Deschutes Steelhead Report

The phone hasn't rung in a while so I decided to hit the lower lower with a couple buds of mine who are some serious Steelheaders.  Friday there were two of us and five of them from 1:PM to 5:PM.  Saturday there were three of us and six of them.  Sunday was an O 4 2 kinda morning with a massive storm from that left us having a bar B Q under the trees.  By the time we left on Sunday we were the only humans on the entire river.  So basically Friday was on fire, Saturday a front moved in and slowed things down, Sunday we got blown off the river. 13 fish in two and a half days isn't too shabby

I'm just going to post the three big 'uns.  Some serious slabs all caught inside the 4 mile mark. Two out of three came on dry lines.  I love late October;-)

Expect the river to fish well under 6000 cfs.  If the levels stays right expect bruisers like this for the next month.  See you out there.

SS

Deschutes River Steelhead Report

This season has been a challenging one to say the least. Warm water temps effected fishing early, fluctuating water levels have been an issue of late. The White River has been doing it's thing on the lower river. The numbers of fish seem about average, but the river has been busy. More anglers and less fish than last year, coupled with the adverse conditions mentioned above and you get the picture.

With that being said we have had some good days, and the river is starting to thin out with the start of hunting season. The irrigation canals are turned off on the 15th and the river will be higher, but more stable from here on out. Look for the upper river (Warm Springs-Maupin) to fish well into November. The lower river clears out this time of year and this when we can expect a push of B-Run fish (12-15lb. steelhead bound for Idaho!) to turn into the river. If you are after the steelhead of a lifetime this is the time to be on the lower river! From Warm Springs to Trout Creek the reservation side is open until the end of the month. We traditionally experience some of our best fishing of the season on this stretch during the last two weeks of the month.

The season is drawing to a close but we still have some availability for lower river jet boat trips and upper river drift boat floats. If you haven't gotten your fill yet give us a call. I predict some of the best fishing of the season is going to be had in the next couple of weeks!

Deschutes Steelhead Report

Long time no see...no excuses!

Steelheading on the Deschutes in 2010 is a completely different animal than it was in 2009.  What we lack in numbers this year is more than made up for with 30" inch natives with shoulders that don't quit.  Over the last ten days I have spent on the river I have seen more 10 pounders than I saw all last year.  We released a half dozen legitimate 12 pounders and two fish in the fifteen pound range.  Sure, we are not having 40 fish days but we are seeing steady fishing with multiple opportunity to swing fish daily.  Water temps have remained in the mid sixties despite the cool weather fronts that have moved in and out of the CRG (Columbia River Gorge).  It's almost like summer came and went without notice.  Fall tactics should be in full effect.  Dry lines, drab patterns, skaters...oh yeah, and if that doesn't work go big and ugly, and don't delay.  Dry line fishing has been tough this year.  Grabs are soft and lack luster.  As the temps drop back into the mid fifties in the next 30 days expect the return of the freight train takes.

Labor day has passed which means fishing pressure will even out from Warm Springs to the mouth.  We are currently booked in September for sled trips and have some availability for drift boat trips. October is going to be return of the "Killer B's", if you are interested in fishing with us this fall don't wait, we will be booked out by mid September.

Hope everyone has had a great couple of months, the best is yet to come.

Tight lines,

RBO

Deschutes Steelhead Report 8-4-2010

Fishing is good early and late.  Water temps are unreasonably high due to PGE's Round Butte experiment.  Fish are spread from Buckhollow to Heritage, by my count 82% natives.  The 82% comes from the last seven days I have been on the river.  The fish pictured above is cookie cutter of the natives we have been landing 28-31" and full of piss and vinegar.  Please make sure you pressure these fish and release them as soon as possible.  Carry a net as this quickens the landing process significantly.  If the bite is not on get down and dirty immediately, do not dilly dally trying to move fish to a dry line fly.  With temps in the mid to high 60's these fish need a presentation in their wheelhouse.  Good luck and we will see you down there.


Regards,
RBO

Deschutes Steelhead Report

Fishing has been tough due to water temps.  We hit 13 on our last trip thanks to the steelhead slayer pictured left.  The summer heat is in the canyon, mornings fish best but fish can be found all day if you know where to look.  To date fish have been landed well above the carnival runs on the lower river.  We look for fishing to improve dramatically as the river is artificially cooled at round butte.  Sled days are pretty much booked up through the second week in August but fishing should be good out on the day stretch from Pine Tree to Macks Canyon.  Call us for available drift boat trips.

Regards,

RBO
541-647-2584

Deschutes Steelhead Report

Every year we float Macks Canyon to Heritage on the 4th of July with close friends.  About every other year we hit chrome.  Ordinarily I expect to catch Steelhead.  This day was different.  We show up at Mack's to an empty campground and parking lot.  On the 20 mile drive down the lower access road we saw one drift boat and only a few campers.  It was 90 degrees in the canyon and the sun was high in the sky.  We are late and our friends John and Michelle have put on ahead of us.  No big deal I can guess where his boat is parked, probably on one of the most productive pieces of steelhead water on planet earth.  Pretty good guess, we didn't have to float long to find our friends.  I gave John some trouble for his errant casting which showed the lay-off for trout fishing since late April.  A couple hundred feet down the run I notice that John is wading pretty deep, the river must still be up a bit and this is an ugly wade.  The run comes to a standard uneventful July ending so we move on.  At this point we have already settled into racing down to wagonblast or some other piece of carnival water.  The next run down gives up fish, but rarely.  John decided to stay in the boat with his dry line so I head up with my faithful friend RB Meiser.  As I reach my destination I notice John coming up, apparently he can't stand the idea on not getting his ass kicked in July.  Dry lines first...three casts in and John is well into his backing with a fish breaking water down and clear across the river...this fish COULD GO ALL THE WAY!.  Luckily this fish was worked back to the pool where he was measured, photoed and released.

July is my favorite month of the year to fish.  The crowds are light, the weather is fantastic, and every run and camp is available.  We are now booking Summer Steelhead on the lower 24 miles of the Deschutes River.  We hope you can join us this year.  Please call 541-647-2584 to book a trip or check us out www.riverborneoutfitters.com.

Regards,

RBO

Deschutes River Fly Fishing Report

7/1/10


The Deschutes Caddis hatch is slow to come on with all the intermittent weather. The peak of the Caddis hatch is still to come when summer finally arrives here in Central Oregon. Fish are still looking up though, fish the grassy banks with some cobble, micro eddies, back eddies, and anywhere you find shade. Just because you aren't seeing rising fish, doesn't mean you can't catch them up top. Find the right water and you will have success. Nymphing can be productive, though there are still fish spawning or that are post spawn and are easy targets for nymph fisherman. So when in doubt dry fly fish!