Lower Deschutes Fishing Report, September 04, CFS 3500,Water Temp 54

 Lower Deschutes Fishing Report

Fishing is picking up as we ease into Fall weather patterns, its a wonderful time to come out and fish. We have been getting alot of calls about the steelhead closer. Currently the river is closed to targeting steelhead from Sherars Falls to the mouth of the Deschutes. Steelhead numbers are at an all time low so the ODFW has made the right call. Trout fishing up by the shop is producing some massive redsides lately. If your lucky to hook one HOLD ON! We have summer caddis still around a few October Caddis are starting to show up as well. Good flies right now are Hares Ear nymphs, Peridigons, soft hackles and anything with cdc. The river is quite on most days so you have a good chance of getting into your favorite water . We hope to see you at the shop soon and our campground will be open into December.

Lower Deschutes Fishing Report April 28

 Water Temperature 53 Degrees / CFS 3700

The day stretch has been fishing good to fair on most days. As always weather patterns fluctuating determine when the insects decide to get active and fish decide to eat the majority of their protein intake that specific day. Look for the swallows "birds" and take a mental note what time of the day your seeing the action. Currently there is a bunch going on down there under those rocks and it has everything to do with water tempter.  With water  around 53 "warmer than normal" we should start to see adult salmon fly's within the next two weeks and we will keep you updated as things progress with that situation. The salmon fly nymphs are active now so using some sort of salmon fly nymph with your favorite size 14 or 16 dropper behind it will produce fish.  Still seeing a few small mayflies around but they are fading quickly and with the 80 degree weather in the forecast we will transition to summer Caddis and Mayfly hatch's. Trout have been sporadically rising for emerger's during the evening hours and overcast days so if you fancy dry fly fishing evenings would be a good bet, try a parachute Adam's dry dropper rig with 4x.

Trout Spey has been picking up as water temps warm. Morning and evening are best for the swung fly, don't be afraid to put some action into the fly as it swings to the bank. Ive been liking a t/7 stink tip with a Skagit head its been producing grabs most days.

Other than that thank you to everyone that helped out with the river clean up! The shop crew has been catching really nice quality reside rainbow trout since the river opened April 22nd , be prepared when nymphing! 3x fluorocarbon folks, we have five pound trout in the Deschutes river they are handful to get in! A friendly reminder watch the reds folks we have spawning trout from now until July. Podded up trout and dark colored trout with teeth are spawning fish. Lets give them a chance to do their thing guys. Thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing you in the shop soon!

Spring 2021' Fishing Forecast

 We are heading into to Spring here.. before you know it the Lower Deschutes will re open and our 2021 season will start in earnest. The section of river bordering the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, reopens April 22nd this year!

The Deschutes River Fly Shop and Camp will be open for business then as well!

Currently we are working hard on the property and booking people for the upcoming Salmon fly hatch!

Prime Salmon fly dates (mid May- June) are filling up, but we do still have some availability for day trips..

Book now for some of the best dry fly fishing of the season!


There are lots of other fly fishing opportunities this time of year even though the big river is still closed.
We have been getting on the private lakes a bit.. Spring is the time to hit some of these great still water, pay to play fisheries in Central Oregon! 

We work with a couple different large ranches in Central Oregon, who have a variety of different private lake options.. from small ponds to larger lakes, most are planted with brooders or triploids. 

And are in very scenic locals! Lodging is also available..

Lower Deschutes Fishing Report cfs 3750 water temp.54

 Fishing has been spot on, rainbows are biting and the steelhead are making there way up to Trout Creek. You can hook steelhead fishing your trout nymph setups but our preferred method is swinging flys with spey rods.  As the steelhead make there way farther and farther up stream they start reverting back to there original form  and will take nymphs more readily. The stlhd will be spread out though-out the whole system at this point of the run. The White River is still puking out glacial silt its bad folks really bad. About 2 feet of

down there below the White and upstream has been busy! Try to cover as much water as possible for best results and start trying the Mecca flats area!

Lower Deschutes Fishing Report . Cfs 3700/ Water Temp. 55.

