Columbia Rivers Forecast
July was hot, but we should see the fishing get even hotter in August. The cold waters of the Saluda River will still provide ample opportunity to catch stripers and some trophy trout in the doldrums of summer.
If you are trout fishing, don’t expect to go out and catch a lot of fish. A normal day will be one or two fish, but the smallest will most likely be around 16 inches. Good flies for this fish include large articulated streamers and caddis and mayfly nymphs from #12 to #16 in size. Rooster Tails in the larger sizes will work as well. The trout limit is five fish, but only one can be over 16 inches. This leaves few fish to keep at this time of year, but keep them at your own risk with recent pollution from Carolina Water Treatment’s discharge sites. Other than that, the water is safe to wade. Just don’t drink the water.
The striper will be on fire through the end of the month. Chances of big ones are still there, but numbers will come in the form of 5- to 10-pound fish. Because the water has continued to stay murky since the flood last fall, the fly bite has remained strong. Chartreuse and white seem to be the colors of choice in fly and artificial lures. Remember that Catch and Keep is closed until the end of September, so all striper fishing is Catch and Release. Additionally, the Congaree River is closed completely to striper fishing until the fall.
Jake Howard
Saluda Valley Guides LLC
(803)312-2435
Barron’s Outfitters
(803)254-5537