Rowland Lake, formally named DeBois Lake, is so beautiful ! This little lake is so picturesque,…read moreespecially in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom and growing along the slopes, framing the water. If you have driven along SR-14 four miles east of Bingen, then you have driven through Rowland Lake, literally, since the SR-14 and the train track cut through the lake! It makes for some pretty spectacular photo snaps! When you turn onto Old Highway 8 there is a small parking lot and a few areas where you can pull over to take in the scene. Further up the hill on Old Highway 8 is a pull off area for even better views from above. If you are heading to Catherine Creek area or Syncline Wines, you will pass Rowland Lake. It's worth pulling over for a few minutes to take in the beauty. The north lake is stocked with trout, both rainbow and broodstock. There are two fishing openers: the first is from the last Saturday in April through the Sunday before Thanksgiving.; the second is the Friday after Thanksgiving through February. People have also caught bluegill, crappie and largemouth bass. Check their website for details. There is a small boat launch area; electronic boats only. WA access pass is required if you are spending time here other than just pulling over for a few quick pics. I walked around, took pics, then headed to Catherine Creek.

This is a little hidden gem. We love fish. This is the farm where the fish live before they are…read moretaken to Bonneville Fish Hatchery. I found it in a guidebook. We were leaving Cascade Falls and I saw a sign! There wasn't a soul here. Just a handful of these tanks with tiny fish, CoHo and Spring Chinook Salmon. It's fun to see them so tiny before you head over to Bonneville, which is a whole other review. Didn't take more than 15 minutes to see what there was to see. I'm glad we stopped.

Kyle is a great fishing guide but Yelp is only showing the very first review that was bad and seems…read moreuntrue based on his character and experience. Sometimes the fish aren't bitting. There are 13 other reviews that have been hidden by Yelp but I don't know why and they aren't being counted into the star rating. WTF?

I've been fishing with Kyle (Fishing the Gorge) for over 10 years now.  I have to say I have caught…read moreMORE fish than I can count over the last decade with Kyle.  In fact, my biggest salmon (that I caught on the Columbia River) was WITH Kyle ... 40+ lbs!   I have a lot of fun with Kyle & respect his knowledge of the Columbia River & it's tributaries.  He has been Fishing for several decades & is a VERY dedicated, smart & talented guide.  I have fished with other guides over the years, but Kyle is "My #1 Pick" for the Columbia River.  There are several boats/people that go out Fishing on the Columbia (not knowing the River & the strength of the current).  It can be a very dangerous river to fish (for those not familiar with it), but I've always felt confident with Kyle & how he manages/maneuvers his boat.   Several mornings Kyle will go out hours earlier (even 3am/4am) just to get the best spot on the River for his clients.  Being a guide that fishes practically every day, during the Salmon/Steelhead fishing season, he knows the best places to catch (and where the fishing has been "hot," as he sees this every day).  Of course the bite can change overnight, with the fluctuation in water temperature, barometer, or the depth of the river (if Bonneville Dam starts dumping a bunch of water -- that alone can throw off the fishing).  But he does his best to bring in Salmon and/or Steelhead for his clients. Of course there will be days the fishing is simply slow... and that's WHY it's called "Fishing" not "Catching"  as there are no guarantees.  But I DO have to say....I have brought in MANY fish over the years on Kyle's boat.  Kyle is also very respected by other guides & fisherman that regularly fish the Columbia.  One time we were out fishing....and a boat pulled up & actually delivered a "breakfast sandwich" to Kyle --- to thank him for his help on the River the previous day.   He is also very good at coaching & explaining tactics to first-time fisherman, or those not very experienced.  He always explains about the current & how to hold the rod & how to reel in ....so as "not to lose a fish."  Many people don't understand, when you drop anchor in a River with a very strong current....you have to move quickly & reel fast/steady, so you don't lose your fish.  But he is very patient with his clients & explains everything about good fishing techniques.   I would highly recommend Kyle & Fishing the Gorge to any of my family, friends & those looking for an experienced, fun, fishing experience on the Columbia River.  We've always had a great time with Kyle & enjoy the scenery and beautiful sunrises on the River for MANY years now --- that's WHY I'm a long-term, lifetime client of Fishing the Gorge :-)

Our rafting trip got canceled last minute, so we called Big Mike to see if he could squeeze us in…read more Mike was super understanding and got us out on the water the next afternoon--which worked perfectly since we like to sleep in on vacation anyway. It ended up being just my wife and I on the boat with Mike and his wife, and we had a fantastic time. They were professional, funny, and made the whole trip enjoyable while helping us land a few fish. Both are extremely knowledgeable and went out of their way to make sure we had a great experience. Highly recommend fishing with Big Mike--just be ready to put up with a little Duck fan pride since he thinks they rule the Big Ten.

