Crooked River Report – 3/27/18

Our guides have had some great trips out on Crooked the last few weeks! Although the water has

been low and clear (~50 CFS) and it has been somewhat crowded, the fishing has remained strong. Although nymphing has been productive throughout the day, there has also been decent dry fly fishing in the afternoons, with good hatches of BWO’s, midges, and a few March Browns

WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHECKING FLOWS OUT OF BOWMAN DAM BEFORE HEADING OUT! This is the time of year that flows will dramatically increase coming out of the dam, and it is unproductive, not to mention unsafe to be on the river when this is happening.

When nymphing, using 5x or 6x tippet, preferably fluorocarbon, will be to your advantage. A small mayfly imitation  followed by a small midge larvae or pupae  is your best bet. If you are catching all our fish on midges, or seeing a midge hatch happening, doubling up on midges will be more productive. Scuds and sow bugs are also on the menu here, as well as small cased caddis larvae. With the low water, you will want to concentrate your nymphing efforts on deep slots, drop-offs, and riffles into pools. Stripping small olive or black buggers/leeches in some of the deeper, slower pools can also be effective.

Dry fly fishing will be best on warm, overcast days. Hatches generally start around 11-12, depending on weather. We say a great midge hatch yesterday starting around 12:30 that had lots of fish feeding on or just under the surface. BWO’s will continue to hatch through the end of April, with a few late March Browns still in the mix. When you see fish softly sipping in the slack water, they are most likely eating midge emergers. A dry-dropper setup can be a great approach for these situations, with a small midge pupa as the dropper. Griffiths Gnats also work great later in the hatch. As we get into mid and late April, keep an eye out for some early Mother’s Day Caddis (Brachycentrus). They are about size 16, brownish-olive caddis, and when they get going the fish take notice!

Nymphs:

•         Mayflies: #16-20 Pheasant Tail, Hares Ear, Copper John, Micro May, WD-40, Two-Bit Hooker, RS-2
•         Midges: #18-22 Zebra midge, Winkers Midge, Mayhem Midge, Disco Midge, Brassie, etc
•          #16-18 olive or orange scuds
•          #16-18 Ray Charles
•          #14-18 Prince Nymph
•         San Juan Worm

Dry Flies:

•         #18-20 Parachute BWO
•         #18-20 Sparkle Dun BWO
•      #18/20 Hackle-Stacker BWO
•          #18/20 BWO cripples
•         #14-20 Parachute Adams/ Purple Haze
•          #18-22Winkers Midge
•          #16-20 Griffiths Gnat
•          #18-22 Smoke jumper

One final note: the Crooked also has a spring hatch of Skwala Stoneflies. Although they do not hatch in great numbers, they are big and the fish take notice. We were able to pick up one of our largest fish yesterday on a brown Jimmy Legs nymph, and I’m sure you could fool a fish or two with a small olive stimulator.

A half-day guided trip is a great way to learn this river with one of our knowledgeable guides, and we still have some opening this spring! Give us a call at 541-647-2584 or click here to book your trip today!

Rent Our Nightly Cabin Rental at the Deschutes River Camp!

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

Now Booking! Oregon Winter Steelhead & 2018 Deschutes River Trips!!

Our 2017 is about in the books. It was a great season! Our busiest yet. We are now looking forward to the 2018 season, which starts with Oregon winter steelhead...

Oregon Winter Steelhead

We offer light tackle and fly fishing trips for steelhead January - March, focusing on the mid Oregon coast streams of the Siletz, Nestucca, and Alsea Rivers.  Ideally you are trying to catch these rivers on the drop and starting to clear once a winter storm cycle passes. Hitting ideal water conditions can be tricky at times. Though we have the ability to move around and fish different systems depending on conditions with some clearing sooner and others staying in shape longer. At times you have to be a bit flexible when booking trips for winter steelhead. It is best to give your self a few days and fishing to get it done!

When you catch these rivers in shape there can some incredible steelhead fishing to be had!
For more info on Oregon coast winter steelhead  Read On... 

Now Booking For the 2018 Season on the Deschutes and Crooked Rivers in Central Oregon!!

It not too early to start planning and booking your fishing trips for next spring, summer or fall. We offer day and overnight drift boat floats on the Lower Deschutes from May through October for both trout and steelhead!

Our flagship trips are our 3-4 day overnight camp trips in the Wild and Scenic Section of the Lower Deschutes! 

