Deschutes and Crooked River Fly Fishing Reports

Deschutes River - 

Well it is about upon us, the annual migration of stonefly nymphs and the hatching of the Salmonfly!

Fly Shops in Maupin are reporting adult bugs in the bushes seen for the first time this weekend. It will not be long now before the hatch has progressed up the river.

We have been fishing the Deschutes a lot already, and fishing has ranged from good to great. Currently there are a lot of steelhead smolts in the river. They can be a bit of a nuisance eating anything, and everything  often beating the Redsides to the punch. They should clear out here shortly as they continue their journey out to sea hopefully to return in 1-2 years as big ol' steelhead!

As I mentioned before the hatch is about to happen, we will be guiding the upper section of the river daily and still have some availability for guide trips. Read on for more info on Deschutes River Guided Fly Fishing Trips. The best fishing happens on the front edge of the hatch, and when we see the most hot, humid days. Really warm weather will speed things up, a cold front or two will prolong the hatch. Typically there is some Salmonfly action to be had through out most of the month.

A few tips about fishing the hatch... don't expect to see rising fish all day long. Fish the big dries even if you are not seeing risers. As long as there are bugs in the bushes the fish know they are around and will feed opportunistically all hatch long.  Fish shorter, heavier leaders to start, but as the hatch progresses lighten up. As the fish start getting pressured, they start getting more selective. Lighter tippets, and smaller flies often are the ticket when this happens. Also have a variety of patterns to try when you are getting refusals or fishing different types of water. I like the big Chubbies in the heavier water and along the deep rip rap, and smaller lower profile patterns like the Clarks Stone and Norms Wood in more placid and calmer waters.

Crooked River -

The Crooked is starting to come into shape as well and is fishing okay. I had a guide trip out there last week and fish were caught, including a few nice ones, though not in the numbers we are used to seeing on this river. The dam operators released lots of water through out the winter, and historically there have been issues with prolonged high water releases. Mainly because the high releases cause too much dissolved oxygen and create gas bubble disease in the fish. The spill way it's self is the culprit. Though I was encouraged with the fishing and quality of fish I saw last week, so stay tuned... May into June sees the hatches of BWO's and the Grannom's or Mother's Day Caddis on the river. Read on for more info on Crooked River Guided Fly Fishing Trips

Deschutes River Fly Fishing Report

3/28/16

 Deschutes River Flows - 6200CFS

Trout Fishing is Good on the Deschutes right now! The section of river bordering the Warm Springs Reservation is open year round now! There has been a fair number of people trying this section of river this time of year for the first time, us included. We have been running some trips and like most others are finding that fishing is good!

Nymphing has been most productive with Stonefly nymphs and small bead head droppers. There are March Browns and BWO's coming off, especially on the overcast days.  Purple Haze's, or Small Parachute Adams SZ 16-18 work for the BWO's and Flick's March Brown pattern is a great option for the March Browns.

We have both patterns and more at our Deschutes River Fly Shop up in Warm Springs. Stop on by if you'r in the area and get the latest report and set up with some flies, and any thing else you need for your day on the river! To encourage people to come give the river at shot this time of year We are also running an Early Season Spring Special on Guide Trips from now through the month of April! 

DESCHUTES RIVER SPRING GUIDE TRIP SPECIAL!!
Full day guide trip is $450 for 2 anglers and includes a shore lunch. 
Price for an afternoon half day float is $350! Boaters passes, flies, licenses, etc.. not included


Steelhead and trout start to spawn this time of year so watch out for and stay off any reds, or spawning beds you see. Typically these are found on gravel bars and side channels in the river. If you see fish paired up or multiple fish hanging in shallow area chances are this is a spawning bed, and it's best to fish else where! Spawners as especially susceptable to nymphs and are hungry so if your picking up a bunch of fish that are darker in color, have worn spots or sores on their tails, and/or they look like they have been shooting out eggs from their you know what, again go elsewhere.

Dry fly fishing keeps you away from spawners so if there are fish up top get after them.

If you would like to book a trip feel free to give a call at 541-647-2584 or email us here!

Deschutes River Cabin Rental

NIGHTLY CABIN RENTAL AVAILABLE AT OUR DESCHUTES RIVER FLY SHOP AND CAMP!!

Located a mile South of the Warm Springs put in on the Lower Deschutes River and just a few more miles from Mecca Flats. This is the perfect base camp for floating and fishing this section of the Deschutes River.

The 2 bedroom cabin can accommodate up to four people with it's two twin beds, one double bed and a fold out couch.

The fully furnished kitchenette allows you to save on eating out,there is a covered porch with a grill, and refrigerator to keep your beer cold!

Direct TV and DVD for entertainment after your day on the river.

The fly shop and a store are insight, guide trips meet there in the AM. Come stay the night prior to your trip so you are already ready to go in the AM!

Book Now

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!!

Check Out Our Latest Online Store Sale Items!!

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!!