The Different Fishing Streams of the Mt. Hood Area:

I know that most of my posts have involved the many lakes of the Mt. Hood area. True, although many of them have trophy trout and it would seem fishing them is sufficient for the "Mt. Hood fishing experience." Many might have wondered about the numerous streams of the area that one sees while driving along or past the Mt. Hood area. After thinking these things myself, I soon set off to explore many of the streams in the area, and I can say they are awesome. To many, the small streams of Mount Hood, which include the Salmon River, the Oak Grove Fork of the Clackamas River, and the Zigzag River, are nothing more than trickling creeks; nearly uninhabited tributaries that only exist to feed Northwest Oregon's more renowned fly fishing rivers. However, these places are not only fun to fish, but are an excellent place for the beginning fly or spin fisherman.  Many beginners seek out more famous fly fishing rivers such as the Deschutes only to return empty handed (technically, those who do catch fish in the Deschutes usually return empty handed anyway, because of the catch and release regulations).  In contrast, the small streams of Mount Hood are easily accessible, fairly simple to wade, and are loaded with tons of small, eager-to-bite high mountain coastal cutthroat trout and brook trout.  There are even the occasional rainbow, brown trout, and Steelhead to be found.  Keep in mind, these clear, pristine streams are not a good place for people who want "monsters", although surprisingly large fish can be found here.  Still, these streams are only really appreciated by people who, when they fish, look beyond the actual fish they catch and more about their surroundings, which are some of the best on planet earth.

The small streams of Mount Hood offer a classic example of high-to-medium gradient freestone mountain streams.  Surrounded by coniferous trees, the rushing, cascading water echoes, and can be heard from a considerable distance. The water is clean and oxygen rich, not to mention very cold. The water is less than 50 degrees, and the river layout differs depending on the section of the stream. Some have classic pocket water, which offers a fast flowing habitat in which trout are constantly on the move, snatching whatever food comes along. These areas many boulders and stumps in these rivers, which are shelter for insects and trout alike. Other sections involve deep, long riffles with numerous submerged logs.  This creates excellent habitat for the bigger trout but also creates a lot of opportunities for snagging your line.  However, make a careful cast and mend your line and you should be all right. Still, be prepared to bring lots of extra flies.  There is nothing worse than fishing a large caddis hatch having lost all of your hand-tied Elk Hair Caddis flies in the froth. These creeks are not as difficult to fish as larger, more famous fly fishing destinations, but they can still offer challenging wading and accessibility.

Still, the fish are not as intensively pressured and are more willing to take a fly.  Many locations can be productive, but just as many can be barren and lifeless. Proper water reading and trial and error can make the difference between spending a day smacking the water with your fly line or a day catching and releasing trout. Many of these streams can be fished during most parts of the year, especially those fed by a large lake.  However, be careful of the icy Mount Hood winters.  If the intense cold water seeps through your waders you will get an unpleasant shock in warm weather, let alone sub-zero temperatures.  Sunny conditions are not ideal either (despite what the movie "A River Runs Through It" allows you to believe). Although many fish can be easily caught, catching the bigger trout or the trout in the shallow, clear, shoreline areas can be more difficult, usually requiring a more delicate presentation.

             

Below are the streams that I have had success with on Mount Hood.  All are great trout waters, although some are better than others.  When fishing these streams, use the tactics that I have explained throughout this book, but take time to explore and experiment.  The trout in these streams can be small, but a discriminating angler shouldn’t care. Below are three of the best streams to fish.

The Salmon River:

   

Contrary to what its name might suggest, it is not legal to fish for salmon on the Salmon River, and for good reason.  The Salmon River once had thriving salmon runs.  However, habitat destruction and overfishing have decimated the native salmon populations. I often hang around the river just to watch the salmon spawn, and frankly, there aren’t too many of them left. Unlike most salmon rivers in Alaska or British Columbia, where the streams will be packed, fin to fin, with bright red Coho Salmon or Bronzy Gold Chinook Salmon, the rivers seem almost empty. You really need to look to see the fish building their redds and laying their eggs. In addition, the former hatchery stockings of Steelhead were discontinued in 1998, and only a few, barely fishable, wild fish still enter the river. Fortunately, the Salmon River continues to have a thriving population of cutthroat, rainbow, and brook trout. Even small tributaries, barely six feet across, hold cutthroat and even rainbow trout.  Keep in mind that juvenile salmon smolts, a few inches across, are very commonly caught here, and the conscientious angler will carefully release such important fish.

The Salmon River is a typical high gradient stream pocked with riffles and boulders.  Its banks are densely forested and there is an abundance of submerged logs, providing excellent habitat for trout (and plenty of places for novice fisherman to snag their lines).  This can be daunting to the beginning fly fisherman.  Snags and tangles can be an annoying.  However, once the beginner masters basic casting and drifting techniques, it can be an excellent and adventurous place to fish. Keep in mind that many places of this river have poor fishing. These include the Arrah Wannah bridge area and the Old Salmon River hiking trail. There are fish here, but few and far between. Much better areas are higher up, or at the Salmon/Sandy divergence.

