The dog days of summer! Water temperatures are at summer highs and water levels are usually at their lows. That doesn’t mean you have to stop fishing, there is still plenty to do. The smallmouth bass fishing is good and can be done throughout the whole system. The fly angler should lean towards bright-colored streamers with 6 weight rods and sink tips or foam-bodied poppers with floating lines and 6-7 weight rods. For the gear guys, 7 foot med-heavy rods with bright colored spinner baits and crayfish colored jerk baits work well. Another option would be Yamamoto worms’ fished wacky style.
The trout fishing typically slows down this time of the year because of water temperatures. When the water temperatures get hot the trout’s metabolism slows down and you have to work a little harder and fish a little slower. Fish early mornings and late in the evenings. Small streamers fished slow on floating lines, dry flies, soft hackles, and nymphs under a strike indicator will work, you may just have to try all methods until you find what works.
Summer run steelhead are still on the list of things to do. Most of the steelhead are closer to Tippy Dam this time of the year. You will find fair numbers above and below the coffer. Centerpin or spinning gear with floats or bottom bouncing with fly gear and spinning tackle rigged with spawn, crayfish, and a variety of nymphs are all good techniques to use for summer runs. Low light times of the day are best!
As the month goes on the king salmon fishing starts to heat up and we start setting our sights on them. Our early mornings and late evenings are spent casting crank baits or stripping streamers looking to catch some of the first kings of the year in the river. They are a hand full this time of the year, very chrome and eager to eat your offering! It won’t be long and the summer will be behind us, so come on up and enjoy what’s left of it. Tight lines!
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