Water temperatures have become a lot colder in the last week or so. This is good and not great. Great for pulling Steelhead from a much warmer Columbia River system so we are getting more fish in the system. Not as great for hatches in the Upper River as we saw a noticeable difference in Caddis and Mayflies dropping off with the bottom release from the reservoir.
Of course it’s not over and we will have some great days, its just a transition that is associated with the release of water from the dam.
Our guides are doing well on Sparkle Pupa’s, CDC Soft Hackle Pheasant Tails, Psycho Prince, 2 Bit Hookers, Euro Jigs, 3 Dollar Dips, Rusty Magic Fly and Small Wired Stones or Small McGee’s Girdle Bugs.

On top X Caddis and Purple Haze are our best patterns, but PMD’s, Rusty Spinners and Elk Hair Caddis have been good producers.

Steelhead fishing is best below Maupin at this time. But in about 2 or 3 weeks a lot of those fish will have come up river. Now is a good time to plan Fall guide trips in Late September, all of October and even November and December.