Be careful when wading or fishing, the Salmon River is a fast flowing stream that can pull the unsuspecting fisherman of his feet, carrying you downstream, to the great amusement of the fish, your friends, and the Kingfishers, who helpfully fly away, “laughing” at you.  To avoid this, felt soled boots are essential. General good flies to use on the Salmon River are Royal Coachmans, Hair wingers, and Caddis imitations. During the late summer, the caddis hatch is fair to good, and Kam’s and Elk hair caddises are superb. Also, terrestrials like Kam’s Krystal beetle (18-24) and ant imitations are key. Hoppers work okay, but I’ve never had faith in them, and soft hackles and nymphs offer the best year-round fishing, especially with flies like the Pheasant Tail, the Royal Coachman soft hackle, and any sort of Caddis Nymph. For the meager steelhead run, skunks, Green butt skunks, and streamers might produce a fish or two, as well as the ubiquitous Wooly Bugger.

Oak Grove Fork:

My favorite Mt. Hood stream ever! If I picked one place to fish for the rest of my life, it would be here! Draining seven miles out of Timothy Lake is a beloved trout water that all too commonly not mentioned by Oregon Fly fishing guides, but offers excellent fishing for cutthroat, brown, and brook trout in a variety of situations. Certain calm stretches around the hydroelectric power plant are perfect for beginners, and are also easy to access, and the daring angler can shimmy down 100 foot cliffs to reach harder to fish water with bigger trout, up to over 14 inches. Surprisingly, most of the trout are experts at keeping themselves hidden, particularly the golden brown cutthroat trout that blend in perfectly with the water and the sandy/rocky bottom. Other, more “traditional” sections, with plunge pools and frothy currents, also work, and are the place to go if you hope to catch a Brook trout, which are more abundant towards the dam. In general, the trout average slightly larger than their Salmon River brethren, averaging six to eight inches, and getting up to fourteen. Generally effective dry flies are those that imitate the Blue Winged Olive and Stonefly hatches, and work well in the late fall months. The stones in particular are best right before the first snowfall (they continue to hatch throughout the winter, but everyone on the mountain has other things in mind during that time of year). In addition, terrestrials (Krystal Beetle, Kam’s little black beetle, CDC ant) are also killers to use. For nymphing, the standard Hare’s ear, Pheasant tail, and curved caddis are all excellent, with soft hackles and small wooly buggers at the top of the wet fly list. The Bead head Pheasant tail is my favorite fly to use here.

The Oak Grove Fork holds a special place in my heart, mainly because, as mentioned previously, it was the place I caught my first stream fish ever. It was tough, being a beginning fly fisherman in Oregon mainly because of the fact that most of the fishing was for wary stream trout and steelhead, and catching one was a challenge. My first trip had gone slow, having lost a dozen flies to snags and terrible back casts, having gotten tangled up so badly I needed to cut the line and retie, and I even fell in the creek with no waders. Normally I would be okay being cold and wet, but with no fish brought to hand, it is miserable. When I finally caught that trout, I sighed in relief, finally having succeeded, and was so tired I left without taking another cast. What I remember as particularly funny is how I played that trout. Most of the time, I nonchalantly horse the fish in so that it has plenty of fight left when I slip it loose under the water. However, that little fish I fought like a steelhead. I backed up to the shoreline, for more “leverage” and played it off of the reel. I then had my dad and his friend Steve corner it into the shallows so it had no chance of escape. To anthropomorphize, I bet I made that fish’s day, making him feel like a giant sea run cutthroat from the Nehalem!  This kind of first-time experience is far from typical, but it happens, and is always plenty exciting when it does. So don’t hesitate, wet a line in the Oak Fork today. (And if the fishing’s slow, give Timothy a try, Rainbows, Kokanee, and Brook trout can be found, in addition to the fantastic crawfishing!)

In addition, this is one of the least crowded rivers I have personally fished, with the exception of a few days, one day in particular. After a failed day of trout fishing in Harriet Lake, I decided to go do a few casts with my spinning rod and a bubble and fly, something I do often here. I wasn’t even wearing waders, just rubber boots. Anyhow, when I got there, someone was already there before me, but by the time I walked down the gravel road leading to the river, he had left. Shrugging my shoulders, I started casting into the tailwater with no bites. While doing so, two other fly fishermen and a spin fisherman came and, seeing that I was fishing the best hole, moved on to a different spot. I caught and released a small Brook Trout, and decided it was high time to leave as I heard three cars with fly rods sticking out of their trunks screeching towards the area. As I was leaving, a spin fisherman and a fly fisherman immediately began fighting over my spot. The spin guy won, probably because of his eighteen inch neck and three-pronged rooster tail. Since then, I’ve never seen the river so crowded. And it was a typical summer day. How odd.

Oak Grove Fork Meadow:

Not to be confused with the Oak Grove Fork stream draining out of Timothy Lake, the OGF Meadow is a small, slow-moving trickling creek that meanders its way throughout the meadow near the Timothy Lake campground. This area is shallow, clear, and weedy, and the small wild Brook Trout in the area require quiet stream approaching and gentle presentation. However, the fish are not picky, and will eagerly snap up most small dry or wet flies that drift in their direction. The fish do not grow as large or fight as hard as those in the faster flowing tailwater, but the fishing is still fun and a good challenge for a person wanting to improve his or her presentation or casting skills.

Those are the main trout fishing streams I have taken the time to explore. There are many other places, notably the well-known Sandy and Clackamas, but I have not really taken the time to fish them in depth. For additional information, contact online or on a map. This is a fishing blog, not a travel guide.