More steelhead are being found and caught on the Warm Springs to South Jct area now. Many are actually coming to a swung fly too, which is very exciting.

We’ve been having good trout days on Oct Caddis Pupa, Stonefly nymphs and small mayfly and caddis droppers.

If it’s warmer and not blowing much in the evening, there are still fish looking up on X Caddis and Purple Haze.

This time of year (and in the Spring) swinging Sculpins is really fun. Steelhead will eat them too. Get your 5 weight Spey (or switch) and go have a ball.

October Caddis began hatching this week and the fish are on the pupa really well. We are also getting plenty of fish on smaller Tan Pupa, Jigs, Copper Johns, Small Mayfly Nymphs, Soft Hackle PT’s and smaller Stonefly Nymphs.
On warmer evenings the dry fly action is still alive on Purple Haze and X Caddis.

Here is an absolute beast of a Rainbow one of our guests caught this week while fishing with our guide Troy Leedy.

A lot of Caddis on the water in the evening, so Pupa patterns throughout the afternoon are great as a nymph and then emergers and adults as the sun hides behind the canyon.
PMD’s are not done, and we have great luck on Purple Haze when the PMD’s are out on the D.
We’ve been having great fishing on small stone nymphs trailed with PMD Micro Mayflies and 3 Dollar Dips under an indicator, or Euro Jigs and Perdigons with a sighter.
Some Steelhead up the WS to TC area but very few so far. Best chances of Steelhead is Maupin and below.

If you want to swing, bring a 4 or 5 Switch or Spey and swing Black or Olive Sculpins and hang on, because any cast could be a trout or something much bigger.

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.

Our section from Warm Springs to Trout Creek has been great for the guides here. We are seeing really good caddis action both on dries and pupa. Also some PMD’s & PED’s.
Water temps coming out of the dam are about 57 degrees. That temp holds well for several miles and is great for the trout in the upper stretch.

Steelhead counts coming through the dams on the Columbia are good. We expect a very good fall season of steelheading on the D!
With the Lower River suffering a lot of range fire damage and water temps hitting 70 down a the mouth we are not excited about that fishery at this time.

Our guides are having awesome days on the Warm Springs to Trout Creek section on Caddis and PMD’s.
Also great nymphing action using both traditional indicator techniques and Euro techniques.
Caddis Pupa, PT’s, Copper Johns, Micro Mayflies, Perdigons, Jigs, Zebra Midges and Psycho Princes are great.

Water temps are 58 coming out of Pelton. Thats so good for the fish. We are lucky up here. Should drop a bit more in August too as bottom release time is coming up.

Now is a great time to book an August trip with Steve, Troy, Ben, Mary Ann and Adam. They will get you dialed.
BTW, someone caught a steelhead (27″ wild hen) at Grassy Camp this week. Hopefully more to come on the summer run. It’s looking good for this season.

Holy Caddis! What a week on the caddis, and nice to see plenty of Pale Morning Duns and Evening Duns throughout the day too. Of course the Purple Haze is terrific, especially in the evening.

Caddis Pupa and Yellow Spot Euro Jigs have been hot for us, along with PT’s, Lightning Bugs, Perdigons, Fat Ass Caddis, Copper Johns (red especially) and Psycho Prince’s.

No problem with fire at this time in the upper stretches of the WS to Maupin area. Bad fires going on from Mack’s to the Mouth so avoid that lower 25 mile stretch until later.

Summer Caddis is in FULL SWING. It is magical.
PMD’s and Pale Evening Duns are also quite good.
Our Guides are doing really well on the Warm Springs to Trout Creek fishing nymphs throughout the day, and dries in the evening.

Caddis have come on stronger this week along with PMD and Pale Evening Duns. Add a Purple Haze to the the dry fly mix and you’ll be set!
Sparkle Pupa, Soft Hackles, Zebra Midges, PT’s, Anato May, Frenchie, Psycho Prince, Copper John, D/C Lighting Bug (red) and Euro Jigs have been great for us. It’s also time to start fishing girdle bugs again as there are numerous stonefly nymphs in the drift.

Our guides have been smacking the fish on the Lower River on all the good summer time hatches we’d expect to see this time of year.

PMD’s, Pale Evening Duns, Caddis, Hot Garcia (purple) and Purple Haze.
Caddis Pupa’s have been incredible for us, along with PT’s, Copper John, Batman, 3 Dollar Dip, Frenchies and Micro Mayfly (Brown).

Some incredible redsides this season!