Big Y Fly Co Blog

Big Y's Fly Fishing Gift Guide - Fall 2021

2021-11-20T13:51:00.012-08:00

We often get asked about the best gifts for fly anglers. We know that picking out specialty items for picky anglers is a daunting task. Luckily there are some great gift options that most anglers do not buy for themselves. Here they are:

Wader Storage
Umpqua ZS2 Wader Tote

This is a perfect gift for almost any angler, and our top recommendation this holiday season. If they fish in waders, then a wader tote bag will quickly become an integral part of their routine. It doesn't seem like much, but this is a game-changer for many. It provides a clean, dry place to change in and out of waders, as well as a nice and simple way to transport those dirty, wet waders. It also helps keep vehicles clean. There are three nice wader tote options:

Orvis Mud Room - $69
Umpqua ZS2 Wader Tote - $99.95
Redington Landing Pad - $39.95

Orvis Premium Nippers
Tools

Anglers go through tools quicker than you think. Hardcore anglers will typically have more than one set of them at any time, and most anglers do really appreciate a new set of clamps or nippers. Favorite gift tools include:

Orvis Pro Sun Hoodie
Apparel

Here are some great options for fishing apparel that will get worn and cherished

Wet Wading Socks

Korkers I-Drain Socks

This is an item that many anglers do not own, yet is a fantastic solution to wading in the summer when waders were can be way too hot to be practical, yet the water is too cold and the rocks are too slick for other footwear.

These neoprene socks are worn instead of waders in the summer. They help fill out wading boots (which are larger than regular boots due to the bulk of the waders) and keep those feet warm in cold water.

Fly tying kits make great gifts
Fly Tying Kits

Most fly anglers will get into tying their own flies eventually. If the fly angler in your life does not has not started tying their own flies, these are excellent gifts.

Cascade Crest Deluxe Kit #300 - $99.95
Orvis Premium Fly Tying Kit - $198
Umpqua Beginner Fly Tying Kit - $139.95
Hareline Trout Materials Kit (If they already have some tools) - $99.95

So many good books
Books

Books make fantastic gifts for anglers. Whether they are brand new or a seasoned veteran, anglers love to keep learning about fly fishing. Books are a really easy, underlooked gift for the angler in your life.

There are region-specific fishing guides, books about bugs, books about knots, books about techniques and feel-good books about the fly fishing lifestyle. There are too many to pick anything specific, but if you are stuck, a good guide to fishing in your region is always helpful. Even if they already have one, each guide book has tons of good intel that may not be available in other options.

Fishing mugs are popular gifts
Other cool gifts

There are some other nice options for anglers. Drinkware is quite popular, as well as stickers.

For the Adult Angler

A couple of items to help any angler that is ready (or needs help) to admit that they are no young buck anymore. Needing help seeing and holding onto small flies is a common issue as we get older. A nice wading staff also helps tremendously with stability in the water.

For someone that has everything

Maybe you are not quite sure what they have. Gift certificates are great. So are flies. Anglers go through flies upon flies and are always happy to receive more.

We really hope that we have helped you pick out a gift or two for the angler in your life. Please feel free to give us a call if you have any questions. Thank you

-Andrew

Where to Fish - Columbia River

2021-11-02T13:59:00.001-07:00

Smallmouth are aggressive

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Smallmouth bass, American shad, coho salmon, summer steelhead, carp.

Seasons: Smallmouth - year-round. Shad - June/July. Coho - September/October (check regs for closures)

Location: Between Bonneville and The Dalles Dams

The mighty Columbia is a juggernaut of a river. A culmination of Public Works Administration dams has made this river into a series of slow moving lakes, albeit huge masses of water.

Bonneville dam, the lowest dam on the river, sits at the lower end of the Colulmbia Gorge, about 20 miles downstream of Hood River. The Dalles dam is about 20 miles upstream of Hood River, above the town of The Dalles and below the mouth of the Deschutes.

The area between Bonneville and The Dalles dams has opportunities for some great fishing. Many anglers show up in town thinking that we are fly fishing for steelhead and salmon on the main part of the river, but that is typically not the case. It is a fantastic smallmouth bass fishery as well as a great place to catch American shad when they are in. Coho salmon can be taken on a fly in the Columbia, but it is not a very popular place to do it. Very little fly fishing happens in the Columbia, and it is somehwere around 80% targeting smallmouth bass, 15% towards shad and the rest split between coho and carp and a couple of guys that target steelhead when in season.

Most of the superb smallmouth fishing happens in the

Smallie from a float tube in the Columbia

spring. Big fish can be found in shallow water and are eager to take a streamer. While most fly angling happens from a boat or float tube, there is some limited bank access on both the Washington and Oregon sides of the river. Bank anglers must have the license for whichever state they are standing in, but boat anglers can have either license.

Smallmouth tend to get a little deeper in the summer, but can still be found at a few places with bank access. Locals like to fish the Hood River Marina for smallies during the summer. No fishing from a boat is allowed in the marina, but there is sufficient walking access. It does get very windy here in the summer almost every day, so plan accordingly.

The fishing gets better again in the fall. The wind lays down and smallies move into slack water and gorge on baby shad. A little white popper or clouser is magic in September and October. Fall is definitely the best time to crush big smallmouth on topwater patterns. They chase streamers in the spring, but they really go after topwater in the fall.

Shad are a really underappreciated fish around here. They were introduced into the Sacramento River, CA in 1870, migrated to the Columbia and have been increasing in numbers here ever since. These fish are eager to take a fly, fight like a little tarpon and are rarely targeted by fly anglers.

There are a couple of places to catch shad locally. The most popular is below and just above Bonneville dam on either side of the river. Another is a bit of drive, but just below John Day dam on the Washington side is an excellent area. There is more room for fly anglers there than Bonneville. While fly anglers are rare, plenty of spin anglers like to catch shad, and it can get crowded at the locations where the fish are easily caught.

Coho salmon do like to stack up off the mouths of tributaries and are often in shallow enough water to offer fly anglers a good day of fishing. It is not incredibly popular to chase them in the big river with a fly rod, but it does happen. I think most fly anglers prefer a more intimate setting of a small tributary instead of a river flowing at 250,000 cubic feet per second.

Smallmouth are the most targeted species

Steelhead can be found in a couple of spots where small creeks or rivers dump into the Columbia. There are a few dedicated fly anglers that use float tubes to target steelhead in the summer, when it is open. I do not recommend getting into a float tube on the Columbia River without some major experience and knowledge. The river does move much quicker than it looks and the wind gets incredibly bad very quickly in the summer, and without knowing the exact spot that you need to be, you can get into trouble very quickly.

Carp fishing is slowly becoming more accepted and popular. More anglers anglers are doing it every year, and there are some great opportunities around here. Several shallow flats exist where you can stalk a carp or two. You just need a day where it is not windy, which is rare in the summer here.

While the Columbia River has more water in it than anyone could ever fish, it is not the primary or even secondary place that we like to use a fly rod. It is a place where we might go out a couple of times in the spring for smallmouth and maybe a trip or two out to catch some shad each year, but most fly anglers do like to fish smaller, prettier water. Ease of access and the variety of fish available is what makes this a fishery to explore.

Where to fish - Lost Lake

2021-11-02T13:36:00.004-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Rainbow, brown, brook trout, kokanee salmon

Seasons: Year-round, but snow...

Location: 15 miles Southwest of Hood River

Links: Lost Lake Resort Homepage, Forest Service Information

Lost Lake is one of the most photographed, iconic lakes in the country. There is a good reason for that. Mt Hood dominates the scenery, at least from a good chunk of the lake. The lake can be extremely busy during the summer, but there is a good reason for that too. Cold, clear water, good views, good fishing and the amenities of a resort allow the entire family to have a fun, safe day at the lake.

The fishing on the lake is pretty darn good despite the crowds. Luckily, most folks are not fishing, and most that are fishing are throwing spinners from the shore at the camp area. This means that there are not too many folks out in float tubes or rafts throwing flies in the right spots. Boat rentals are available at the resort as well if you need a watercraft to access the lake.

The lake is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Rainbow trout are stocked several times per year, and enough browns are planted that there is a real chance at catching a trophy. Beyond that, there are wild brook trout as well as kokanee salmon that are both rarely caught. Rainbow trout make up the majority of the catch. I personally have not seen anything caught besides a rainbow at Lost Lake, but I must be in the minority, as several locals have caught big browns in recent years.

Working a dry fly on a nice day

Access seems to be the big issue around the Columbia Gorge. It is no different at Lost Lake. While the resort provides easy, safe access with paved parking lots, heated restrooms and a store to buy snacks, this brings in folks from all over the region on a nice summer day. The parking lot can completely fill up. This can happen any day of the summer, not just weekends. It can also happen early in the day. During our 113 degree "heat dome" in June 2021, the resort was turning people away by 11 am on a Monday. So be prepared that you may not be able to get to the lake if the weather is hot.

The lake is pretty easy to figure out the fishing, especially in a small boat or float tube. A rocky, steep shoreline can produce some nice fish, while at other times, fish are found more in the shallow muddy area where the lake drains into the outgoing creek. Other times, fish can be found near the resort where the ingoing creek dumps water into the lake. This is especially true in the fall when the kokanee are running up the creek and trout like to sit near the mouth hoping for an egg or a chunk of dead kokanee to wash downstream into the lake.

The biggest complaint that anglers have about Lost Lake is the other people. It can be so busy on the lake that you cannot cast without hitting someone on a paddleboard. My observation is that many of the folks on paddleboards will paddle right over your line or right into your backcasting area without paying any attention. This can be extremely frustrating. Throw a dry on a fish that is working an area only to have someone on a paddleboard cruise right over the area and say something like "wow, that was a big fish, you should try to catch him..."

Lost Lake has its moments of serenity though. Early morning sunrises are unreal. Mt Hood glows in the morning and few others are on the water. Late and early season are fantastic too. The lake is open year-round, but the resort only allows vehicle access from late May (or June or when the snow is cleared) to October. The gate is closed the rest of the year. Access to the lake is possible when the gate is closed. October is the best month to fish Lost Lake. Anglers can walk in with a float tube or small raft. It is about a half mile on a paved road, but that walk means that you will likely have the lake to yourself. April can be a pretty darn good month too if the road is cleared to the gate and the gate is still closed. I believe the gate opened in mid-April in 2021.

Access through the gate was $10 per car in 2021. A season pass is available (not sure on the price), which includes a summer's worth of access to Lost Lake, Laurance Lake and the mountain lakes like Rainy that are managed by Lost Lake Resort.

Lost Lake is a wonderful place to spend a day and is often the best place to go fishing in the area. This is especially true if you have a family that will need to stay busy while you fish. Even if you are flying solo, this is still a great spot to spend a day on the water.

Where to Fish - Lowland Lakes

2021-11-02T13:29:00.001-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Big Brooder in Spearfish

Species: Rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, bream

Seasons: Check regs, there are 2 different states, but typically it something similar to this:

4th Saturday in April - October 31, AND:

Friday after Thanksgiving - February 15.

Are you looking for an easy afternoon of lake fishing? A good place to take kids where they will likely catch fish? Don't want a long drive? Don't mind the noise of a highway or trains? Then there are several lakes within an easy drive of Hood River that offer all of that and more.

On the Washington side of the river, Rowland Lake is the most popular of these lowland lakes. Spearfish is also quite a popular fishery as well as Horsethief lake. Those are east of Hood River, while Tunnel, Ice House and Kidney Lake are west on the Washington side, among others.

On the Oregon side, there are fewer, but enough to keep you busy. Bikini Pond (Mayer State Park) and Taylor Lake are located east of Hood River, while Benson Lake is located west of Hood River near Multnomah Falls. Out of town from the Dalles is Rock Creek Reservoir up near the town of Wamic on Mt. Hood. It is a bit further away from town, but still quite popular with the powerbait crew.

All of these lakes are stocked several times per year. Double check on the regulations as regulations vary between states and on individual lakes.

