Winter Steelhead Update & Winter Steelhead Guide Trip Specials!!

Oregon Winter Steelhead Update: 2/23/16

Hard to believe it is almost March already. The winter steelhead season is in full swing and fishing has been good on the Oregon Coast when water conditions have been in shape.

 March is it to winter steel heading, what October is to Summer steel heading, meaning it's prime time and the best month to get out there! Water conditions are usually the most consistent, and this is when the bulk of the wild winter steelhead make their way towards the rivers.

 You are looking for most of the coastal rivers to be bewteen 4.5-5.5' on the NOAA gauges . Many techniques can catch these fish, swinging flies is getting more popular along with indicator fishing. Winter Steelhead Guide trips to the Oregon coast are still available.

Winter Steelhead Guide Trips Specials!!
Take advantage of this great deal on guided fishing when you book multiple days. Price 1-2 anglers for a day is $450.00, book two consecutive days for $400.00 per day. Book three consecutive days for $375.00!!!! Use the promo code "Winter Steel" when booking!!

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NOW BOOKING!! Deschutes Day and Overnight Steelhead Trips!

Now is the time to book your Steelhead trip with River Borne Outfitters

The Steelhead are in and Day and Overnight Camp trips are still available for this September into November.

We focus mainly on the upper river, offering day floats from Warm Springs to Trout Creek, and three to four day camp trips from Trout Creek to Maupin. 

Day Floats - These are ten mile floats into a roadless, boat in section of the river. A beautiful section of river that offers both swinging and nymphing opportunities for steelhead. This the upper most drift on the Deschutes and fishing in this section of river gets better as we get farther into fall when the bulk of the run arrives. Read on... for more information on guided Deschutes day fly fishing trips for Steelhead

Overnight Camp Trips - Camp trips and floats offer some of the best fishing opportunities on the Deschutes. Covering over 30 miles, these float trips bring you to some of the best, and most uncrowded runs. Again, we specialize the upper river, Trout Creek to Harpham flat over a three day period is our most popular run. 

Taking three days and covering water from start to finish ups your odds of getting into pods of steelhead and catching fish. Typically we can get into them good at some point over the float. And on those epic trips we have action through out the whole float! Read on... for more information on guided Deschutes overnight fly fishing trips for Steelhead

Deschutes and Crooked River Fly Fishing Reports

Deschutes River: 3890 CFS

Trout - Trout fishing is fair to good on the Deschutes, especially on the upper section of the river where water temps and conditions are best. Dry fly fishing opportunities are limited to morning and evening when there is shade on the river and fish can be found targeting spent caddis and mayflies in the back eddies, tail outs and flats.

This is the time of year we see some of the biggest trout of the season for fish have been putting on some girth from feeding all summer.

Nymphing is the go to mid day, but can be productive. You never know what will show up on the end of your line this time of year as steelhead and other anadromous species start to make their way up the river!

Steelhead - Steelhead are present in the lower  50 miles of river. Decent numbers have already come over Sherars Falls. Not sure if the numbers of fish above the falls are higher than years past for this time of year, but I do believe when you have a warmer lower river you will have fish shooting up river in search of cooler water temps. 

The counts over the dams seems a little behind at this point compared to last year, and the ten year average. Hard not to believe the hot summer, and the low, warm water are not affecting the numbers of fish coming in. Hopefully they are just dragging tail, waiting for cooler water temps, stay tuned...

Day and overnight guided fly fishing trips are available on the Deschutes through the rest of the summer for trout. For more info on Deschutes River Guide Fly Fishing Trips Click Here!!

Crooked River: 222 CFS

The Crooked is fishing good to excellent right now. Flows have been held steady all summer long, fishing has been good as a result. The Prineville Reservoir though is the lowest I have ever seen. Word on the streets is that the river will be cut back drastically once irrigation season is over (mid October) They are saying 30 CFS!! If that does happen, and at that point fishing the river seems a bit unsporting, we will have to wait and see. Keep your fingers crossed for some early winter storms to raise flows!

The PMD hatches that we have come to expect in July and August have been a bust this season and for that matter last year too. Not sure why, most likely the increased algae from the mild winter and hot summer probably has something to do with it. 

Midges and caddis make up the rest of the diet for the trout this time of year. Some dry fly fishing has been found on caddis, but most get action nymphing. Try midges early, and switch to small may fly nymphs (Copper Johns, PTs, Anato Mays, etc..) later if your action slows.

We are available for Day and Half Day Guide Trips on the Crooked River all Season Long!

For more info on Crooked River Guide Trips Click Here!!

Deschutes and Crooked River Fly Fishing Reports

7/10/15

Deschutes River: 3930 CFS

The Deschutes is fishing good to excellent right now for trout above Maupin up to Warm Springs.
The heat has really got the caddis hatching and provided some great dry fly fishing of late.

When the day time temps are 90 and above you can expect to see a lot of caddis, and find fish looking up. The caddis take is subtle one, as trout position themselves is calm feeding lanes, tail outs, and back eddies lazily sipping dead spent caddis. Splashy rises tend to be smaller fish trying there best to catch adult caddis flying about.