These trips are available starting in May for trout season which starts off with a bang with the famous Deschutes River Salmonfly hatch! Hands down the most popular time on the river. But it is a must do most serious anglers.

Overnight steelhead trips are available starting in September. These trips take you down in to some the most un pressured steelhead runs on the river!

Day trips are available on the Deschutes from May in November for both trout and steelhead as well.
For more information on Deschutes River Guided Fishing trips Read On...

NOW BOOKING DESCHUTES RIVER SALMONFLY TRIPS!!

Now is the time to book you Deschutes River Salmonfly trip!

The hatch typically comes off in May, this year mid May into June will be full on for the big bugs up top!

The Salmonfly hatch traditionally offers up some of the best dry fly fishing of the season! If you like throwing big dry flies for hungry trout this is the hatch for you!

This is the most busy time on the river so the best way to experience the hatch is to book a multiple day, camp trip into 30 miles of boat in only access. More water, less pressure...

Though we do have good success on the day float as well. Check out a few photos of previous years fishing. And give us a call if you have any questions or would like to book a trip!

Winter Steelhead Update!

Oregon Coast Winter Steelhead Update - 

Winter Steelheading is really just starting to get good on the coast! We have made one trip over so far, the water conditions were perfect, though fishing was a little slow. 

February and March is prime time and traditionally when fishing is best so I think it's about to turn on! 

The rivers are about to drop into shape next week. If you have had interest in trying these fisheries with me, next week should fish! 

So give me a ring and lets put something together!
For more info call 541-647-2584 or read on...

Gift Certificates Are Available for that Angler on Your Christmas List!!

Gift Certificates are Now Available for Guided Fly Fishing Trips and Fly Fishing Lessons with

River Borne Outfitters
for 2017!!
Call or email us for more information. Gift certificates can be all inclusive i.e. a full day guide trip or for a set dollar amount which can be applied to any trip or lesson we offer!

Order now so you we can mail it to you in time to put it the their stocking!!

Please visit our website for pricing and trip option at www.riverborneoutfitters.com


If you have any questions or would like to buy a gift certificate over the phone
Please call 541-647-2584 or email us at info@riverborneoutfitters.com

Deschutes and Crooked River Fly Fishing Reports

8/10/16

Deschutes River: 3910 CFS

Trout - Trout fishing on the upper section of the river is good right now. The cooler weather in July prolonged the caddis hatch later into the summer. During hot spells we are still seeing large hatches of caddis. Dry fly fishing during those times has been good. Cooler weather typically cools off the dry fly bite, but nymphing has been good then.

We always see an better trout bite in September as things start to cool down and the season changes. Hatches of BWO's and Mahogany Dun's can occur, along with caddis. Trout feed more aggressively in the cooler water...

Guide trips are available for the rest of the summer into fall for trout on the Deschutes. Read on for more info on Deschutes River Guide Trips

Steelhead - Steelhead are present in the Lower, lower sections of the Deschutes (First 24 miles) Reports have been spotty, though there are a few fish around to be caught. Look for the fish to start moving up the river in good numbers towards the end of this month and into September. By the end of September fish are spread through out the river.

We always say give yourself a few days and cover lots of water when trying to catch a steelhead on the Deschutes. One of the best ways to do that is take a multi day over night camp trip down the river!

Our flagship trip the 3 or 4 day steelhead float gets you into less pressured waters and covers over 30 to 40 miles in the course of the float. The steelhead that move up the river typically pod up, by covering water and putting some time into it you better your chances of hooking into that fish of a thousand casts!

Typically in a 3 day trip we will have action most days, and get into them good at some point in the float...

Read on or more info on Deschutes River Steelhead Fishing
And for more info on Deschutes River Camp Trips

Crooked River: 304 CFS

Fishing is fair-good right now on the Crooked. The flows have not come down to what is the usual water level for this time of year, which leads me to believe there is some additional demands for water from either the city of Prineville for the Facebook Data Center or something like that.

The algae that was plaguing the river seems to have cleared out a bit. There have been some decent hatches of PMD's and caddis. Some dryfly action can been had then if you know where to look. Other wise it's a nymph show. Small mayfly nymphs, caddis pupas, Copper Johns (Red), and the like will catch fish.

Numbers are down from years past, but there are fish to be caught, and we have been have some good days of late. Crooked River guide trips are our best half day option, and  for those looking to try the sport for the first time. Beginners and/or families welcome!