These are typical put and take stocked lakes. Opening day is a big deal to a lot of people. There is a contingent of Pacific Northwesterners that only fish one time per year and that is the 4th Saturday in April. These lakes are packed with families in little boats drowning worms and soaking powerbait. It is pretty cool to see, unless you are looking for some sort of solitude. These are not the lakes for that.

A nice smallie from a lowland lake

Fishing pressure usually dies down after opening weekend and is moderate the rest of the year. These lakes are popular with swimmers and paddleboarders as well during the summer.

One thing that is of note: A few of these lakes are located in areas that are not exactly "safe". I'm looking at you, Spearfish Lake.... I am typically not terribly comfortable leaving my car unattended there. Rowland is not much better, but at least you can see your car from Rowland lake. The parking lot at Spearfish is just out of sight from the lake and there is a bit of a meth problem around the nearby town of Dallesport, WA.

The state of Washington is trying to ease winter steelhead pressure, so they have opened many of these lakes from Black Friday into February in many of these lakes. The cool thing is that they plant "jumbo" trout into some of them. These mega trout, up to 15 pounds, are pretty darn easy to catch. Finding them in the lake is not terribly difficult. You can sight fish for them as they tend to sit in shallow water.

There are also largemouth bass in most of these lakes, and some of them have some dandies. A very old (and broken) Washington state record largemouth came out of Icehouse Lake near North Bonneville. During the spring, smallmouth bass will move into the lakes that have a culvert to the Columbia. Horsethief is a popular one that has great smallmouth fishing in the spring.

Yellow perch and bream/bluegill are present in most of these lakes, so you can really have a nice day catching several species of fish. I like to hit these lakes with the kiddos or maybe with my float tube after work in the spring. They are not really anything too special. Lakes stocked with rainbow trout exist across the country. These are close, easy to fish and the inherent beauty of the area makes them worth a shot if that is your type of thing.

Where to Fish - Eagle Creek (near Cascade Locks, OR)

2021-10-30T15:45:00.006-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Rainbow, cutthroat trout.

Seasons: Trout: Late May-October 31.

Location: Just east of Bonneville Dam, near Cascade Locks, OR. Parking Fee.

Link: Eagle Creek Trailhead

Eagle Creek is one of the prettiest creeks you will ever see. A famous waterfall called Punchbowl Falls (a different Punchbowl than West Fork of the Hood River) lies about 3.5 miles upstream, accessed by a popular trail that follows the creek. The trail allows some excellent access to the creek, plenty to keep someone busy for a day. Eagle Creek drains out of Whatum Lake, which is also a favorite mountain lake in the Hood River area.

Fishing in the creek is fair. Every spot that should have a trout probably does. It also only has one or two, where creeks in Montana would have a dozen. Rainbow trout in Eagle Creek do have the potential to reach decent sizes. They do top 12" occasionally. From my experience, they average around 10".

A pretty little trout stream

Accessing the creek from the trail is not always easy. There are several long stretches where the creek is well below the trail at the bottom of a steep slope. There are also several spots where the creek is right next to the trail. Given the lack of pressure, I do not believe that you have to scramble off of a cliff in order to find some trout that has never seen a fly. Most of them have never seen a fly. Just be careful if you do scramble down a cliff please. There is a lot of "juicy" water at the bottom of those cliffs.

I know I said it is one of the prettiest creeks in America. I remember reading about it when I first moved here. It was previously that one hike that defined the area. In 2017 a reckless teenager threw a firework into the forest and started one of the biggest fires in our area's history. 50,000 acres burned right up to the edge of the town of Hood River. It was completely terrifying. Many of you have seen a photo of someone playing golf with a raging wildfire behind him. That was the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire.

The fire did some major damage to Eagle Creek. The creek has received a lode of silt, as well as increased temps due to a lack of tree cover. This has affected the fishing in the creek, but not detrimentally. There is still good fishing to be had, but it will take a decade or two to recover. A couple of big rain storms should push some silt out, and trees will inevitably grow up to provide more shade.

The fire did not damage the popularity of the trail. The parking lot will fill nearly every day. Go early or late to avoid a parking headache. There is still little to no fishing pressure on the creek despite the immense popularity of the trail.

Salmon fill the lower creek

It is still a great place to spend a day, and it is totally worth fishing if you are going to do the hike. Fishing is great up past Tunnel Falls at mile 6. Tunnel Falls is also worth the extra hike if you are going to do Punchbowl...

Eagle Creek, as of 2021, follows general trout regulations. It opens on the 4th Saturday in May and closes on October 31 for trout fishing. Trout fishing is catch and release.

There are steelhead seasons as well as salmon seasons on the Eagle Creek. The lowest mile of creek hosts a hatchery and plenty of returning salmon. A weir located where the trail starts prevents salmon or steelhead from venturing upstream any further. Steelhead have been documented above the weir, but it is an exception when that happens. Fishing off the mouth of the creek for salmon is incredibly popular, but few folks venture upstream to look for trout.

Where to Fish - Hood River

2021-10-30T15:44:00.002-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Winter steelhead, rainbow, cutthroat trout

Seasons: Steelhead open year round. East Fork always closed to steelhead fishing. Trout open late May-October 31.

Location: Hood River, OR. Follow HWY 35 south for up to 20 miles. Best access is right in town.

The Hood River is a small river that tumbles off of Mt. Hood, 35 miles to the south of the river's confluence with the Columbia in the town of Hood River. This picturesque river is one of the places that we fish the most, and here is what you might need to know if you are visiting.

The Hood River is one of the better winter steelhead rivers in the Columbia basin. Returns of wild fish are fairly healthy (as of 2020), and wild winter steelhead are what draws in the bulk of anglers over the course of the year. Compared to coastal streams like the Nestucca or the Wilson, the Hood receives fewer fish, but the run is big enough to keep the locals happy.

A pretty piece of water, even next to an interstate

The steelhead hatchery program has been suspended as of 2021 and the run of hatchery winter steelhead will trickle to a stop over the next couple of years, leaving the Hood River as a wild-only fishery for the future. Barbed hooks and bait are still allowed, but that is expected to change as hatchery fish are phased out.

Winter steelhead can be found anytime from November through April in the Hood River, however the majority of the fish show up in February and March in most years. The thing that brings them in most effectively is rain; specifically high water in the river. A super wet January will bring in more fish than a really dry Ferbruary.

Most of the action happens at one spot in the river; under the footbridge, or what the locals refer to as the mouth. *Interesting fact; it is called the mouth even though the river flows for over a quarter mile before reaching the Columbia. A couple of major floods (I think 1996 and 2006) caused some big changes in the riverbed. Sand, silt and rocks settled in the mouth area and caused the riverbed to extend a quarter mile, creating a bit of an estuary and a huge sandbar that sticks out halfway into the Columbia. The locals still call the area under the footbridge "the mouth".

The footbridge over the Hood River just downstream (North) of Interstate 84 has the first holding spot in the river. On any given winter morning, 6 or more anglers wade out on either side of the footbridge with high hopes of a winter chromer. Easy parking, easy wading and high catch rates make this spot #1 on the river, and the only one that many folks fish.

A hatchery Hood River Winter Steelhead

There are other spots, but access gets very difficult as you move upstream. The powerhouse, about half a mile upstream of the confluence is an access spot with a trail attached that will get you to a couple of other spots. A few "fishy" runs within the mile or so of walkable access make this a popular spot if fishing under the interstate is not your favorite thing to do.

Beyond the mouth and the powerhouse, there is very limited access to the river. Tucker Park has one piece of water to access, but it is not a spot that holds fish really well. Beyond that, there was once a dam that had public access. That access was removed when the dam came out. An easement that allowed access to the river was canceled. No dam = no more access.

The river closes to steelhead fishing at the confluence of the West and East Forks. Technically, you can fish about 100 yards of the West Fork between a waterfall and the confluence, but it is not much. The access there is minimal.

The East Fork is closed to steelhead fishing year-round. The Main river is open to steelhead fishing year-round.

Big ones live in the Hood

Beyond winter steelhead, the Hood River does get a run of spring chinook salmon, as well as coho salmon in the fall. Spring salmon has a very limited season. Please check the regulations before targeting salmon. Typically, Memorial Day is a good time to chase salmon if it is open and they are in.

Coho salmon do come into the Hood River, but not in large numbers. They do not travel very far up the river. Target them near the mouth for the most success. September and October are the months for coho. Fall chinook are present in September, but targeting them is prohibited.

Trout season in the Hood River is typically the 4th Saturday in May to October 31. This includes the main river as well as the East Fork. The West Fork is always closed above Punchbowl Falls, and while there is a Middle Fork, it is very muddy and almost always unifshable in-season.

Rainbow trout do exist in the main Hood River, but in low numbers. I have spent several days targeting trout in the Hood and have had little success. I have not caught an actual rainbow trout. I have seen them caught before, but have not personally caught one. There are plenty of steelhead smolt that want to eat a fly, but few adult rainbow trout; I'm not saying zero, but not many.

Another one taken under the footbridge

Most trout fishing on the Hood River happens on the East Fork. The East Fork flows along Highway 35, which connects Hood River with Mt. Hood. There are plenty of pullouts to keep an angler busy. Small, feisty cutthroat trout exist in decent numbers in the East Fork, mostly above Polallie Creek, upstream of the town of Parkdale about 10 miles. There is an easy trail that stretches between Sherwood and Nottingham Campgrounds. That is a good place to start.

The East Fork is glacially influenced, meaning that there is a lot of silt, mud and round rocks. Not ideal habitat, but it is what we have. The fishing can be spotty. There are some places in the river where there are not many trout. It is low-quality habitat for trout.

The East Fork, as well as the Main Hood River are generally not fishable during hot weather. Typically, July into September, it's pretty much just not happening. You might be lucky and have a cool streak of weather that will clear it up, but most of the summer, it is too muddy... Luckily we have other options for summertime angling.

Where to Fish - White Salmon River

2021-10-30T15:32:00.004-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Rainbow trout, winter and summer steelhead, chinook and coho salmon.

Seasons: Please check regulations. Varying seasons have changed almost yearly.

Location. Husum, WA. 10 minutes north of Hood River.

Summer and Winter Steelhead in the White

This is a very unique river in the area. Very cold, clear water are not actually as commonplace here as we wish. The Hood and the Klickitat can become too muddy to fish during the summer, and the Deschutes can reach dangerously warm temperatures. Having a little cold, clear stream is nice during these hot summers.

The White Salmon flows from Mt. Adams south through the towns of Trout Lake, BZ Corner and Husum before meeting the Columbia almost directly across from the town of Hood River.

Please check regulations. The river has been closed to steelhead fishing in recent years. Trout season is late May - October 31, but the lower river is open year-round for trout fishing (again, please double check the regulations, they keep changing). Salmon seasons vary depending on predicted and observed run sizes.

So many waterfalls inhibit boating

The Condit Dam was removed in 2011. Check out the video here. This dam was only about a mile and a half upstream of the mouth, and it prevented upstream passage of salmon and steelhead for about a century. Establishing a healthy run of salmon and steelhead will take a generation or more to fill in the upstream habitat, but the cold water still draws plenty of salmon and steelhead into the lowest mile of river. The fish prefer the colder water of the White Salmon over the warmer water in the Columbia, so they will use the river mouth as a cold water refuge during the summer. This provides decent fishing opportunities at the mouth of the river.

Husum Falls is huuuuge

One note about this fragile river: When the dam came out, all stocking of fish ceased. The river is being allowed to repopulate naturally. Please be very careful and release wild steelhead and trout.

Access at the mouth is decent. There are a couple of pullouts along the highway near the river in the lowest mile or so. Looking upstream, there are several large rapids/waterfalls just past that flat water that looks so inviting in the lower river. There are a couple of class V+ floats that are run commercially by a couple of rafting companies, but guided fishing trips are not feasible or allowed under USFS rules. Even the rafting companies make the clients walk around at least one of the waterfalls.

