The Sandy River in northwestern Oregon is undoubtedly one of the best maintained urban rivers in the world. Recent management emphasis has been to maintain many parts of the Sandy drainage in a
wild condition conducive to rehabilitating its diverse populations of native
salmonids.

All wild fish within the basin are catch and release. There is evidence that wild
fish populations are increasing. The future looks good.

This river contains Oregon’s oldest Wild & Scenic designated area, and the
state’s first “big dam” removal.

The Sandy River originates high on the slopes of Mount Hood, an 11,200-foot
volcano located about 50 miles east of Portland. The headwaters of the Sandy
are beneath Reid and Sandy Glaciers at 6,000 feet elevation. From here the
river flows due west past the village of Welches, located in the Hoodland
Corridor, then 15 miles west of this location at the town of Sandy, the river
then turns north to enter the Columbia River at Troutdale, which is at sea
level. The river drops 6,000 feet in 55 miles. The Sandy River is a geological
product of some of the most dramatic forces on Earth. Her changeable
personality is one of tectonic stress, explosive volcanism, glaciations,
torrential rainfall, the afternoon sun, and the disintegration and regeneration
of huge conifer forests. This river’s geographic location, topography and
geologic history make it the perfect factory for large, strong fish that return
ocean bright.

The river flows through a rugged canyon. The deep clear pools and clean, gray
gravel bars are often shaded by the tall, wet green trees.

As the river leaves the steep slope of the mountain it crosses recent volcanic
mud flows and the gradient decreases. The mellowing currents allow smaller
gravel to collect. These deposits form an ever-shifting layer, lying loosely over
a mantle of hard basalt.

Much of the water in the river travels through this inter-gravel aquifer
providing maximum oxygenation for the spawn of large anadromous fish.

Winter Steelhead
Winter steelhead provide the most popular sport fishery on the Sandy, The
river has the most reliable and longest lasting Winter Steelhead run in the
region. Some years more than 10,000 fish enter the river from November
through May. (Runs in the 1970s and 1980s averaged 4,000 to 10,000
fish. Runs in the 1990s averaged about 1,000 to 3,000 fish. Average runs
from 2000 to 2014 are probably 3,000 to 6,000 fish, but no counting facility
remains since the removal of Marmot Dam in 2007.

(Totals are wild and hatchery combined.)

Steelhead runs fluctuate from year to year as does run timing. These winter
steelhead comprise at least three different genetic backgrounds. Steelhead
from the Sandy can weigh from 3 to 30 pounds. Seven to 11-pound fish are
average. Most have spent at least two full years at sea.

Tackle and Techniques
The angler who can cover the most water, the most efficiently always wins at
steelheading. Even when runs are at peak, steelhead fly fishing will demand
more than a casual approach.

The Sandy River and its winter steelhead have a reputation for being difficult
for entry level fly anglers. The winter weather and water conditions, as well as
sexually developed fish, create some of the most demanding conditions any
angler will encounter anywhere. Sandy River winter steelhead are bottom
hugging denizens of a cold, often rain swollen river. Most seasoned anglers
use two-hand fly rods of 13 to 14 feet so that large expanses of water can be
covered efficiently.

Fly speed, pattern and depth of presentation are very important. Because of
their mating instincts, winter steelhead, especially the males, can be territorial
and will attack a fly to drive it from their hold. Large flies dressed in steelhead
spawning colors can bring jolting strikes.

Steelhead that have freshly returned from the ocean, often retain an acute
search image of the marine organisms that nurtured them. Flies dressed in
the form of squid, shrimp or krill can trigger a feeding response.

In most cases the fly must be presented deep and slow. A Skagit style
shooting head line with interchangeable sinking tips is most useful when
covering large expanses of water. Many different depths and speeds of water
might be encountered in a single run. Line tips and flies are changed as
necessary.

Leaders attached to sinking tip lines are usually short and stout. Big flies
fished on the swing are the choice of most experienced anglers.

Although a 45-minute drive from Portland International Airport will put you on
any stretch of water, the basic nature of the Sandy River is wild. Fishing from
a boat is excluded in many parts of the river. The Sandy is a demanding river
to wade, even at summer levels. Its water can be very cold for the majority of
the year. A dunk can be extremely unpleasant and a wading staff and traction
devices are highly recommended.

Next month:
– Seasonal changes on The Sandy
– Tips on winter clothing
– Winter steelhead flies