Been out with Mike a bunch of times. Mostly up above Bonneville. fishing can be difficult up there…read moreat times but with Mikes knowledge, local connections and some really awesome bait, my experience is that we catch fish and we have fun. Highly recommend this guiding service. I've also fished bouy 10 with him and the result was the same. We bonked fish. It blows me away with how well he knows so many different fisheries.

Took a three generation group of Family once. What a warm and wonderful experience! Mom in her…read moreeighties, three Granddaughers and my lovely wife cavorting about on the edge of the trout pond with her pole yelling, "Fish On! Fish On!" She had us in stitches! And the Cheeseburgers at the Hangar Pub en route home in Carver were the stuff dreams were made of. We sent the trout home with Nana and a couple of days later I was enjoying the cocktail hour with the old folks and Dad regaled me with a trout fry story. His Mother would clean and head the fish, shake 'em in flour, and then slow fry them in a cast iron skillet in heavy cream. Heavy Cream! Farm life in Minnesota as a boy. Wow.

Everything went well this place has been a bonding spot for me since I was a little kid. I first…read morecame here with my grandfather just the 2 of us. Last time I was here was with my grandfather he was in his 80 s and mind was slipping. However the one thing that didn't seem to be slipping as fast was his ability to unlock it and flip it.... Fish on

My boyfriend and I had a once in a lifetime experience fishing with Matt. Unfortunately salmon…read moreseason was cut short, so we fished for only sturgeon. However, we had the opportunity to catch and keep sturgeon only if it was between 44-50 inches; which occurs twice in a year. From beginning to start, Matt was super helpful with providing gear for me as it was my first time fishing. His boat was top of the line compared to the rest on the river that day. It had a hot water sink and very comfy chairs to sit in. He also had beers, waters on dec and had anti-nausea meds on board which was great for me since I was feeling sick. After 5 minutes, my boyfriend caught his first sturgeon that was 47 inches. And I caught one four hours later that was 45 inches. He allowed us to reel it in (which was a struggle for me, but worth it) and he took great photos after. We were the only 2 people that day to catch and keep our sturgeon. We couldn't have had a better experience and we got so lucky that day thanks to Matt! He ended up filet-ing our sturgeons and took 15 pounds of it home. It was the highlight of our trip to Portland. And we plan to come back in the spring once salmon season starts. If you're thinking about booking a trip with him, DO IT. You won't regret it!

We had such a fantastic day on the water with Matt! From start to finish, he made the experience…read morefun, stress-free, and incredibly rewarding. His knowledge of the area, the fish, and the best techniques was unmatched, and he was patient in explaining everything to beginners while also offering great tips to more experienced anglers. Not only did we catch plenty of fish, but we also learned so much along the way. Matt went above and beyond to make sure everyone felt comfortable, safe, and excited throughout the trip. You can he loves what he does, and that passion makes the experience even more memorable. If you're looking for a knowledgeable, friendly, and professional fishing guide who will make your trip both successful and enjoyable, I can't recommend Matt enough! We'll definitely be booking again.

I LOVE coming here! I first tried out this place a little more than a year ago, with aspirations of…read morestarting a new hobby. I then tried to fish for trout out in nature but due to my track record and queasiness of what to do after I catch, I just end up continuing to come here!! The staff has ALWAYS been extremely helpful for me when I have issues removing a hook, or any questions I may have. They even give advice and show you how to do XYZ. You can bring your own gear, or use theirs for free! No license required since it is a farm. You will pay based on inches of the fish, and they will gut it and cut it and you will be on your way to a delicious dinner!!

We visited this farm recently and unfortunately had a very negative experience. The staff we…read moreinteracted with were unfriendly and spoke to us in a harsh and unprofessional manner. We were told that if the roots of the fish became tangled, they would not replace them, and we were advised to bring our own equipment in a way that felt unnecessarily aggressive. The interaction was uncomfortable, even for the children with us. Based on our experience, we would not recommend this place. "We've visited this fish farm many times, but this visit was extremely upsetting. The staff refused to give us the equipment we needed and spoke to us in a harsh, unprofessional way. When the owner came over, he was aggressive, told me not to speak, and asked our whole group to leave -- including our two kids (9 and 11) who were checking in with us, and even my daughter's Girl Scout group who had not spoken to him at all. He raised his voice at the children, leaving them very upset. Based on this experience, we cannot recommend this place.