Trout from the White

There is some access at Northwestern Lake Park, which once was a reservoir, but now is a flowing river. Maybe a half mile of riverside access exists in the park area with some decent trout fishing opportunities.

Access to the upper river is very limited. There are two bridges over the river at Husum, but the accessible water at the bridges is poor for fishing. Worth a look if you are there, but I have not had any success in Husum.

BZ Corner offers the next access point upstream. Past that, the river gets very skinny. There are trout in the White Salmon near the town of Trout Lake and upstream, but we would recommend going on over to Trout Lake Creek if you are upstream that far. Trout Lake Creek is a tributary of the White and it has better trout fishing.

So in conclusion, at least the lower part of the White Salmon is a fun place to fish in the summer. There are some trout, salmon and steelhead in the lower river. The river is extremely cold and usually stays pretty clear in the summer. The access is easy at the mouth and it is easy to walk around in the river bottom. Access above the lowest mile is nearly nonexistent and of poor quality where it exists. The river mouth is a really fantastic area to spend some time fishing on a hot day.

Where to Fish - Klickitat River

2021-10-30T15:24:00.004-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Summer steelhead, spring and fall chinook salmon, coho salmon
Seasons: Summer steelhead: late May-November 30. Salmon: check regulations.

Location: 11 miles east of Hood River, in Lyle, Washington.

November can be the best month

The Klickitat is lovingly referred to as the "Klick" by locals. This wonderful stream meets the Columbia River about 10 miles upstream of Hood River on the Washington side, near the town of Lyle.

This river is bigger than the Hood and the White Salmon, but much smaller than the Deschutes. It is known for it's run of summer steelhead, and is arguably one of the top summer steelhead rivers in the US.

Much like the Hood, the Klick is glacially fed and can be nearly impossible to fish during the hottest parts of the year. There is a bit more water in the Klick than the Hood, so it does stay in shape a little better, but it does fish best when we have freezing temps above 8000 feet.

There are some fish around in June, but most of the action happens in the fall. September through November is when you want to be there. A healthy fall chinook run draws anglers in September and October. The lower 15 miles of river can get very busy if there are salmon around. Few salmon anglers venture upstream very far.

From the confluence of the Columbia near the town of Lyle, WA, highway 142 follows the river for 18 miles upstream, through the town of Klickitat before parting ways with the river and winding up to the top of the canyon. Those lower 18 miles host a dozen or so fishy runs, many pullouts as well as several boat ramps that make floats as easy, short or long as you would want. Easy car access keeps almost all road-bound anglers on that lowest 18 miles of river.

Big steelhead run in the Klickitat

Venturing upstream, there are two sections that are nearly inaccessible without a boat. From the fishing boundary at the border of the Yakama Reservation to Leidl Campground is the upper river. Tough floats, very little "fishy" water and tough access make the upper more of a rafting adventure and less of a place to really expect some great results with a fly rod.

From Leidl down to the confluence of the Little Klickitat River (mile 18) is the middle section, also called the canyon. Road access is also very limited in this section. There is a ramp at Leidl and then another one a few miles downstream at Stinson Flats which is where most boaters launch. Other than that, all access in the canyon is by boat. Great float, loads of good water. Nothing super difficult for the rower. It is 100% a wonderful way to experience the Klickitat.

Fall chinook ate a swung fly

If steelheading is not your game, there are some rainbow trout in the Klickitat, especially in the canyon section. Compared to the Blue Ribbon quality Yakima River about an hour and a half to the north, the size and quantity of trout do not compare. There are ok numbers of trout and an occasionally decent-sized fish, but it's not a destination trout fishery. If you are looking for trout, it is just over an hour from Goldendale to the Yakima river canyon. I would say it is worth the drive if you are near the Klickitat and decide that trout fishing would be better.

The Klickitat has its moments of glory. Quiet November mornings, swinging big flies in quiet solitude. The river is empty by Halloween, the last signs of summer gone except for maybe a tug from a big summer steelhead.

Where to Fish - Sandy River

2021-10-30T15:20:00.003-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area. |

Species: Winter Steelhead

Season: November - April (peak February/early March)

Links: Oxbow Park, Dodge Park, Dabney Park

The Sandy River is close to Portland, but it is hard to tell when you are on the river. This is (arguably) the closest river that we can float a raft and chase a winter steelhead. It is certainly our favorite winter steelhead river to float and fish in the area. The scenery is outstanding and the chances of catching a chrome winter steelhead are good enough that I am willing to get into a raft in sub-freezing temperatures and fish all day in the middle of the winter.

The river does not actually get a very large run of winter steelhead. A good year brings in an estimated 1500 fish over 5 months, and we have not had good years lately. 300 fish per month is not a lot of fish for a good sized river. It just happens to be a beautiful piece of water, easily accessible by experienced boaters, and it is close to home. Coastal streams still receive far more fish per river mile than any of the Columbia River tributaries; they are just too far away for a reasonable day trip.

The Sandy River Canyon is coooold

Walk-in access is limited on the section of river that most anglers float, but is decent in every other section. Two parks on the lower river offer some decent access: Lewis and Clark, and Dabney Park.

There is good access at Oxbow Park a few miles upstream of Dabney. Dodge Park is about 6 miles upstream of Oxbox at the confluence of the Bull Run River. Most boaters float the river between Dodge Park and Oxbow. There is decent access further upstream, but very little walk-in access between Dodge and Oxbow, which is why anglers like to float it.

Being close to Portland, it can get crowded on the Sandy River. It is not a terribly big river with a lot of swing-friendly runs, so 5 or 6 boats launching in the morning can really make it hard to find some quality water. That being said, it is such a pretty river that even if you have to skip several good spots, it is OK. Just enjoy the scenery and fish where you can.

Winter steelhead are worth the effort

There is no fishing out of a boat above Oxbow park, which does help ease boat traffic. From Oxbow to Dabney or L/C, you will find plenty of drift boats pulling plugs or whatnot. The boat traffic is easily 5x more than on the upper section. The upper river is definitely raft-only with a couple of decently big rapids, the biggest happens about on minute after you launch at Dodge.

The river is floatable above Dodge, but the water is skinny with more technical rowing. That part of the river is popular with kayakers, but floating and fishing between the (removed) Marmot Dam and Dodge Park is completely reasonable.

This little slice of pristine, wild water is amazing, especially being so close to Portland, and considering another river just over the hill (the Clackamas) is lined with houses and filled with people. If you get a chance to hit it up, just do it.

Where to Fish - Goose Lake

2021-10-30T15:16:00.004-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Brown, rainbow, brook, cutthroat trout

Season: Late May-October 31

Links: Goose Lake Campground, Goose Lake Boat Launch

Location: About 15 miles west of Trout Lake, WA or about 25 miles Northeast of Carson, WA

Colorful brookie ate a bugger

Goose Lake is one of the locals' favorites. It is also a favorite of anglers that live far away. This little lake buried up in the forest between Mt Adams and Mt St Helens really has it all.

While planted rainbow trout make up the majority of the catch, there are some healthy brown trout well over 20" to chase. If you want to catch cutthroat trout, you can do that too. You can throw in a brook trout and get a grand slam in one location. The brown and brook are the two hardest to find, but a patient angler trying multiple techniques can get it done in a day.

The fishing is usually great from open to close. The lake receives several plants of trout annually, but the lake is deep enough and healthy enough to hold fish over a winter and grow some big ones.

There is a campground, boat ramp and bathroom at the lake. There is also plenty of dispersed camping in the area as well as a few other quieter campgrounds within a few miles of the lake.

This lake has great structure, varying depths and a couple of creeks flowing into it, leading to being able to use a smorgasbord of techniques to chase whatever species of trout you want to catch. Cutties on dries, brookies eating streamers near the bottom, browns chasing big baitfish patterns, its all available.

This cutthroat ate a dry fly

The drive is the biggest deterrent for many. It doesn't look that far, but it is well over an hour from Hood River, closer to 90 minutes. It is also surprisingly high in altitude. I fished it the week before Memorial Day this last year and was blocked by snow almost everywhere except for the direct path to the lake that someone else had plowed out. It is typically inaccessible due to snow until Memorial Day almost every year, and well into June on bigger snow years.

The scenery isn't anything special; there are no mountain views to gape at. The campground is not particularly great either. It is on a slope and the sites are stacked on top of each other so that people will generally walk through other sites to get down to the lake or bathroom. It is a popular place for families and not a quiet campground. The fantastic fishing is what makes it such a popular place.

Where to Fish - Little White Salmon River above Drano Lake

2021-10-30T15:15:00.005-07:00

Part of our series on fishing in the Columbia River Gorge

Species: Rainbow trout

Seasons: late May-October 31

Links: Big Cedars Park, Moss Creek Campground, Oklahoma Campground

Location: Willard, WA. 20-30 minutes Northwest of Hood River

Spirit Falls is just downstream

The Little White Salmon is famous for a couple of things, trout fishing is not one of them. First and foremost, the Little White is what feeds Drano Lake, the most famous salmon fishery on the Columbia River system. It is also known for a gorgeous waterfall called Spirit Falls that is near the town of Willard. After that it is know as one of the most epic kayaking runs in the world. Fishing comes in down the list.

The Little White has a couple of areas where trout are stocked regularly near Willard. This is a rarity in these parts to have a river stocked with rainbow trout. Almost all rivers around here are managed for either wild trout or salmon and steelhead. So a nice little stream that is stocked with rainbow trout is a good option to have.

According to a biologist that works at the salmon hatchery on the river, the Little White Salmon does not have enough food to support a healthy year-round trout population. Very few trout can survive the winter in the cold, nearly sterile water of the Little White. There are no native trout in the river, which is why they can plant is without affecting any native fish populations.

The river is typical for put and take fisheries. Trout are stocked a couple of times per year and it is usually busy that next weekend, and then rarely fished after that until the next stocking. There are plenty of trout that survive the initial onslaught of powerbait and are eager to take a fly throughout the summer. They don't have much food, so they are very eager to eat most standard dry flies.

A lovely stream with no pressure

The two main areas that get fished are both close to Willard. Moss Creek Campground and Big Cedars Park are by far the areas that see the most pressure. A half dozen pullouts exist in the immediate area as well. Traveling upstream, you will find that the water is eerily clear and definitely does not hold many fish.

Oklahoma Campground is at the end of the road and that is a few miles past where I would expect to find a trout. They might be up there, but from my experience, being closer to Willard is the key to success.

Overall, this is a nice little fishery. It is very pretty, and there is very little pressure. Despite the put and take nature of the fishery, it is one of our top spots to catch trout in the area.

Where to Fish - Laurance Lake

2021-10-30T14:54:00.005-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Cutthroat, rainbow trout. Bull trout are present. No targeting or removing from water.

Season: 4th Saturday in April - October 31

Location: 8 miles Southwest of Parkdale, OR

Links: Kinnikinnick Campground, Laurance Lake Day Use Area

Laurance can get low in the fall

Laurance Lake is another locals' favorite. It has great views of Mt. Hood and wonderful fishing. While Lost Lake has all sorts of amenities, Laurance has a few designated camp sites and a couple of Forest Service outhouses. Because there are few camp sites and a small parking area, the lake can get crowded during the summer. By August, the lake level usually drops low enough to accommodate more day-use parking than in the early season.

This reservoir is created from a dam just below where Clear Branch and Pinnacle Creek meet. The outflow, called Clear Branch, meets up with the Elliot Branch to form the Middle Fork of the Hood. Unfortunately, fishing is not allowed between the dam and where the Middle Fork technically forms, and by that point, the stream has picked up so much silt from the Coe and Elliot Branches that it is too muddy to fish at all. Besides, the power company does not allow access underneath the dam if you were to go down there anyways. Fishing is also not allowed in either of the two creeks that feed the lake.

