Adapt! Don't React

Those of us with a few seasons under our wading belts understand that our approach to a new fishing season depends heavily on factors beyond our control. Here in the Northwest, depending on the season, our river conditions fall somewhere between two extremes: too much water or not enough. And this year, there’s no debate - our rivers are low.

Fly fishing is an exercise in observation and experimentation. In conversations with anglers in the shop who have more local experience than I do, we connect on a shared appreciation that it’s the unexpected or unpredictable challenges that continue to drive our personal growth and curiosity about the sport of fly fishing. We are facing unique, low-water conditions this season that will likely persist until the fall rains arrive and relieve us from this omnipresent heat. Luckily, we live in a place with an incredibly diverse range of fishing opportunities and can adapt to these conditions.

It’s a privilege to work in the shop and speak with anglers doing so many different things within a few hours' drive of the Portland metro area. It’s fun to hear how some people are approaching these difficult conditions and turning tough circumstances into a day of fantastic fishing.

Mountain Lakes
Inconsistency seems to have crept into the lake fishing. The folks I’ve talked to here in the shop say that hatches of callibaetis, chironomids (lake midges), or caddis/sedges have been slow to materialize. But those who have a few extra sets of spools with sinking lines have been doing great slow rolling small leeches on full sink intermediate and turning tough days around. Deep nymph rigs with balanced leeches and chironomid nymphs always produce once you find the depth at which the fish are feeding. Grab a pack of Jaydacators, or your favorite slip indicator setup, and experiment. The fish are still eating; you just need to get down and meet them on their own terms.

Deschutes
Josh had a guide trip this past weekend from Warm Springs to Trout Creek and had a great dry fly session in the evening, while nymph rigs and dry-dropper setups kept things interesting until the sun set. Once it started getting dark, Josh said the dry fly fishing was fantastic, with most fish coming up for small mayfly emergers and cripples behind small caddis dries. Small PMD and Blue Wing Olive Antonio’s emergers and Film Critics had the profile fish were looking for. The majority of the fish for the day came in the last hours before dark for Josh and his clients. For you dry fly fishing fanatics, sleep in, eat a big lunch, then wade quietly into your favorite eddy, foam line, or grassy bank for an evening session. Make sure you have plenty of floatant!

Warmwater
Warm water species like bass and carp are in full-on feed mode right now. These hot, sunny days are going to bring big, predatory carp up into the shallows, where, with some persistence and practice, they can be spotted, stalked, and caught with consistency. The challenge is worth the effort. The eats are visual, the fight is hard, and the Columbia Gorge is a stunning place to hunt shallow bays searching for mudding and tailing fish ready to put your drag and backing knots to the test.

Steelhead
It’s hard for any of us to make accurate predictions on how our summer steelhead season is going to play out. What would we suggest? Wader up and start exploring! We have been chatting with people who have already been getting a good number of days on lower Columbia tribs from the Cowlitz to the Klickitat. Fish are certainly around, not in huge numbers, but enough that we’ve heard inspiring reports from a few of our die-hard steelheaders. Those willing to drive a bit further will find consistency on large coastal systems such as the North Umpqua and, farther south, on the Rogue, for half-pounders with the opportunity at early adult summer fish.

We’re still roughly a month out from seeing the first big push of steelhead on the Deschutes, but that doesn’t mean a few early fish aren't already heading upriver. If you go, please bring a thermometer and use it! Hooking trout or steelhead in water hotter than 68 degrees is lethal, so please fish responsibly during the first part of our season until water temps stabilize to fish-friendly levels.

Keep an eye on the forecast. If there is another cool-down, some cloud cover – or even better – rain, drop what you’re doing and head toward your favorite summer-run river. Take big steps between swings and move quickly through your runs. Fish will move long distances to grab a swung fly early in the season. The more pieces of water you cover in the first couple of hours of daylight, the better your chances of connecting with an early fish.

Given the current water conditions, we encourage everyone to leave the Skagit setups and sink tips at home. Bedrock and boulder gardens, common in our steelhead rivers, will be easier to snag with mid-column presentations. Instead, opt for the scandi (or longer) lines, grab a handful of 12ft, 10–12-pound leaders, and throw on some classic steelhead wets and skaters.
For questions about anything steelhead-related, give us a shout or come in and chat about what lines, leaders, and flies we’re using right now.