Warm Springs to Trout Creek Report

Deschutes salmonfly action is in full swing and the fish are eagerly attacking anything that resembles a salmonfly when presented the right way in the right water.  Don't let the higher than average water levels be a deterant, you just may need to adjust a bit on some of your favorite spots as they may be deeper and less accessible than normal.  We are starting to see the switch to Goldens but fish are still taking adult salmonfly patterns; have both in your arsenal.  Be sure you are fishing 3x or heavier tippet as these fish are violent on the strike and often times will take you on a long powerful run once hooked; they are not leader shy!  As usual fishing is more successfull in the harder to reach places that we so kindly refer to as 'jungle water'!  Don't be in a hurry to race to the likely spots, fish are feeding all over the river so venture out to spots you may not normally fish as you may be pleasantly surprised.  Be sure to switch your patterns regularly if you are not getting activity as this can often be the difference between fishing and catching!  If nymphing is your thing it too is extremely productive right now with stonefly patterns rolled along the bottom of the riffles and typical nymph water.  You will want a little more weight than normal as the higher flows have the river moving along at a pretty good pace.  In terms of where to go, you will find active fish in all stretches of water from Maupin to Warm Springs.  Right now is that magic time of year that we get to pitch two inch long dry flys at the most aggressive fish of the year.  Leave the yard work for later in the month, this doesn't last forever!

Warm Springs to Trout Creek Week One May 2011

The river is empty and at first appearance, void of life.  It sort of feels like November with the monochromatic look and feel of fall and winter to follow.  In all reality it's spring.  The upper, upper river has dropped from 6000 to 5600 cfs, an alarming 1000 cfs over it's median flow for this time of year.  Water clarity is about 12 inches or less.  Noticeable is the absence of any insect activity but something is going on as swallows dance in the sky about one hundred feet over head.

It's been a long cold and wet winter even in Hood River.  This time of year the weather usually breaks just west of town and we have sunshine...not this year.  I've seen the sun four or five time in the last 5 months so when the sun came out last Sunday we strapped up the Willie and headed to Warm Springs.  Our launch time was intentionally late ensuring we would get to fish the spots most likely to give up fish at these seasonably high flows.  The first run we stopped at was sterile and I thought, here we go again!  Second stop gave up a couple and I actually broke one off, an obvious sign I've been fishing 15# maxima the last 5 months.  The day ended up solid with many redsides to hand and a couple of bruisers that left my 4x in the dust.

I could ramble on and on but the jest of it is this.  It's spring and if you fly fish, the Deschutes is the place to be in Oregon until sometime in early November.  In another week or two we will start seeing Stones and Salmon Flies, and be working Multi Day trips on the river (still some limited availability) but for now the river is empty  except for these

So for the report;-)  Fished Sunday and Thursday last week.  Fishing is solid but it's nymphing the bigger stuff under an indicator in the slack water.  I will say despite the high flows fish are in hot pursuit of the fly should you put it near them.  One spot in particular has pushed double digits both trips.

See you out there.

SS

Deschutes and Crooked River Fly Fishing Report

4/17/11

Middle Deschutes:

They have opened the canals for the season! The river below Bend is now at an ideal flow for fly fishing. This is great time of year to fish the middle Deschutes. Look for BWO's and March Brown hatches midday. Many Stonefly nymphs are present, and the trout are noticing. We have been having some good times fishing locally for Browns and Rainbows to 17 inches!

Lower Deschutes: 5970 CFS

The river bordering the Warm Springs Reservation opens to fishing next Saturday, April 23rd!
The section of river below the reservation is open year around.

The lower is still a bit on the high side, but good fishing can still be found. Hatches of BWO's and March Browns are starting to get the fish's attention, look for midday hatches for dry action, especially in the back eddies and flats. High water has fish pushed to the banks as well. Try nymphing early and late in the day with stoneflies and haresears and PT nymphs. Soft hackles can be productive as well.

We are still booking Deschutes River, day and multi day Salmonfly and Caddis trout trips. If you haven't gotten around to it, book your Salmonfly hatch now to reserve your spot during the best trout fishing of the year! Call 541-647-2584 to book a trip or for more info


Crooked River: 986 CFS


The Crooked is still running too high for good fishing. The river has been high and un-fishable for most of the winter. Look for fishing to be excellent once flows come below 300-400 cfs. The Mothers Day Caddis hatch is very prolific on this river and I anticipate some great fishing once the river reaches its summer time flows

Crooked River and Winter Steelhead Fishing Reports

1/31/11

Its been a while since our last report...

The Crooked River:


They have been letting water out of the reservoir for the last two weeks blowing the Crooked out.
The water is on the drop now though, look for it to fish well once it drops below 200 cfs. Nymphing small eggs patterns, orange scuds, midge and micro may fly patterns works best.

 We offer  guided trips on the Crooked this time year so if your looking to be shown the ends and outs of this great winter trout fishery give us a call!




Winter Steelhead:

The Oregon winter steelhead season is in full swing. And the crowds show that people know it! The fishing has been slow-good depending on when and where you are fishing. My favorite time to fish for winter fish though is later in the run, late Feb, March and April. The crowds seem to thin out some as anglers turn their attention towards spring salmon, and the weather gets more consistent. Also the bulk of the wild fish return at this time and they make for better fly quarry, as they tend to be more aggressive towards a swung fly.

G4 Boots with Stream Tread Soles? Plus a short report ;-)

I have been fishing the g4's with Stream Tread soles since mid July. I have tried every form of bolt on cleats and all were inadequate. There is definitely a difference between a review from someones guiding experience versus actually fishing in something, this is an actual fishing review. Last week I was in Jack Hagan's shop (Northwest Flyfishing Outfitters) complaining and volunteering them to his rental fleet. Jack swore up and down that if I put the AlumiBite Star Cleats in I wouldn't miss felt ever again.

So my field test included the lower 15 miles of the Deschutes Monday with flows just under 6000 CFS and near zero visibility. I waded the toughest stuff the river has to offer and finished on the east side of wagon blast. For those of you that fish the lower lower you know this is the worst wade on the river and maybe anywhere. I have to say I was impressed. I tried to fish this exact water the week before with a combination of hard bite stars and cleats. It was a disaster and I honestly pulled out and did not fish while my partners in crime put on a clinic.

So my vote is YEA, with the AlumiBites I might even say they are better than felt with studs if set up with two pucks of cleats. NAY with every other form of cleats (I have tried them all).

On a plus side, the rubber shouldn't delam like the felt is famous for. The aluminum is soft so I imagine at some point the cleats will need to be replaced. All in all I highly recommend the G4's with the cleats...for whatever that's worth.

Oh...the fishing was radical.  I spent the day with Matt McCrary, also from Northwest Flyfishing Outfitters.  All told we hoooked 10 landed 5.  3 of the five were big boy bad ass fish.  Here is a picture of Matt with the biggest fish my guess is 35 or 36 inched.  The bottom fish was the brightest fish and an absolute hotrod.  Love the lower lower in late season.

__________________
Sam Sickles
www.riverborneoutfitters.com
C(541) 400-9602

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!