The fishing is also unique in this lake. Cutthroat trout are native to the creeks and inhabit the lake. They love to take a dry fly and reach good sizes. Rainbow trout are also planted in the lake. They have a clipped rear adipose fin, and you are only allowed to keep rainbow trout that have a clipped adipose fin. There are also bull trout present in the lake. Targeting or removing a bull trout from the water is prohibited. I do know more than one person who has received a ticket for targeting bull trout. Using a large streamer and a heavy fly rod will get you a ticket. The state patrol does a good job at patrolling the local lakes, and they know the rules in and out. Anglers will catch them on accident, but as long as you release them without removing them from the water, it will be ok.

Tons of stumps

The lake does get low as the summer moves into fall. Shore access is much easier in the fall if you do not have a boat. I would highly recommend having a watercraft in the spring into mid-summer, but an angler could do just fine in the fall without a boat. No gas motors are allowed on Laraunce Lake.

Access does have a price. I believe it was $8 per day in 2021, although the road washed out in June and the lake never reopened in 2021. A season pass from Lost Lake Resort works at this lake for day use. No other access passes work here.

Campsites are first-come, first-served, and are tough to find on a weekend. There are not many sites here. There is no dispersed camping allowed in the area, so if you do not find a spot, you will have to go back through Parkdale and find a different area of the forest to camp. This is one negative about the area. The road leads to the lake and ends without any other camping options. There are not any other roads that lead to anywhere else out there.

Overall, Laraunce is a great place to spend the day. The scenery is great and the water is generally cold enough for good trout fishing. The native cutthroat and occasional accidental bull trout (not removed from the water) make the fishing unique. It is not as crowded as Lost Lake, with a shorter drive. It is a locals' favorite for a good reason.

Where to Fish - Mountain Lakes, Hood River County

2021-10-30T14:54:00.004-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Brook, cutthroat trout.

Seasons: Year-round, but June-October

Links: Lost Lake Resort (permit for parking at some of these lakes)

Be sure to stop and eat some huckleberries

There is a series of little lakes along the ridge that rises on the west side of the Hood River Valley and runs south to Mount Hood. There are a dozen or so lakes that dot the landscape. About half of them are accessible directly by car, the other half require a hike. None of the hikes are terribly long or hard. These lakes typically have very few anglers over a year, especially the smaller lakes that require hiking.

Look at a map of the area and you will find a bunch of lakes in the area between Lost Lake and Kingsley Reservoir. The most popular ones are Rainy, Whatum, Black and North Lakes, although there are more than a dozen to explore.

Several of the small lakes near Lost Lake require a parking fee administered by Lost Lake Resort.

Quiet, gray and full of trout.

These lakes host mostly brook trout in typical small sizes. A 10" brookie is a good fish around here. Not all of the lakes have fish in them all of the time. Some drought years can make them uninhabitable. Some of them do not have fish in them at all right now. I fished almost all of them this year and there are at least three that are void of trout right now (2021). Figuring it out is part of the adventure.

While these lakes are typically not stocked on a yearly basis, most of these lakes do receive an occasional planting of fish to keep the ecosystem moving, even if the trout will inevitably succumb to a drought.

A boat is not required on any of these lakes to access the fish. Whatum and Rainy are the bigger lakes in the area. A boat would be nice if you wanted to take the effort to get one onto Rainy Lake, but I think that is a lot of effort for little extra reward.

These pretty little lakes have one thing going for them; solitude. I have yet to see anyone else at any of the hike-in lakes this year. Occasionally, someone else is on the trail, headed to another destination, but it's pretty nice to get off the grid for a half day without seeing another human.

Where to Fish - Clackamas River

2021-10-30T14:48:00.005-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Winter Steelhead, Summer Steelhead, Coho Salmon

Seasons: Winter Steelhead: November-April. Summer Steelhead: May-June, October. Coho Salmon: September-October.

Location: Southwest Side of Mt Hood, near Estacada, OR

Clackamas Winter Steelhead

Links: McIver Park, Barton Park

The Clackamas is the most popular fishing river in the Portland Metro area. Winter steelhead are the most targeted fish in the system, but summer steelhead runs have been good enough in years past to make it worth some effort. Coho salmon are present and many locals will boast that the Clack is the best place to find them in the area.

There is plenty of walk-in access on the Clack. There are tons of little pullouts with trails to the river between houses. Several large parks offer some good access as well. McIver Park is located just below Estacada Dam, which is as far up as you can fish for steelhead. This park has tons of great access, more than other parks like Barton and Carver. I would personally start at Milo McIver State Park.

From what we have heard, the summer steelhead hatchery program has been terminated on the Clackamas. I cannot find any confirmation of this online however. From what we have heard, the state cut the program because of a lack of angling pressure. There are plenty of steelhead around in May and June, but so many anglers focus their attention on the Deschutes for the spring stonefly hatch that the Clack is pretty much empty when the summer steelhead arrive. We cannot confirm any of it, our sources are fishing guides.

There are very few trout in the Clackamas below Estacada Dam. The few anglers that I know have gone trout fishing in the Clack have reported catching lots of steelhead smolt and no trout. There are definitely trout up above Estacada Dam. The Three Lynx area is popular for trout fishing.

Winter steelhead will come into the system any time from November through April when it rains hard enough to raise the river level even a small amount. Beyond that, finding a steelhead in any river when it is low and clear is a difficult task, and the Clack stays pretty darn clear and gets pretty darn low in between rains.

This river has a reputation. There is a reputation that you will find a lot of shady characters on the Clackamas. The reputation is not lost on me. I pulled into a popular fishing spot a few winters ago to find that the 4 cars in the parking lot all had broken windows and were missing anything of value. This is I guess what happens when you fish in a relatively urban setting. Homeless camps are commonly found along the river banks, and I have found hypodermic needles, knives (not fishing knives), what I would assume are crack pipes, and one of those "slim jim" tools that criminals use to break into cars among piles of garbage.

I fish the Clackamas when I am in Portland in the winter for some other reason, and the river is up. Beyond it's reputation and urban setting, it can be a nice, peaceful place to spend some time chasing steelhead.

Where to Fish - Trout Lake Creek

2021-10-30T14:34:00.001-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Brown, rainbow and brook trout.

Season: Late May-October 31, however low water makes late summer fishing difficult.

Location: North of Trout Lake, WA. 30-45 minutes North of Hood River

Links: Trout Lake Creek Campground, Sleeping Beauty

Loads of great structure for miles

Trout Lake Creek is a little tributary to the White Salmon River. It meets the White in the town of Trout Lake. Note that there is no lake in Trout Lake any longer. It dried up after some irrigation projects diverted water out of the lake years ago. The creek flows through the old lake bed and provides some excellent fishing opportunities, especially in the early summer.

Unlike the White Salmon or the Little White Salmon, there is actually a decent amount of food for trout to eat in Trout Lake Creek. It supports trout year round and can grow a trout to respectable size, although most of the trout are small.

Eager trout fill this creek

Access to the creek is nearly unlimited. A forest service road follows the creek for its duration and has innumerable pull outs. There is some private land on the lower part of the creek, but most of the creek is in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

A nice Forest Service Campground sits right on the creek and also provides easy access to a popular hiking trail called Sleeping Beauty. It is definitely worth the hike if you are in the area and have a couple of extra hours. Gorgeous and full of mountain goats.

This river has mostly rainbow and brook trout, but an occasional brown trout is reported. Brook trout are mostly found in the upper reaches, rainbows are found throughout the creek and brown trout are almost always found in the lowest part of the creek.

This little fishery is a ton of fun. It is fairly busy in the early summer, so do not expect complete solitude during June and July, especially near town. The creek can become too low and warm for top-notch fishing by August, so please plan accordingly.

Where to Fish - Mountain Lakes Mt Adams area

2021-10-30T14:32:00.006-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Cutthroat, rainbow, brook, brown trout

Seasons: Year-round, but snow... Mid June-September.

Links: Taklakh Lake, Olallie Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Indian Heaven Wilderness

In the area west of Mt Adams, there are hundreds of lakes. Most are pretty small, some are barely ponds, others are deep and hold fish over winters. Most of them are hike-in, but several offer good car access.

This lake near Mt St Helens was full of brookies

The most popular (drive-to) lakes in that area are Taklakh, Horseshoe and Olallie. All three of these are close to each other on the sides of Mt Adams and offer good road access and camping. Taklakh is very popular. Olallie is not quite as crowded, but still plenty busy on weekends. The views at Taklakh can't be beat, so it brings in the paddleboarders and swimmers.

Another set of lakes in that area is in the Indian Heaven Wilderness. The Pacific Crest Trail goes through the heart of Indian Heaven, and you will run into a body of water within a half mile of the trail at every on the plateau that makes up the wilderness area. Hundreds of gorgeous lakes, most of them loaded with little brook trout are more than anyone could ever explore. A handful of lakes have decent size cutthroat, but there is no knowing which ones without some exploring. The good news is that a motivated backpacker could hit a dozen or more lakes on any give day with little effort.

This lake in Indian Heaven has big cutthroat

Several other lakes are found further south, near Goose Lake. Forlorn Lakes is a nice, quiet area with 4 lakes that are quiet, loaded with eager trout and rarely fished. Quite a few others are located closer to Mt St Helens and have similar excellent fishing for brook trout.

You can easily fish the smaller lakes from shore, but a float tube or small boat will help tremendously at the bigger ones like Olallie. there are literally dozens of other really productive lakes that I have not even mentioned. There are lakes all over the area in between these two mountains.

So many options exist for fishing lakes in the Mt Adams area. Whether you like hike-in lakes, bigger lakes with drive-in access or maybe a smaller lake with a stunning view, there are options abound. Get out and explore.

Where to Fish - Lower Deschutes River

2021-10-30T14:32:00.004-07:00

Part of our series on fishing locally in the Hood River/Columbia Gorge area.

Species: Rainbow trout, summer steelhead.

Seasons: Check regulations. Brief description below

Links: Deschutes Recreation Area, Deschutes Boaters Passes

Fish on!

There is not much I can say about the Deschutes that has not been said by better writers than I. Dozens of books have been written about the Deschutes River. It is infamous. This is the only world-class trout fishery that we have access to within a reasonable drive, and what a fishery it is!

The 100 miles or so between Pelton Dam and the confluence with the Columbia make up one of the best places to fish in the US. Redband (or redside) trout are a unique strain of rainbow trout native to the area. They are smart and they fight better than most other trout in most other rivers. I can promise that.

Plenty of easy road access exists near the town of Maupin. 10+ miles upstream and 20+ miles of downstream roadside access make this a superb place to start fishing the Deschutes. There is no fishing allowed from a boat, so everyone is on a level playing field on that aspect.

Big fish on big dry flies!

The big draw is the spring stonefly hatch. Salmonflies and golden stoneflies hatch in May and June, and the big bugs bring in anglers from across the US. Most of the rest of the year is pretty quiet on the river, if you are trout fishing. There is a large contingency of rafters in the summer, but the fishing side of things is far less busy than more famous rivers. It is still a busy river, especially around the town of Maupin, but it sees far less pressure than most big trout fisheries.

Speaking of big trout fisheries, I would put this river up against anything in Montana, Idaho or Colorado any day. Anglers on those rivers can boast 60 fish per day because, no offense, but fishing out of a drift boat is easier. A good angler on the Deschutes can still catch plenty of nice, big trout, but it takes more skill and time to wade for your fish, especially big water like the Deschutes. It is a bit harder to get it dialed in than other rivers, but once you have the D figured out, the trout fishing cannot get any better, anywhere.

Near Pelton Dam (100 miles upstream of the confluence), there is access around the Warm Springs area. A boat ramp along with a couple miles of road access downstream to Mecca Flats makes this a popular area when open. It is close to the town of Madras and attracts plenty of folks from Bend, so it can be quite busy. There are several camping areas and the access is easy to get in and out. There is some solid road access, but nowhere near what is available downstream near Maupin.

