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.

Lower Deschutes Salmon Fly Hatch

River flows:3800


Its that time of the year again! Salmon fly's have been present on the day stretch for three days now. Last night there were tons of the big bugs in flight buzzing around. Dry fly fishing has been best during low light conditions, that being said fish will start keying in soon. Weather forecast this week calling for mild conditions mid 60s and partly cloudy which will prolong the hatch. Look for the dry fly fishing to pick up as soon as that hot weather returns. If nymphing is your thing its been good, really damn good. The mid day bite has been phenomenal on some days. A'lot of caddis fly's are out already and we've been doing very well fishing flashy green rock worms, caddis pupas, and an assortment of euro nymphs that we are now carrying in the fly shop. Its critical to start close in on your presentation as the big boys follow the salmon fly nymphs to the bank and line up for the buffet. Happy hunting everyone!

Salmon Flys 2020

Quick update: Ive heard of a few salmon fly's buzzing around the day stretch already!! Now is the time to stock up on your favorite adult Salmon fly patterns. No top water action yet but we will keep you updated as the hatch evolves. Alot of big smolt in the Deschutes this year. Keep moving folks and keep those nymphs wet.