This is "stalking heads" at its best, where you are more hunter than fisher. Taking time to carefully sneak up on feeding fish, a well placed small x-caddis tends to do the trick!

Nymphing is good when the dry fly bite slows. Small copper johns, Jimmy Legs, caddis pupae, etc.. will get the job done when nymphing.

Day and overnight guided fly fishing trips are available on the Deschutes through the rest of the summer for trout. For more info on Deschutes River Guide Fly Fishing Trips Click Here!!


Crooked River: 231 CFS

The Crooked is fishing good right now. The fish counts are down a bit from the historic numbers of the last few years, but there are still good numbers of fish to be caught. The average size and health of the fish is good and maybe with a little less competition we will see more bigger fish.

The Crooked is predominately a midge fishery right now, but we are starting to see some other hatches too. PMD's, Baetis, and Caddis are starting to hatch in enough numbers to get a few fish looking up. Hopefully soon we will  be getting some good dry fly fishing.

We are available for Day and Half Day Guide Trips on the Crooked River all Season Long!
For more info on Crooked River Guide Trips Click Here!!

Group Fly Fishing Classes Are Available through COCC

Group fly fishing classes are available this June and July through Central Oregon Community College. The classes are taught by me and are a great opportunity to participate and learn about fly fishing in a fun group dynamic. Great for that single person. Private fly fishing classes are also available through River Borne Outfitters all season long!

Fly Fishing on the Crooked River, BeginningBegin your adventure on dry land with a general overview of equipment and terminology, learn basic knots and how to string up a fly rod and how to fly cast. Practice casting on grass to prepare for your afternoon on the river. Once you've gotten the hang of casting, class will move to the Crooked River to fish and you can use your new casting skills. On the river you'll also learn about fly selection, fishing techniques, catch and release tactics, and preservation and ethics. Current fishing license required. Bring $16 payable to instructor at class for flies and leader. Information on class location and materials will be emailed. Rain or shine. Liability form required.
Vail Borne              9:00am-3:00 Sa                  36138
6/13                       Bend OTHER                      Cost $179                             

Vail Borne              9:00am-3:00 Sa                  36139
6/27                       Bend OTHER                       Cost $179                             

Vail Borne              9:00am-3:00 Sa                  36140
7/18                       Bend OTHER                       Cost $179                             

Fly Fishing on the Crooked River, Intermediate
To enjoy fly fishing you only need a few supplies and a good guide who can show you how to read a river and identify where the fish are biting. Bring your basic skills and you'll learn about native game species and secrets of the Crooked River as well as fly selection, catch and release techniques and river preservation and ethics. This class is intended for people who can cast a fly line and own basic equipment (rod, reel, tackle and waders). Current fishing license required. Bring $16 payable to instructor at class for flies and leader. Information on class location and materials will be emailed. Rain or shine. Liability form required.
Vail Borne              11:30am-3:30 Sa               36141
6/20                       Bend OTHER                     Cost $155                            

Vail Borne              11:30am-3:30 Sa               36142
7/25                       Bend OTHER                     Cost $155                             

NEW! Fly Casting Techniques, Intermediate & Advanced
If you are an intermediate to advanced fly caster, this is a great class to help you fine tune your skills. If you've already taken a class with Vail and have had some experience on the water, this is a great opportunity to work further on reinforcing proper fly casting fundamentals. You will receive help on identifying and fixing errors in technique as well as developing advanced skills and casts like double hauling, shooting line and reach and mend casts. Information on class location and materials will be emailed. Rain or shine. Liability form required.
Vail Borne           8:00am-10:30 Sa               36144
6/20                    Bend OTHER                      Cost $79                               

Vail Borne           8:00am-10:30 Sa               36143
7/25                    Bend OTHER                      Cost $79            

Deschutes Salmonfly Update & Crooked River Fishing Report

5/19/15

Deschutes River: 3930 CFS

The Deschutes Salmonfly hatch is in full swing right now. Some cooler weather has slowed the hatch a bit.  As a result there has been some slow times as well as some good fishing already. With the forecast of some warmer weather this coming week I anticipate some good fishing to come still. 

Crowds are out and the river is low though. Two boats have already sunk in Whitehorse this season. This is not the year to be going down below Trout Creek if your new on the sticks...Rafts give a bit wider margin of safety in low water, drift boats are another story. A good reason to hire an outfitter for your first trip down into the three day camp section below Trout Creek if you have never been down there. 

I think the big bugs will be around through the month, but by June fish should be transitioning to the the Caddis hatch. June will be a good month for Caddis and a great time to be on the river. July is traditionally as well, but we will have to see with the current water conditions...

We are currently available for Deschutes River Guided Fly Fishing Trips from now into the Fall.

Give us a call or email us if you would like to book a day or two... or three on the Deschutes!

Crooked River: 273 CFS

The Crooked is currently fishing good to excellent right now. The Mother's Day Caddis hatch is in full swing. Fish are keying on both caddis pupaes and dries. Dry/dropper combos work well, hi viz patterns can be useful in finding your fly in a see of naturals. 

Trout are spawning on the river as well, egg patterns are deadly as well as the usual small mayfly and midge nymphs. Watch out for spawning trout on gravel bars.

We are available for Crooked River Guided Fly Fishing Trips all year long!