A few miles below Mecca Flats is a large campground called Trout Creek. This campground has a boat ramp as well as a nice trail that follows the river up to Mecca Flats. Trout creek is a very popular boat ramp. It is a takeout for an easy overnighter or day float from Warm Springs. It is also the put-in for most multi-day trout trips in the spring. 32 miles in between boat ramps makes for an awesome 2 or 3 night adventure. The takeout is upstream of Maupin.

That section does typically close from Jan 1-mid April, but please check the regulations. The section between Warm Springs and Maupin does include the Warm Springs Reservation, which is on river left for most of that section. An access pass may be purchased from the Warm Springs Tribe which will allow anglers to fish on river left along some (but not all) of the reservation.

Steelhead in the Lower Deschutes

Around Maupin, there is a road upstream of town that has about 10 miles of good access up to the famous "locked gate". You can walk past the gate for a few miles, but dozens of pullouts should keep you busy before you get to the locked gate.

There is also plenty of access downstream of Maupin, along the road that ends at Mack's Canyon, about 20 miles from the mouth and 30 miles from Maupin. This section is open year-round for trout fishing.

The section between Mack's Canyon and the confluence with the Columbia is considered the best section of river for summer steelhead fishing in the lower 48. Tons of great water, and an easy bike or hike trail follows the river the whole way. Many folks bike in a few miles and fish. Some bring a little bike trailer loaded with gear and camp out for a few nights. Steelhead season peaks in September as well as the angling traffic on the lower river. You will not find much solitude on the river during a typical September. The river was not closed to steelhead fishing in 2021, so please check the regulations before heading out for a steelhead trip.

The Deschutes river is also very popular for multi-day rafting trips. The upper section (Trout Creek to Maupin) is very wild and scenic. There are houses by the river, but no public road access. There are a couple of big rapids, plenty of scenery and great trout fishing. Most of the trout angling pressure done by people with rafts is done in this section. Very popular in the spring.

The lower section from Mack's Canyon to Heritage (the mouth) is also very popular for multi-day rafting trips. The river is more wide open and the rapids are not as technical. Bigger, yes; harder to row, no. Trout fishing on the lower is still great, but the lower part of the river does not have as many fish per mile. The lower river is not fished much at all for trout. While it has fewer fish, those fish are much more eager to eat flies as they do not see much pressure.

Big Bugs in the Spring

The section that flows trough Maupin is also popular with whitewater rafters. Several boat ramps in the Maupin area allow for a variety of floating options. There are some big rapids in this section, so be aware. This is what folks in the industry call "splash and giggle" rafting, where boats filled with tourists in wetsuits take a short ride down some big rapids, get their picture taken going over a waterfall, fun family stuff. Fishing is great in this section because most anglers do not want to deal with the boaters and the whitewater.

All boaters need a permit which can be purchased in advance following this link: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/251980

Camping is available at almost all access points. There are a good dozen campgrounds in the areas around Maupin, Mack's Canyon, Trout Creek and Mecca Flats. The state park at the confluence also has a nice campground.

There is not much more I can say about the Deschutes. We are so lucky to have such a fantastic river so close to us. 9 times out of 10, this is the best choice for someone looking to have that all-around blue-ribbon trout fishing experience in the area.

Fishing the October Caddis Hatch

2021-08-17T15:00:00.004-07:00

One often overlooked hatch is the October Caddis that are prolific along rivers of the western US. This is a super-hatch that may provide better opportunities for big trout than the heavily-pressured Salmonfly hatch in the spring. I know that is a controversial statement for some, but Gary Lafontaine, author of the book Caddisflies says about finding big trout:

"Which insects provide the best opportunity for catching such fish? My list would be: Giant Orange Sedge (October Caddis), Salmon Fly, and the Michigan Mayfly (Hexagenia). ...(October Caddis) is the most important -- and the contest is not even close."

Fall on the Deschutes is a special time and place

I see the arguably broader appeal of the Salmonfly hatch. Springtime, green canyons, high water, millions of stoneflies climbing all over the place. Its a show of life bursting in a river corridor. Fall isn't quite as lush, the hills are brown, there is a lot of low-light conditions, low water, plus potential bad weather. Tons of anglers move on to hunting, salmon or steelhead fishing in the fall as well. Plenty of western rivers are wide open for good trout fishing. The pressure is easily less than 20% as heavy as it is during the Salmonfly hatch in the spring.

The October Caddis hatch can start in September and run through October. These giant caddisflies tend to fly in the morning and the evening and can provide some vicious dry fly takes. The larva and pupa can also be a huge source of low-effort protein for a big trout. Indicator fishing, especially during mid-day can consistently bring nice trout to the net.

Techniques

A big orange dry fly is a wonderful thing. Salmonflies in the spring, and Caddis in the fall. While techniques in the spring are more focused on traditional dead-drifting a dry fly, these October Caddis can be hopped, popped, skated, skittered and everything else. That is one of the best parts about fishing this hatch. These bugs move on the water far more nimbly and effectively than a stonefly.

Rainbows love October Caddis

Most of the good October caddis fishing that I have done has involved fishing slower, calmer water. One area to focus are tailouts. Shallow, slow water that is just upstream of a riffle. Another would be slower areas on along the side of the river that feature overhanging trees. Caddis do love those trees.

You can throw it and let it drift, or you can skate it back, giving it little flutters if you like. Lift the rod tip gently and then drop it slowly. Wiggle the rod tip gently. Make small twitchy strips with the line. These are all valid techniques.

An indicator rig is another effective method for catching big trout on October Caddis patterns. While the bulk of these insects are concentrated in shallow, slow water, the pupa end up getting loose on their march to the banks, and can get washed downstream to provide food for trout up and down the river.

Found one on the first rock I looked at in August

So the super bonus to fishing the October Caddis is the occasional steelhead. These insects are most prolific in rivers that hold steelhead in the west. The Deschutes, Klickitat and Grande Ronde are well known steelhead rivers that all have "epic" hatches of these insects. Because these insects hatch in the same general type of water that steelhead love, they can become fodder for the often lock-jawed steelhead.

I have seen it once. A pod of 6-8 steelhead eating October Caddis adults like they were little 14 inch trout. These 10-12 pound lunkers sat underneath a tree, eating one Caddis after another. Not all of them were feeding, but enough of them were that we dropped anchor and watched them for 5 minutes. Not a single-hand rod, floating line or dry fly within sight. We had been swinging steelhead flies with big spey rods and sink tips (unsuccessfully I might add). So it doers happen sometimes.

They do not just hatch in the slow water though. These are prolific enough that any football sized, fully submerged rock, located in the right stream has a healthy population of these suckers living on them.

October Caddis, courtesy - www.troutnut.com

October Caddis are most prevalent in the most western rivers, from Northern California into B.C. and most of Idaho, and allegedly parts of Montana too, but I cannot confirm that. The McKenzie, Yakima and Deschutes are big trout rivers within a reasonable drive for us that all have excellent hatches. Its not just those rivers though; most smaller or medium-sized river will have a nice hatch. I found one on the first rock that I turned over in the Hood River today. It is mid-August, so we have a month before the bulk of them are that one will be five or six larva underneath that rock.

Identification

October Caddis are a large cased caddis. While the adults are a solid orange, the pupa and larva are creamier, getting darker orange as they grow. They can easily be as large as a size 4, but most are going to be size 6 and 8 based on the extra long hooks that these patterns are typcally tied on. A big one could be as big as your pointer finger.

October Caddis

Patterns

Dries

October Caddis

Elk Hair Caddis (Orange)

Better Foam Caddis

October Caddis - Umpqua's

Nymphs

Cased Caddis

Eastern Green Drake Nymph

Sept'Ober Caddis - Solitude

October Phat Ass - Solitude

As always, we want to give a huge thank you to Jason that runs troutnut.com. Without that site, I would be just another idiot guessing at hatches.

We hope that you can get out and chase a few October caddis this fall if you are around the Northwest. Tight lines and happy fishing!

Orvis Approach Shoes - Adventure Awaits

2021-08-07T15:24:00.007-07:00

I recently picked up a pair of Orvis Approach shoes. These newish shoes from Orvis have an interesting look. They look like an all-purpose water shoe. Maybe a little wet wading, working some tropical flats, maybe a little hiking up a creek. More of a shoe, less of a wading boot. I grabbed these shoes thinking that they might work out well for an adventure I had planned.

I was lucky enough to pick up a permit to backpack the South Coast section of Olympic National Park this summer. A bucket list adventure checked off the list. Backpacking is one of my favorite activities and it is really nice when I can get some fishing in while I am out in the backcountry.

I do not have much to report as far as fishing went. I fished decently hard, did not catch much. There was a lot of kelp where I fished the first day, it was pretty wide open surf breaks over the next few days. I did not find any really good spots that were easily accessible at the times that I had available to fish. Otherwise a really lovely trip.

I picked up some new gear for this trip, including these Approach shoes. I spent weeks contemplating whether I should bring my big hiking boots instead, but I wanted to give these a shot at a big trip. Plus I need a replacement for my Chacos that are truly falling apart.

I chose to hike with these Approach Shoes for a couple of reasons. While they are not as sturdy as a set of traditional hiking boots, one outstanding feature is they are much lighter. I like to move fast and go light, so I though that these would help me stay nimble on my feet.

A couple of sections of this trail require climbing up cliffs using a series of ropes to go around submerged tidal areas. The lightweight shoes seemed to be quite helpful for that, plus the super-grippy tread gave me the confidence to scurry up those sections like a goat.

While the lightweight aspects of the shoes were fantastic, it was the grip that was about as good as any that I have experienced. Michelin rubber on the soles really kept me sturdy. I made sure to pay attention to where and when other folks I saw were slipping and I did not have any serious problems. They are not perfect, but the grip definitely outperformed others.

The Approach Shoes proved their worth at getting up the cliff sides. They were also really nice down near the water. Much of the trek involved walking on the beach, and I really like being in the water. I spent quite a bit of time fishing in the surf. I needed shoes that could help me catch a fish or two while being able to dry out and be ready for hiking the next day. Regular hiking boots would not be able to help me with the fishing. Fishing required me to either wade out waist-deep on the sandy beaches, or to climb out all over wet, slippery rock outcroppings with occasional leaps of faith into the ocean to get over to other rock sets. (Don't tell me about the sharks).

These shoes also feature a neoprene ankle cuff, which is a bit of a pain to get into. It does not seem to keep the water out very well, but rocks and sand were not a problem. I do highly recommend that anyone that buys these does wear socks with them. I am very confident that I would have had some severe blisters had I not worn socks. I also think that I would have had bad blisters if that ankle cuff had not been so effective at keeping the sand out.

I did have a few typical blisters and cramps when I was finished, but nothing that was unexpected. I did hike 20+ miles over a couple of days with a decently heavy pack. I was certainly prepared for much worse feet after I was done, especially given that I had not done a very good job at breaking those new shoes in first. I wore them for one half-day of trout fishing a few weeks before.

They handled being in and near the water well. While they did take some time to dry out after being soaked, it was a pretty quick drying time. The big thing is that they did not become uncomfortable when they got wet. Some material gets soggy or can cause serious blisters when it gets wet, but these shoes held up really well.

So these shoes are not going to replace my wading boots. They lack solid ankle support, and an overall rigid construction that are crucial for an all-day deep wading boot. That being said, these shoes will have a lineup in my starting rotation. Weekends at the lake with the kiddos, quick after-work fishing sessions, paddleboarding or rafting trips. I can't imagine a better shoe for fishing out of a drift boat. These will certainly get worn plenty.

Overall, these shoes have exceeded my expectations. They performed very well on a 3-day backpacking trip. The insoles were supportive even with a 40 pound pack. They are comfortable, the grip on them is spectacular, they are lightweight. They did a wonderful job at taking on water. I am glad that I wore them on my trip instead of a heavier pair of hiking boots.

