Deschutes and Crooked River Fly Fishing Reports

1/30/12

Crooked River  74 CFS

The Crooked is low and clear right now. Fishing is good to excellent on the warmer days. Fishing slows down during the cold snaps. The low water consolidates fish, so find the deeper spots and slots and concentrate your efforts there. Hatches of Blue Wing Olives and Midges occur during this month, some dry fly fishing can be had in the early after noon. Use smaller Adams, Griffiths Gnats, Purple Hazes (sz 18-20) Nymphing small micro may fly patterns, Orange Scuds, and Midge Pupas will work when nothings happening up top. Also, Whitefish are still spawning so make sure to have a few egg patterns as well. Adjust your indicator fairly short, and high stick as much as possible!

We offer guided trips on the Crooked all year long, so if your not sure where to go, and could use some pointers on fishing the Crooked give us a call!


Deschutes River  6150 CFS

The Deschutes is running high and cold right now. But if your itching to fish...you can, just make sure it is below the reservation, as the river bordering the reservation is closed. Nymphing is most productive this time of year, pretty standard stuff. Try Stonefly patterns in black and brown, with Hare Ears or PTs dropped off. Again Whitefish are on the spawn so small egg patterns will work as well. Later on we will start to see better hatches of BWO's and some March Browns and there can be some good dry fly fishing to be had, usually with the added bonus of having the river to your self.

The Salmonfly Hatch is right around the corner! We are currently booking day and multi day Salmonfly trips starting May 15th.  Book now to secure the best dates!

Oregon Coast Winter Steelhead


The coast rivers are on the drop, look for rivers to get below 6 ft,  with 5ft+/-  to be ideal for fly fishing. There are fish in all the systems right now, and we have already had some good trips over there, but look for Feb, March, and early April to fish best as the bulk of the wild steelhead show up. These fish are much more aggressive and take to the fly much better than the typical hatchery steelhead.

If you are looking for a guided fishing trip on the coast this winter give us a call for the best fishing is still to come!

Deschutes and Crooked River Fly Fishing Reports

10/11/11

Deschutes River: 4600 CFS
The Deschutes is on the rise right now... Irrigation season draws to a close October 15th. Look for water levels to increase as they shut the canals down for the season. Water levels usually stabilize a day or two after the 15th.

Steelhead- Steelhead are spread throughout the river. This season seems to about average. Catch rates very by day, but for the most part you have to work for your fish. Good numbers of fish are still moving over Shears Falls. The run is a bit late in getting up river. I anticipate the fishing to really turn on upriver from now through November. Rising water levels can affect the bite, check before your trip and plan accordingly! The reservation side from  Dry Creek to Trout Creek closes October 31st. The river bordering the reservation on the right side closes December 31st.

We still have availability for day and multi day, drift boat trips for Steelhead in October and November. It's still not too late to get in a trip on the upper river, and for what looks to be the best fishing of the season!

Trout- We have been seeing some very large trout this fall. A lot of our upriver trips are combo trout/steelhead trips. We target both species nymphing, and been catching some trout over 20" of late! These fish are fat to boot! There are caddis, October Caddis, and mayfly hatches this time of year.

Crooked River: 254 CFS

The Crooked is at very nice level for fishing right now, and fishing has been great! There are large numbers of fish available. Most average on the smaller size, but we are seeing some bigger fish as well! Focus your efforts on the pocket water while nymphing. High stick small micro may fly patterns, Copper Johns, Scuds, etc.. Make sure and adjust your indicator fairly short (2-3') from your flies. Good BWO's hatches are coming off as well. Small Parachute Adams and Purple Hazes will catch fish up top!

Deschutes and Crooked River Trout Reports

8/12/11

Deschutes River
Floated Warm Springs to Trout Creek yesterday. Fishing was pretty good for August! Not much dry fly activity, sparse caddis hatches, but nymphing really produced. Copper Johns, sz#12 and smaller micro mayfly and caddis droppers were the ticket. A client of mine even landed a legitimate 20" fish, and some nice 16-18" fish.
We are still booking day and half day floats from Warm Springs to Trout Creek for trout. The river is pretty much empty, except for the rafters and fishing is not bad!

Crooked River

The Crooked is fishing good as well. The average size and numbers are down this year, but there are still plenty of fish. There has been a very consistent PMD hatch coming over in the after noon. Otherwise nymph the pocket water with the little stuff.

Deschutes Steelhead Update

I've been on the river a lot this month.  There have been fish around since early in July, but few and far between.  Each week results improve over the prior week.  We were two for three last weekend with two rods fishing very hard.  Friday we landed one fish with one rod fishing very casually.  Water temps hovered between 66 & 67 degrees mid day at rivermile 8.  The Pelton project continues baffle most of us, stay tuned for a later update.