We have blue skies and are finally smoke free today and the fishing has been solid thoughout this week but we are very glad to see blue skys again. Steelhead are making there way up to Maupin currently and there are probably a few up at the top of the river and South Junction. Now is the time to dust off the cobwebs and get that spey rod out. Weather is going to be mild from here on out mid 70s with chilly night temps in the 50s. We love fishing the Deschutes all summer yet the fall is our favorite time, crowds will be thinning and the trout bite will transition to a mid day bite. 8 am to 2 pm will produce the best fishing as the days get shorter and the sun angle is lower in the sky. Lots of bugs out still October caddis are present thought out the whole system and surprisingly caddis are still going strong. Starting to see small 16's/18/s bwo's and mahogany's out. Pmds and the crane flys are about done but still plenty of bugs out for those already FAT redsides. White fish are getting into spawn mode now look for rainbows and steelhead to sit behind those whiteys gobbling their row.

The steelhead seem bigger than the last three years, averaging in the 6 to 8 pound range and are a handfull! On big fish years like this I like swinging with size 4 or 2 intruder hooks on hobo spey type flys, bigger hook helps you keep those big boys pinned. On a side note the White River has been clouding up the lower 50 miles of the river since early September. I Was down there on Tuesday and the Visibility was about 3.5 feet any thing less than that id probably want to fish above the white but as you get further down from the White the better the viability will get. Sink tips mid day and floaters during low light periods. Shop, Campground, and Cabin rental will be open for all your fly fishing needs thru December running guide trips all the way until December 31st! Check out www.flyfishdeschutes.com 

Lower Deschutes Fall Fishing Report

August 29th/Cfs 3700/Water Temps 55

Trout

We are transitioning into fall quickly on the lower Deschutes, evening temps have started to cool and the fish are biting! All methods are producing right now. As usual nymphing will get you numbers but the caddis fly hatch was good last night!  The Caddis and Pmds are about done and we are just starting to see small bwos coming off  the past few days.  Dry fly fishing during low light hours and nymphs mid day.  X Caddis , Double Duck Caddis , Purple Haze, Stimulator, Frenchie, Red Copper John, Morrish October Caddis, Jimmy Legs. Side note trout spey has been good this week.Try our olive or black Sculpzilla we carry in the shop. The fish on the Deschutes prefere olive streamers fished traditionally simliar to a steelhead swing presentation also try stripping as it swings across. Trout Spey is a'lot of fun and produces certain days other days not so much but having the option is some how satisfying when you get a tight line grab after running your nymphs through a run without success. October caddis hatch is one of the last  protein source that redside's feed on before winter and although its a sporadic hatch it can be good. Start fishing orange nymphs as we get into the fall.

Steelhead 

Its a big fish year on the Deschutes the fish seem larger than other years.  They are starting to show up in Maupin area and will arrive around trout creek area sometime late September.  You need to Fish a'lot of water and fish mornings and evenings. Sink tips mid day. I like 12 feet of T10 with a hobo spey or fish taco . You also need profile and lots of flash applied to your fly when the suns straight up in the sky. Green Butt Skunk, Brazilian, Parris Hilton on the Scandi line. Sink tips and Skagit line with a Hobo Spey, Fish Taco, Micro Intruder. Happy Hunting!

07/08/20 Lower Deschutes Caddis fly hatch

07/08/20
Cfs/3780
Water Temps /75


We have been seeing large amounts of adult caddis and certain days mixing in with some pmd action, water temps are fairly constant throughout summer in the warm springs area typically mid 50s/60s. Best bet this time of the year, using drys during low light hours then switching over to a nymph setup when the sun is high in the sky and back to drys when the sun disappears behind the canyon wall. Look for fish to take spent caddis and emergers during mornings, using movement to your nymphs or emergers can entice jolting strikes from big trout. Look for fish that are rising aggressively but there is no bug activity that you can detect on the surface when trying this. Fish will be rising in the shade and close to undercut banks. Sneak Sneak Sneak these fish are sensitive to sloppy casts and quick movement so take your time when approaching fish actively feeding on the surface . Dry fly fishing requires 4x sometimes 5x. Nymph fishing requires 3x fluorocarbon.

Dry Fly's: X caddis , Double Duck cadis, CDC and elk hair, Stimulators, Parachute pmd, Purple haze, Green drake

Nymphs: Frenchie, Yellow pmds, Cased caddis, jimmy legs, Prince nymph, Two bit hooker, Moorish October  caddis.