While I will almost certainly opt for hiking boots on my next backpacking trip (next weekend), I feel that because of the location and terrain, Orvis Approach Shoes were a really nice pick up that made my trip better than it would have been otherwise. This was a good purchase for me this summer.

We hope that you can get out on an adventure of your own soon. Please give us a call if you have any questions, concerns or otherwise. Tight lines

Three Popular Methods for Fall Steelhead Fishing

2021-08-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

Fall is upon us and steelhead are coming into the rivers along the Pacific Coast and in the Great Lakes. These seasonal migrating fish are the stuff of legends. I know more than one angler that has moved across states to chase them, living in vans like ski bums chasing storms. What about these fish could make a grown adult person give up on careers, families and general life goals to pursue maybe a hookup for every 20 40 hours of fishing or so?

While the "magical" properties of steelhead may never be uncovered scientifically, we do know all about that thing that leads people to buy a van and camp next to a river for months of the year. It is part of being a fly angler in the Pacific Northwest. The tales of mystical 25# steelhead are more rare than sasquatch encounters. But like sasquatch, if just one tale is true, then they must exist and we will find them.

Here are three popular and effective methods for catching steelhead on a fly.

Swinging a fly

For many anglers that hook a steelhead on a swung fly, that first grab is like smack. The tug is the drug or so they say. Your fly goes from swinging rather freely and lightly across a run or a pool and then it stops. Maybe nothing solid, but it just stops. A slight bit of pressure from the angler and then all hell breaks loose. Reel screaming, fish splashing, fish running, fish jumping 50 feet from where your line is pointed, then it jumps again 50 feet away from that, only to break off and leaving you dumbfounded on how it ran that far in so little time.

Swinging a fly is pretty much as simple as it sounds. You cast across the stream, probably slightly downstream and then you lead the fly across the river until it is below you. Take a few steps downstream and repeat. While pretty simple, there are a million little things to consider when swinging. Micro-currents, boils, rocks, leading the fly vs letting it lead you, plenty to experiment with.

Typically, summer steelhead, which enter the river from June until December, are more than happy to eat a small, traditional steelhead fly on a floating line with a long leader. When the water or air temps drop enough, many anglers move towards sink tips and bigger flies with a little weight. Most rivers that have steelhead will give them up on a dry line through October unless water temps drop quicker than usual. Some anglers prefer the sink tip setups when it is really bright and sunny as well.

Swinging a fly is a really beautiful way to fish. The lack of weight on the line makes the grab a little extra awesome. Its all by feel. Very similar to tight-line nymphing (without all of those bites to worry about). It is a very effective way to cover water. A 200 yard long run can be fished in an hour or so and an angler can feel confident that if an aggressive fish was in there, it had a chance to see and eat your fly if it was into it.

The problem is that not every steelhead is into chasing swung flies.... Hookups can be few and far between. It is far more than possible for a couple of anglers to fish hard for a couple of days during prime time and never have a grab. But what's the saying? If it was easy, they'd call it trout fishing...

Popular Swinging Flies - Floating Line

Popular Swinging Flies - Sink Tips

Egg Sucking Leech

Homeless Spey

Steelhead Bunny Leech

Nymphing

Now this is easily the most effective way to catch a steelhead on a fly rod. The amount of time per hookup is far less than with swinging a fly. I think most anglers that have been steelheading a few years or more will agree. Nymphing will produce more fish that swinging, most of the time. Where the swinging anglers have an advantage is line management and ease of use. Productivity is not one of the top attributes of swinging flies for steelhead.

Nymphing requires somewhat awkward casting, split shot, bobbers/indicators, heavy flies and changing it all up every time you move. The rolls casts can get tangled up, the cast is anything but graceful, and the take is all done by sight (watching the bobber). It is wicked effective though. Wicked effective.

Beads are arguably the best "fly" for the job. While beads are often trailed behind a leech or stonefly pattern, the egg imitation is hard to beat. When swinging a fly, you are looking for an aggressive fish; a player. With nymphing, you just have to get that egg pattern in front of a fish and they have a natural instinct to eat it, especially if they don't have to move far to get it.

Nymphing does the trick!

Here is a blog article on setting up a nymph rig for steelhead.

Popular Nymphing Flies

Skating, Ska-opping or other Dry Fly Methods

Skating a dry fly on the surface is such a cool way to fish! Summer steelhead will occasionally comply with requests to crush topwater presentations. Usually, low light conditions when the water has started to cool off from the summer highs, but anytime is a good time to try skating.

Flies like a bomber or Steelhead Skater do the trick, but any fly that can push water (make a wake) and stay on the surface under tension will work just fine. Fat Alberts and Chubby Chernobyls have worked in the past.

Another method involves skating flies, but to pop them along the surface like a bass popper. Some folks call this ska-opping. Skating/Popping... It really works, not necessarily any better than skating (arguable), but the takes can be ferocious. The first time I saw it, the steelhead came from the depths of a pool, jumped and cleared the waters' surface by 4 feet or more with that fly in his mouth.

Dry Flies - Skating Flies

Dry Flies - Ska-oppers

Solitude Ska-opper

Steelhead Skater

The number one key to catching steelhead is to find the steelhead. They are not terribly difficult to catch if you can locate them. One thing I have learned is that I cannot catch them unless I am out there looking for them, so I am going fishing now!

We hope that you can get to the water this fall and try to catch one of those mythical, monster steelhead, just watch out for sasquatch....

Common Ways to Set Up a Two-Handed Steelhead Rod

2021-08-07T13:10:00.008-07:00

Using a two-handed (spey or switch) rod to catch steelhead is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend some time on the water. The biggest hurdle for folks is that the setups are confusing. We will show you the three most common setups for two-handed steelhead fishing.

Rods

We first have to cover some basics on rods and reels. There is no difference except for length between a switch and a spey rod. Typically, rods over 12' are called spey rods and rods over 10' and under 12' are called switch rods. (Note that this does not apply to specialty rods like 11' lake fishing rods, Euro-style rods or other specialty rods). So if you intend to start steelhead fishing with a two-handed rod, make sure that you have an appropriate rod.

An article on whether you need a spey or a switch rod can be found here

Reels

Sizing a reel to a spey or switch rod is a little different. Switch rods will typically require a reel that will hold a line +2 sizes what you are fishing. A 7wt switch rod should be matched up with a reel that fits a 9wt single hand rod. A spey rod should be matched with a reel +3 line sizes. A really long (+14') rod should be +4 sizes. This helps with balancing such a long rod as well as holding the extra large lines that are used with these rods.

Here are the three most popular and effective ways to setup a two-handed steelhead rod:

Skagit System

Skagit lines are really powerful, heavy lines that can deliver a heavy steelhead fly accurately over long distances. A Skagit setup is effective year-round and is the preferred method for many anglers year-round. Nearly every single winter steelhead angler will have a Skagit setup on their rod.

Both Skagit and Scandi Heads are short (15'-35') and do not have any type of level running line at the back of them. You will have to add your own.

From the reel: Backing > Running Line > Skagit Head > Sink Tip

The setup is not complete unless you have all of those components. Most folks will use a straight section of 10#-15# tippet, 4'-6' in length for the leader to complete the setup.

Scandi Systems

Scandi line systems are light and accurate, they are not quite as clunky as Skagit systems, and they arguably more enjoyable to cast as the whole system feels much lighter. Scandi systems are typcially used for summer steelhead fishing. Most anglers will switch to a Skagit system once the water temperatures drop into the low 50s or colder.

Like Skagit systems, Scandis need a running line, but no sink tip. Some anglers use a polyleader or versileader with them (often floating), but most anglers just use a 9' or 12' steelhead leader. The flies are meant to be fished near the surface usually.

From the reel: Backing > Running Line > Scandi Head > Tapered Leader or Polyleader/Versileader.

Nymphing Setup

Nymphing Setups can be very productive. Using a switch or spey rod to fish them can be advantageous as the reach, mend and casting are all a bit easier with that long rod. If you choose to go with a nymphing setup, there are a few options, but most folks go with the RIO Switch Chucker or RIO Switch Line. Both of these are entire lines instead of a head with a separate running line like a Skagit or Scandi system.

From the Reel: Backing > Switch Line > Leader/Indicator

This line system will be finished off with a leader/indicator, etc... For setting up a nymph rod for steelhead, you can find some good intel right here.

One note about these setups. There is not one that will do everything well. Nymphing setups are not good for swinging flies, Skagit heads are not good for nymphing and Scandi heads are not good for throwing heavy flies. You may find yourself getting a couple of different setups as the seasons change or you figure out what style of fishing fits you best.

Big Y Fly Co Rod Lineup for 2021

2021-08-04T15:21:00.002-07:00

Over the past year, we have totally revamped our rod lineup. We know that we have some really nice rods that are a seriously good value. We have our rods made at the industry-leading facilities, the same facilities that make many of the other fly rods on the market. We spent countless hours designing and testing these rods to make sure that we are providing a superior rod at an amazing price, and we think we have a great lineup.

All Big y Fly Co rods feature a lifetime warranty with no-hassle repairs. We have your back if something goes wrong with your rod. Here is our warranty info.

Big Y Natural

The Natural is the first rod that we produced with our new manufacturer. This is an easy-casting, medium (maybe close to medium/fast) action rod that packs a ton of power with really nice and accurate presentations. This is an all around fly rod that throws nymph rigs well, but really excels at presenting dry flies.

The 7'6" 3wt is my favorite of the bunch. I replaced a Redington Classic Trout with one this year and am very impressed at how much more reactive it is. It is light and accurate, and I have not had much trouble battling the wind. It packs a little punch when you push it. My favorite little creek rod.

The 8' 4wt is a really smooth casting rod that can accurately deliver flies at 40 feet. Again, very lightweight and really responsive. It has a soft mid-section that will allow you to be as delicate as possible while still having the power to get a fly to where it needs to be. A really nice rod for larger creeks or small rivers.

The 9' 5wt is the workhorse of the bunch as most 9' 5wts are. It has plenty of power behind it and will handle nymphing well, and does cast just fine with a heavier line like an MPX. While you can nymph and throw the occasional streamer, it really excels at casting dry flies with a lighter line like the other Naturals. It is a nice alternative to stiff broomstick rods that are prevalent in the industry.

Preferred Lines:

Scientific Anglers Mastery Trout

Scientific Anglers Mastery Double Taper

Cortland 444 Double Taper

Rio Technical Trout

Airflo Tactical Taper

Big Y Olympia Switch Rods

We love steelhead fishing at Big Y Fly Co. There is a steelhead stream within a quick walk from the shop, and at least six more within a 40 minute drive, including some juggernauts; famous (or infamous) streams like the Deschutes, Sandy and Klickitat. That being said, we really wanted a line of switch rods that we could use here with confidence. The Olympia rods are just that.

The new Big Y Olympia rods are really snappy and crisp without being terribly stiff. Both the 7wt and the 8wt are on the lighter side of typical grain windows, as well as having thinner handles and thinner butt sections than most comparable rods. We wanted to keep the rod feeling light-in-hand while still having the power that you need to deliver larger flies.

The 11' 8wt Olympia is my go-to lately. It has a pile of reserve power to throw big rigs if needed, but the average winter steelhead rig is no problem. Its like firing freaking laser beams. It has plenty of bend in it too. A stiffer butt section allows this rod to have extra power without being too thick or clunky.

The 10'6" 7wt Olympia is the little switch rod that can. Being only 10'6", it is not too long to throw a nymph rig if needed, but it swings a fly just right. We wanted to be able to swing our little summer steelhead stream without having to bring a rod that is comically too long for our tiny stream. This one fits the picture nicely. Several locals have been using the Olympia 7106 to tight-line nymph for steelhead this year.

Preferred Lines

OPST Commando Head

Airflo Scout

Rio Skagit Max Power

Rio Switch Chucker - get one line size lighter. This line is reaaaalllly heavy.