As far as expectations and tactics, it's late July moving into August.  Mornings and evenings are your best shot at swung fish.  I like dry line fishing this time of year but when the going gets tough the tough go sink tips.  Don't be afraid to skate a fly in the right water.  I have seen fish refuse dry line offerings, and big sink tip offerings, then absolutely destroy a skater.  I like Morrish's Pom Skater but a nice Muddler will do the trick.  Dry line bugs are diverse but I like something purple with a chartreuse rear end...most importantly tied sparse try the Ace in the Hole from Idylwilde with a Pumpkin Pie for a come back fly.  Sink tips I like the same theme, something big, purple or black tied sparse, I like the Hobo Spey and Silvey's Tandem Tube.  Water temps will dictate policy for the next 30 days.  Despite seasonally cool weather and higher river flows we have a Deschutes with warmer water than the Columbia, translated, fewer strays into the lower 24.  But hey if you like steelheading then you know, you get what you get!  We will show up making reports not following them.  Summer fishing is fun, it's warm, and the fish are smokin' hot.

We are running sled trips all summer as well as three day float trips for Steelhead between Heritage and Macks Canyon. For those not ready to stop stalking trout Warm Springs to Trout creek is a great day float and stalking fish is still on!

Visit us at www.riverborneoutfitters.com

See you on the river,

SS

Deschutes and Crooked River Fly Fishing Reports

7/23/11

Deschutes River - 4610 CFS

Trout

It's Caddis time on the Deschutes. Craneflies and Aquatic Moths are present as well. But Caddis make up the bulk of the fish's diet this time of year. Mornings and Evenings are best for dry fly fishing. Though riffles and shaded back eddies will fish on top all day long. Nymph mid day other wise. Tan and Green X-Caddis sz. 14-18, Elk Hair Caddis, X-2 Caddis, and Tan and Green Sparkle Puppae are all excellent flies this time of year.  Productive nymphs include PT's sz12-18, Prince nymphs, micro mayfly patterns, Fox Puppae, Silvey Puppae patterns, soft hackles, etc..

Steelhead


The Columbia is running high and cold, delaying the steelhead run this year.  Though numbers are picking up over the dams and fishing is improving in the lower 24 miles of river. Water temps in the Deschutes are already on the high side.  Stay tuned for an update on this potential issue...

Crooked River - 314 CFS

The high water this winter has had an impact on this fishery. Fish numbers are down as a result of an apparent fish kill from Gas Bubble disease (from having a oxygen rich environment, a result of the prolonged high water)  Though it doesn't seem to be as bad as 2006 when the same scenerio occurred.

And the fishing is actually pretty good, average fish size is down, but you can catch a lot of them. The numbers of bigger fish are down, but we are starting to see a few larger fish show up in the catch!

2011 Deschutes Steelhead Camp!

River Borne Outfitters is happy to announce limited opening for the best Steelhead Camp on the Deschutes River. Our camp is fixed and set up for two ten day slots from August 1 through August 10th and August 29 through September 7th. Trips include single or dual occupancy tents, cots, sleeping pads, and a sheltered dining area. You will taxi up and the down the river in one of two 20 foot Alumaweld Super Vee jet sleds. All trips initiate from Heritage boat ramp on the mouth of the Deschutes River. Openings are slotted to maximize your fishing opportunities. Trips are two days but it feels like three. Your trip will start at 1:00 PM at the boat ramp on day one. We will ascend several class three rapids including Moody, Rattlesnake, Colorado, Gordon Ridge, and Washout on our way to camp. After we drop off our gear it is off to fishing. Camp will be set on some of the best steelhead water the Deschutes has to offer. Your next day is a full day interrupted only by Brunch and Dinner. On day three we will fish hard until brunch, then work our way down river. Our goal will be to get you back to Heritage Boat ramp around Noon. In total you will have two evening sessions, and two morning sessions with one uninterrupted day of fishing. 

Our guides are expert boat handlers, Spey casters and Steelhead Anglers. Sled Camp guides are Matt McCrarry and myself. Anglers are welcome to fish their own rods. In the event you want to fish our stuff, both boats are armed with an arsenal of Winston Spey Rods. Our camp host will make sure that you are well accommodated with a first class camp and plenty of good food. A list of recommended items for overnight guided trips can be found here: www.riverborneoutfitters.com

Pricing is $800 per person, minimum of two anglers and maximum of six. We hope to see you this summer on the best trip for two handed anglers.


Contact me directly for current availability.


Regards,


Sam Sickles
c 541-521-9054
o 541-400-9602
samsickles@gmail.com

Deschutes River Fly Fishing Report

Just spent the last eight out of ten days on the river. Salmonflies are still out all the way to Maupin. Fishing with the big bugs is best above Whitehorse. Fish are still taking them lower, but there are fewer bugs and fish are gorged. They are also starting to key in on other smaller offerings (PMD's, Drakes, Little Olive Sallies, etc..) The hot and or over cast days were best. Good hatches of PMDs and Green Drakes also occurred. River traffic on this section has been light for this time of year. Water conditions are high, but stable. The abundance of water, and the light pressure has me looking forward to the rest of the summer, the fishing should be great!

We still have availability for late June and July Caddis trips!

Let us know if you would like to get in on the second part of the trout season, where the river is usually even less crowded and the fishing is still great!