three weeks.  The bulk of the winter run in the eastern part of Steelhead Country should be showing up soon.  Time will also start to be on our side.  As March dwindles, regardless of conditions, winter fish looking to spawn need to make a move.  It starts to become a “now or never” situation in the last part of March and first part of April. This usually accounts for some good fishing with nicer weather.

Shop Steelhead Flies

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  Join our Team |  Contact Us

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Columbia Gorge Fishing Reports - 12.12.2020

Trout Spey Sculpin by Zack

Trout

Deschutes River:

Deschutes has been fair to good recently. I was down tromping around by beavertail and Mack’s Canyon last weekend and found some good quality trout, but boy was it cold. Don’t think it ever got above 35 or 36. 

The water was quite a bit warmer than the air and actually felt good when handling a fish. I was trout spey fishing all day and didn’t touch my single hander, while my friend, nymphed the day away. 

The streamer fishing was good not great. I landed 6 or 7 redsides that were respectable fish somewhere in the 14-17 inch range, fat and full of spunk. And probably 5 or so more that were smaller. Funny to see the little guys hammering a decent size streamer. 

The nymph game was more productive with the majority of the fish coming on a rubber legs nymph suspended under an air lock indicator. Most of the fish were again in relatively deep and slow moving runs. 

Didn’t see much of a hatch at all that day, but there have been sporadic blue wing olive hatches mid day going on so be ready with a box of dries to fish the back eddies.

Shop Trout Flies

Lake Fishing:

Lakes are pretty much done for the year. Too cold up there this time of year but if you are brave enough you could probably encounter decent fishing in the middle of the day.

Shop Stillwater Flies

Summer Steelhead

Deschutes River:

Steelhead fishing is pretty much over on the Deschutes. Very few if any are still entering the river and most are way up in the system getting ready to spawn in the next few months.

Shop Steelhead Flies

Winter Steelhead 

North Oregon Coast + Portland Metro area 

Winter steelhead season has officially started on Oregon Coast and on the rivers in the valley. Been hearing some reports of quite a few hatchery fish being caught on the coast already. The big wild steelhead won’t be far behind these hatchery fish, as usually the first big rain at the end of December and early Jan. gets them going. 

There were tons of chinook and chum around on the coast this fall so hopefully this is a sign for lots of winters around this year. I just hope we get lots of rain to keep those rivers up and running. 

Hood River: 

Not a lot happening in the Hood lately. Chinook season here is closed. There might be a few hatchery coho around and some old summer steelhead that are still hanging around. Come late December and January, there will be winters showing up and the fishing should turn back on for fresh, chrome, mature winter steelhead.

Smallmouth Bass/Carp:

Smallmouth fishing has remained pretty tough recently. Fish are still fairly spread out making them tough to find. Sinking lines with streamers and crayfish patterns are getting it done down there. People gear fishing have a better advantage of getting their presentation down in their face quicker.

Shop Carp Flies

Shop Bass Flies

Stay safe out there and best of luck! 

-Gorge Fly Shop 

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

GorgeFlyShop.com  |  Join our Team |  Contact Us

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Steelhead Fishing Report - Columbia River Gorge

Report for January 26, 2013

Gabe with a day brightener 

Well, finally a bit of moisture to spice things up. It’s been tough fishing out there for fly anglers over the past couple of weeks, leaving many scratching their shivering heads in the cold, clear waters around The Gorge. The Sandy and Clackamas rivers as well as the Hood all got a bump in levels and already, the reports are sprinkling in about bright steelhead eating flies on the Clack. Not a huge bump, but just enough to get fish moving and to zest up those dour attitudes.

In this article by Tom Larimer, he discusses the how changing river conditions influence sink tip selection and fishing methods. It’s a great read and a must read for those anglers hoping to tailor their tactics to fit present conditions. Presently, with the added bump in levels, we are now in a time of transition. Levels have peaked and now are on a steady decline. This is a great time for swing anglers, as fish will spread out more and travel a little higher in the water column to take a fly. Moving through the week, the forecast is calling for more moisture with certain rivers expecting to rise a little, which is all quite dependant on freezing levels. Although moisture is predicted, rivers are not expected to blow out. So with a few small bumps here and there coupled with slightly warmer temperatures, we should start to experience some better fishing.

Check out our Facebook Page for more up to the moment reports

Have a good time out there,
Duffy and The Gorge Fly Shop