Big Y Standard Rods

The new Standard Rods replace the popular Nano series that we carried forever. The Nano was in need of an update. It was really smooth casting, like a freshly groomed ski slope. We really wanted to keep that same feel, and our manufacturing team delivered! Technology improvements have meant that the new rods have reduced weight, are more responsive and should be even more fun to cast. We made upgrades to the rods, but we also were able to cut about $40 from the price WITHOUT reducing any quality. While these are set at entry-level pricing, these rods perform well beyond their price tag. We have five models of the new standard rod to choose from.

Standard Nymph 3100

We designed this new nymph rod as a jack-of-all-trades. Some "nymph rods" are really noodly and do not throw typical fly lines very well. Mending with a noodle is hard. Other nymph rods are too stiff and they have a tendency to snap off light tippets. Our new Standard nymph rod should be a good balance in between stiff and noodly rods. It does throw an indicator rig pretty well for a 3wt, but it does a really fantastic job at tight line nymphing while protecting tippet. It can throw a dry fly in a pinch too. A couple of dozen big Deschutes River Redside trout will testify to the performance of this rod.

Standard 9'0" Models

Four models of 9'0" Standard Rods are available from a 4wt-7wt models. All of these models are a medium-fast action. We built these rods to be pretty much right in the middle of desired actions. Not too fast, not too slow, but right in that comfortable medium-fast area that is very popular. Nothing fancy about these rods, they are nice, easy to cast, have a comfortable action and a clean look.

These rods will take either a heavier "bump" line or a more traditional fly line. If you are still working on your casting skills, a heavier line like an MPX from Scientific Anglers is preferred. If your casting skills are solid, try a more traditionally weighted line like the Mastery Trout.

Preferred Lines:

Scientific Anglers Mastery MPX

Rio Premier Gold

Cortland Trout Boss

Airflo Superflo Power Taper

Big Y Boss Rods

Another upgrade for 2021! The old Boss Rods were great. They were a really powerful, easy-casting rod and they were made down the road here in Washington State, USA. We have a good news/bad news situation about those. We wanted to update the Boss Rod, and spent the better part of a year trying to work something out with our US manufacturer, but we they were not able to move forward with the newer technology that we were looking for, so we moved it over to our Korean facility, and they did a fantastic job with it.

These rods are faster than the Standard or the Natural, and they have some nicer components as well as an upgraded technology platform. The upgrade over the older model is more than noticeable putting the two up to each other. The newer rods have a much smaller butt diameter, they are much lighter, faster, more responsive and they look better.

First catch on the new Boss!

We have 4 models of the Boss Rod to choose from. The 5wt and 6wt are the "freshwater" models. The 7wt and 8wt are "saltwater" models. These are fast rods that do really well with streamers and with nymph rigs, but (especially the 5wt) has a sensitive tip that lends itself to dry fly fishing and light tippets. A really nice blend of fast action with a sensitive tip. I fish the 6wt quite a bit. It is my smallmouth rod and my trout streamer rod. I was lucky enough to land this big brown trout on the prototype of the 6wt Boss. Being that the fish was about twice the size of the net I had, we figured that this rod would exceed expectations just like that trout.

The freshwater models have a rosewood seat, but the saltwater models have an anodized aluminum seat to help with saltwater exposure. All of these rods feature top-end guides, multi-modulus graphite, the latest and greatest technologies, and a really sleek look. The 5wt and 6wt rods are a nice graphite with gold color, while the saltwater models are blue. The best part is that these rods cast as well as anything that we have put them up against. This is an amazing rod that costs less than half of what it would if there was a different name on it.

Preferred Lines:

Scientific Anglers Amplitude MPX

Rio Elite Gold

Airflo Superflo Power Taper

We really hope that you can try out one of our Big Y fly rods. Whether you are looking for an entry-level rod to learn with, looking for a backup rod, or looking for that new top-dog in your arsenal, we have a rod or two that will fit your budget and angling style.

Wading Boots Basics

2021-08-04T13:14:00.003-07:00

This article is to provide information on the basics of wading boots, the types of soles as well as lacing systems and add-ons like studs. While we will mention certain brands or models, this is aimed to help you learn about the basics, not an endorsement of any particular boot. To see all of our waders and boots, you can click here.

Boots

Wading boots are a 100% must-have for any halfway serious fly angler, except for maybe those lucky anglers that live in the tropics...

Jeff forgot his boots and used duct tape

We do get asked this often enough: Wading boots do not keep the water out, that is what the waders are for. Boots provide traction and support, while being far more durable on rocks than the wader material.

I did go on a long fishing trip once and forgot my wading boots. There was not a fishing store for 100 miles, but I did find some cheap tactical style boots (two sizes big) at a local sporting goods store. They were incredibly uncomfortable and slippery, and they fell apart by the end of the week, but I got to go fishing.

Jeff forgot his boots one day on a coastal stream and being an hour from his boots, we opted for duct tape on his slippers. It is not a recommended method. I do believe he made it all day without falling, although it did require several rounds of tape.

Wading boots are meant to get wet and be wet for an extended period of time. The materials are built to hold up in a cycle of wet and dry when other materials would fail. The materials tend to stay rigid when wet and do not become soggy, swollen or uncomfortable. They are also built to be worn over waders and will fit accordingly.

Laces, BOA or otherwise:

BOA Lacing System

Most wading boots feature traditional laces, and those usually work just fine. Wading boots have had laces for decades and most of them still do with little change over many years.

Some new, upgraded features of lace boots include bearings in the lace pulleys that allow you to cinch them down tighter and lock the laces in place, but for the most part, laced boots are as classic as always. A great way to go for most boots.

Some boots feature a BOA lacing system. Its pretty nice. There is a little metal lace that gets tightened up with a crank-knob. Boots go on much quicker and can be tightened up with one hand. It is a big time saver. The drawback is that if you break a BOA lace, it can take 20 minutes or more to replace, and that is IF you remembered to bring that spare lace that was included with the boots. But how many of us bring a spare boot lace fishing? Probably should add that to the pack.

These BOA systems have also been known to get clogged with silt if you are an angler that wades into the murky glacial rivers of the west. We have plenty of those right here. I love my BOA boots (Korkers Devils Canyon) and I make sure to wash out the BOA crank at least twice a season. Overall, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, especially if you keep them clean and inspect the lace for wear occasionally. A worthy upgrade if you have the money to invest.

Features

Darkhorse has extra soles and BOA - nice features

What makes a boot cheaper or more expensive? Features like the BOA lacing system are found on top end boots, but the lower end boots are still plenty nice these days. Lower end models tend to have features like cloth lace eyelets, where mid-priced boots may have more traditional metal lace eyelets and top-end boots will have bearings and pulleys to help keep those laces tight.

In addition, lower-priced boots can have more stitching lines, where more expensive boots tend to have less stitching. Stitches are one of the failure points, so having fewer, larger pieces of fabric can increase the cost to manufacture, but will increase durability as well. Fabric quality tends to increase with price as well. A top end boot should last longer than the entry-level models.

Many lower-priced boots have a shorter ankle collar. This could mean less ankle support in exchange for a lower price point (due to less materials).

The last feature is comfort, or ease of use. Expensive boots tend to just be more comfortable, easier to put on, and more supportive to use. My Devil's Canyon boots are soooo easy to put on. I love having them on river trips, where I can throw them on and fish for 30 minutes, then take them off easily.

Soles

Felt is still #1

Please check with the states where you might be fishing before committing to felt soles. A felt sole ban in several states existst because of the possibility of transporting invasive aquatic invertebrates; although the data about felt's responsibility for transporting these invertebrates has been less than conclusive.

Korkers boots include an interchangeable sole system. This typically includes two sets of interchangeable soles, with the ability to add a variety of other specialty soles. If you are unfamiliar with Korkers system, you can learn about that here.

Many boot models come with either rubber soles or felt soles, although some models are only available with one option. Some manufacturers are leaning towards rubber soles as their standard sole, while others still lean on felt.

Over the years, some brands have gone away from felt only to come back again or vice-versa. There was a big push in the late 1990s and early 2000s to get rid of felt soles altogether, and it backfired as rubber soles from that era were less than adequate compared to felt. As technology in rubber compounds improves, there is another mini push by boot manufacturers to limit felt boots. Orvis only offers felt on their two lowest priced boot models for 2021, with rubber soles being the only option on their top-end boots now.

Felt Soles

Felt is a great material for slippery rivers. Its lightweight, cheap to produce, quite grippy on slick rocks and provides good traction for wading in a river. It has been the industry standard for years. Although it is banned in some states, it is still quite popular (where legal) and shows no sign of slowing down as the number one choice of anglers (not always of the manufacturers). A basic felt sole is grippier in the water than something like a water sandal (Teva or Chaco) or a really basic rubber sole.

Felt Drawbacks

Beyond the chance for transporting invasive aquatic invertebrates, felt has a few other drawbacks. The first is that felt is very slick in mud and wet grass. This can be a problem if you spend any time walking to get to the river.

A second issue involves snow. Snow will build up on felt rather quickly and requires constant kicking, scraping or hitting it off the bottom of your boots. It is very annoying, uncomfortable and somewhat dangerous as you are essentially creating a thick layer of ice as your contact with the ground, or in this case, more ice and snow. It is very, very slippery and I shudder thinking about it.

A third is that felt does wear down quicker than other materials. This wear on your boots increases dramatically if your favorite fishing hole is a mile away from the parking area. While you can, in theory, replace the felt on a standard pair of boots, I have never seen a replacement felt sole stay on the bottom of the boot for very long. So you can end up with a pair of boots that is in otherwise good shape except for having virtually no felt left on the bottom.

Rubber Soles

That leaves rubber soles to consider. Technology has come a long ways with rubber soles and they are now preferred by many anglers. Rubber material will last longer than felt and the newer generation of rubber soles feature more aggressive treads that are far more grippy than past iterations. Think of it like this; old style rubber soles are like balding street tires, while the newer generation of rubber soles are like off-road mud tires. All you have to do is look at the tread of the new Orvis Pro Boot vs the old rubber soled boots from 20 years ago. Seriously, its mud tires vs racing slicks..

I bought a pair of rubber soled boots in 2002 when the sales rep told us that a total US felt ban was imminent. I believed him and bought those "new and improved" rubber soled boots. They were the slickest, most unsafe boots I had ever worn. I spent months sliding around on trout streams of the Rockies before moving back to felt and feeling a sense of security return to my life. Luckily, new rubber soles are much better than those.

Orvis Pro Boot - Michelin Rubber Sole

With all of the new developments in rubber soles, they are now becoming really appealing to many anglers today when they would have not considered rubber soles years ago.

Rubber Drawbacks

While the grip of a rubber soled boot has increased over recent years, rubber is still heavier than felt and it can be quite noticeable, especially at the end of a long day of hiking up and down a river with heavy boots. The thing about rubber is that it is not all equal. A felt sole is pretty darn universal, but rubber soles can have great variation among brands, treads, styles, etc....

For example, the standard "kling-on" sole that comes with Korkers boots is not super grippy (it's more than adequate for most situations), but the Studded Idropgrip sole is the straight up grippiest sole that I have used and I will continue to use them. The standard kling-on soles are not great on slick rocks, but the Idrogrip sole eats up slick rocks for breakfast.

Orvis PRO series boot is another great boot with a solid rubber sole. It come with a sole that is made by Michelin Tire Company. This took years of collaboration between Orvis and Michelin to develop this rubber compound and tread. It is very grippy and will compete with any felt or rubber sole on the market, while maintaining a long lifespan on the tread and a nice reduction in weight over previous rubber soles.

Comfort vs Function

Finding that balance between comfort, durability and support is key. I have had boots that were really comfortable that fell apart quickly. I also currently own a pair of (unnamed brand) boots that I have had almost 10 years. They still look brand new. They are very stiff, really uncomfortable, but I expect that they will last forever because the material is really stiff and durable. I use them occasionally anyways. Mostly because I am disorganized, so I have several pairs wading boots sorta scattered between the basement, carport and storage shed. I tend to take the ones I find first when I am in a hurry.

Studs

Just like tires, you can add studs to boots to increase the grip in slippery conditions. Basic DIY studs are essentially sheet metal screws that are installed into the soles. There are a few other options for studs beyond the traditional screw style, although the basic studs like these from Orvis work just fine for 95% of anglers.

For those 5% that need something more grippy that screw-in studs, there are more options.

Korkers Triple Threat Aluminum Bars

Aluminum tends to have a better grip on rocks that steel. There are aluminum bars and big aluminum pucks and various other aluminum studs that will help your boot grip to rocks. They do wear out quicker than steel, but they grip quite a bit more, like goats on the side of a mountain grippy.

One drawback to bigger aluminum options is that boots become uncomfortable at a certain point when there is too much on the bottom. You end up walking on the metal bars instead of the ground. Hiking to the river becomes a little less enjoyable. If you drive right to your favorite, super-slick spot, then aluminum bars or pucks may be right up your alley.

One more thing to consider with studs is that many boat owners do not want your studs scratching up their boat floors. Gas station owners aren't too happy about them either....

Sizing

Just like with waders, boots should not be too tight. They are meant to be worn over the top of waders with thicker socks, so that is how you should try them on. Most anglers end up with a pair of boots a half or whole size up from their regular street shoes, but not all. Each brand will have a sizing chart and they tend to be pretty accurate for most anglers. If in doubt, go a little big and wear thicker socks. Most would rather have toasty warm feet than icy cold feet. Boots that are too tight will restrict circulation and your feet will be cold, colder if you have to wear thinner socks in order to fit into the boots. Redington does (as of 2021) size their boots to match a street shoe size, while Orvis and Korkers among others tend to suggest going up a size.

Women's Boots

Korkers Buckskin Mary Women's boot

With an increase in female anglers, there are now some really good options for women's wading boots including sizes that provides a better fit for more anglers. There had previously been a lack of sizes, styles and features. Not ideal at all. There are now actual options for female anglers. Brands such as Orvis and Korkers have several wading boot options at different price points. These brands have spent some good time and money developing boots that fit well, as well as having features and designs that are appealing.

Ankle Support

One more thing to consider is ankle support. Some boots have a thick, stiff "upper" section that provides good ankle support. Ankle support equals safer wading. So adding a stiff upper section can increase ankle support, but it also can make those boots less comfortable. Some boots add padding around the collar on the top of the ankle. So adding padding will make them harder to get into as well as adding some weight. So good, solid upper ankle support can come at a cost of ease.

Other boots feature a "glove-like" fit. The Devil's Canyon boots are a good example of that. The upper section is tall and thin, but it is flexible. The overall ankle support is nowhere near where it is in some other boots, but the Devils Canyon is far easier to get on and off. If you need the ankle support, look for one with a high upper section and consider the amount of cushioning around that support.

Care

Your boots will last longer if they are properly cared for. That involves washing them off and letting them dry out in between days of fishing. I know, right? So I should not leave my boots in the back of my truck bed or left wet in a wader bag in a dark corner? Hmm. Some folks go as far as buying a boot dryer, but outside of guiding in Alaska, I have not found that to be necessary.

Conclusion

Wading boots are an investment in your passion. They are not the cheapest item that you need to buy, and they are one of those items that you might want to consider going for the best that you can afford. A solid pair of boots can have a huge impact on a day, week or season of fishing. A nice, comfortable pair of wading boots can provide so much to an experience. You don't notice your boots unless they are not performing like you want them to. You certainly notice uncomfortable boots, boots that slide on grass or rocks, or boots that are not supportive. An investment in good wading boots is an investment that will increase your enjoyment of this activity that we all love.

Big Y Fly Co Welcomes Waterworks Lamson Reels

2021-07-16T13:41:00.002-07:00

Big Y Welcomes Waterworks Lamson Reels to the lineup!

There are few brands that match the Big Y style as much as Lamson reels. Arguably one of the most influential reel brands, Lamson has been at the forefront of fly fishing for decades now.

We are tremendously excited to see them here in the shop. We want to provide high quality gear to our customers, but we don’t think that they need to go broke buying it. Lamson fits into the picture really well with a mix of great reels in all price points.

All of Lamson’s reels come with their high-quality conical rulon drag system. It features consistent function across a wide range of settings and incredible reliability. The genius of the drag system is that it can be very finely adjusted and takes very little startup inertia to get the spool moving. Years of field-testing and fine tuning has led to the most reliable drag system out there.

The Liquid and Remix reels are a high-quality product with a great reputation. Die-casting aluminum instead of machining it is a great way to shave a few bucks off the price of a reel. Both models are built for budget-conscious anglers that need quality gear.

The Liquid is fully die-cast like many other popular reels like the Behemoth or the Clearwater.

The Remix offers a machined frame with a die-cast spool. Both of these reels have a smooth, clean look, and provide excellent performance. One cool feature is the color sleeves that you can add to these reels that will add an element of customization. It adds some color options to the center post/drag system.

The Liquid and the Remix are both offered in a 3-pack, which includes a reel and two spare spools with a nice soft case.

The Guru is the first fully machined reel that many, many anglers have purchased. The Guru S series has a high-quality design, great balance and sleek looks.

This has all the features you would want in a high-end reel at a mid-level price. This reel is surprisingly lightweight and sturdy and performs like reels at twice the price. Made in the USA and fully machined, a great deal.

The Speedster and the Litespeed are two top-end performance reels that works as good as they look. Perfect machining, high-end design and precise weight distribution put these badboys right against any reel on the market. Made in the USA, tested and retested, these are high-performance machines.

The Litespeed is a little wider across with a slightly smaller spool width the the Speedster. It allows for a higher rate of line pickup. Both feature weight distribution that allows for less material without reducing integrity, as well as allowing for smoother operation. Proper weight distribution allows the reel to be retrieved without any force causing wobble that hinders performance. Either way you go, neither of these reels will not disappoint.

We also have picked up the Ketchum Release Tool. A safer way to release a fish for both the angler and the fish. It has been time tested on the water for years now and it is loved by those that have adopted it.

We are really happy to see Lamson reels in our shop here. Look for us to expand our selection as well as adding them to our rod/reel/line combos moving forward.

Big Y Fly Co Welcomes Echo Rods and Reels

2020-10-24T15:17:00.007-07:00

We are really excited to finally get our hands on some really popular Echo rods and reels here at Big Y Fly Company. We believe that the brand fits well with our customer base and with our philosophy that you shouldn't have to be rich to be a fly angler.

Echo rods feature great quality construction and Tim Rajeff's magic touch that makes each model just a little more powerful, delicate and precise than you would expect. Here are some of our favorites:

Our local steelhead crowd can now get their hands on the well-known two handed models like the Swing, the Echo TR and the "Full Spey". These two-handed rods are really popular along the West Coast and are gaining popularity in the Midwest and the Eastern seaboard. The Echo TR (TR = Tim Rajeff) features a parabolic action that allows for great recovery and lots of power. Based on the design, it is a rod that anglers can grow into as they learn. It is one of our favorite rods that keeps on giving as you get better at casting.

The Compact Spey and the Full Spey are both very crisp and lively and are really easy to cast right out of the box. They are smooth to cast, pack a punch, but are not overpowered or too fast for their own good like a couple of rods out there. These are really delightful two-handers to cast.

The Echo Swing Rod is their "entry level" two handed rod that fishes like anything but a cheap rod. Technology has come a long ways since I started spey casting. The entry-level two handed rods are just as nice as the top-end rods of the 1990s. This one has plenty of power and a nice & easy action that is really friendly for beginners or just occasional spey casters. It is a great alternative to the popular Redington Dually and makes for a great backup rod. You don't want to be stranded on a big trip with a broken rod and no backup!

Echo's single hand rods are plenty nice too. Whether it is an all around rod like the Boost or the Prime, or a specialty rod like the Stillwater or the EPL (musky rod), Echo rods perform at the highest level.

The Boost is one of the most popular models. It is aggressive and powerful. Great for casting streamers, dealing with the wind, mending nymph rigs and making long casts with little effort. It is a beefy rod that performs well and can take a beating. It is friendly for intermediate casters as it is fast, but loads well and is really responsive.

The Trout Rod is a fine piece of craftsmanship. It has that nice mama bear feel to it. Not too fast, not too slow, plenty of power but not pushy. It has that fast action that is easy to cast, but this rod has a sensitive tip that helps protect tippet. The fast middle and bottom end allow anglers to throw streamers and nymph rigs, but the sensitive tip allows anglers to deliver dry flies with the most accurate and delicate presentation.

The B.A.G or Bad Ass Glass is the nicest glass rod out there. Technology has come a long ways with glass rods too! These are not too heavy, but provide a nearly crazy amount of power. Plus, they bend and respond when you hook a fish!

The Shadow II and Shadow X are really nice Euro Rods. The Shadow X is one of the lightest, most well-balanced rods for Euro fishing that we have seen. Very well made and plus they look great too. The Shadow II is a little more on the basic side, but definitely gives anything else in the price range a run for it's money.

One great reel that we are excited to get to our customers is the Echo Shadow Click. This reel will let you rule the stream with your Euro setup without ever having to worry about the line slipping through the frame. Its really innovative and something that the market has been asking for. Plus the price point helps to make it really attractive.

The Echo Bravo is another reel in the lineup that emphasizes the whole Echo fly world: Solid. This reel is lightweight, has a revolutionary drag system and will take a beating. Plus it, like most Echo products, lets you keep some money in your pocket for gas, beer and flies.

We hope that you get a chance to check out these great products from Echo, and are able to get some of them out on the water. Thanks!

Big Y Fly Co Blog

Big Y's Fly Fishing Gift Guide - Fall 2021

Wader Storage Umpqua ZS2 Wader Tote

Orvis Premium NippersTools

Orvis Pro Sun HoodieApparel

Wet Wading Socks

Fly tying kits make great giftsFly Tying Kits

So many good booksBooks

Fishing mugs are popular giftsOther cool gifts

For the Adult Angler

For someone that has everything

Where to Fish - Columbia River

Where to fish - Lost Lake

Where to Fish - Lowland Lakes

Where to Fish - Eagle Creek (near Cascade Locks, OR)

Where to Fish - Hood River

Where to Fish - White Salmon River

Where to Fish - Klickitat River

Where to Fish - Sandy River

Where to Fish - Goose Lake

Where to Fish - Little White Salmon River above Drano Lake

Where to Fish - Laurance Lake

Where to Fish - Mountain Lakes, Hood River County

Where to Fish - Clackamas River

Where to Fish - Trout Lake Creek

Where to Fish - Mountain Lakes Mt Adams area

Where to Fish - Lower Deschutes River

Fishing the October Caddis Hatch

Patterns

Dries

Nymphs

Orvis Approach Shoes - Adventure Awaits

Three Popular Methods for Fall Steelhead Fishing

Swinging a fly

Nymphing

Skating, Ska-opping or other Dry Fly Methods

Common Ways to Set Up a Two-Handed Steelhead Rod

Big Y Fly Co Rod Lineup for 2021

Big Y Natural

Big Y Olympia Switch Rods

Big Y Standard Rods

Big Y Boss Rods

Wading Boots Basics

Boots

Laces, BOA or otherwise:

Features

Soles

Felt Soles

Felt Drawbacks

Rubber Soles

Rubber Drawbacks

Comfort vs Function

Studs

Sizing

Women's Boots

Korkers Buckskin Mary Women's boot

Ankle Support

Care

Conclusion

Big Y Fly Co Welcomes Waterworks Lamson Reels

Big Y Fly Co Welcomes Echo Rods and Reels

Wader Storage
Umpqua ZS2 Wader Tote

Orvis Premium Nippers
Tools

Orvis Pro Sun Hoodie
Apparel

Fly tying kits make great gifts
Fly Tying Kits

So many good books
Books

Fishing mugs are popular gifts
Other cool gifts