2018 Season Wrap Up!

Well that’s a wrap, well it’s been done for a bit. But we have concluded our tenth season at
River Borne Outfitters! It was a great season, every year I try to be more consistent with  reports and newsletters. But the last few seasons have been busy. And we have found ourselves on the river more than behind a computer screen!

Just gonna post some photos of this past season... and get back to it.

Cheers, and here’s to the next ten years!

- River Borne Outfitters

Deschutes and Crooked River Fly Fishing Reports

8/30/18

Deschutes River -  4000 CFS

Trout - Trout fishing is excellent in the upper sections of the Deschutes. Though it is mainly a nymph and streamer bite at this point. With the cooler nights of late we have seen a really good bite!

Both long line nymphing and euro nymphing techniques will work, as well as a variety of nymph patterns. Though we definitely have a few favorites!

Getting on the bottom is key, this is the time of year we start using small stonefly nymphs again. Jimmy Legs, or Pat's rubbers legs in size 10-12's are deadly, with a dropper will produce.
Mayfly nymph patterns start producing more as well as we will start seeing more mayfly hatches headed into fall, especially on overcast days. Lighting bugs (Purple) Flash Back PT's, Tungsten Split Cased PMD's and BWO patterns all produce as droppers...

If nypmphing is not your cup a tea try throwing a streamer like an olive or black skulpzilla pattern and hold on!

Steelhead - There was a good early push of fish over the dams and many turned into the Deschutes. There have been some good catches up high as Maupin at this point. The big push of fish that usually shows up this time of year is a bit late. So keep your fingers crossed that it does show up. Otherwise the run is looking to below average again.. That being said there is always some opportunities  for fish. Cover a lot of water and enjoy the search. And at some point the stars will align and that line will come tight!

We still have some availability for Deschutes River Steelhead day and multi day trips. We have a prime slot from 9/25-10/3 available at this time. We always get into fish this time of year!

More more info on Deschutes River Steelhead trips Read On... To Book or to get more info you can also call 541-647-2584

Crooked River - 276 CFS

The Crooked fished really well for us in August. We saw a very consistent PMD hatch all month long. Typically we nymphed in the morning and did some dry fly fishing once the hatch started mid day. Its a midge bite in the AM, switching over to a mayfly nymph/emerger bite, then dry flies baby!!

The river has had good flows, and we have seen a rebound in fish numbers and some with size. The river will continue to fish well through out the fall.

Deschutes and Crooked River Fly Fishing Reports

7/15/18

Deschutes River- (Fishing Excellent)

Typically this is my favorite time of year for trout fishing on the Deschutes. Fishing of late has not disappointed! We are in the peak of the Caddis hatch now. The hot weather has really kicked the bugs into high gear.

Dry fly fishing opportunities can be found all day... if you know where to look! Be very observant this time of year. A boat helps when floating and hunting “heads”, look for subtle risers lazily sipping emerging and spent caddis.

Shade is king this time of year. Look for fish, especially big fish to lay up under Alders in the back eddies and riffles.

Hot patterns include Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis, Skaddis, Double Duck Caddis, CDC and Elk Caddis in sizes 14-18. Tan is my favorite color..

Swing into the  Deschutes River Fly Shop and Camp on your way to the river to stock up on these flies and more. Or make the camp your base camp while fishing the river and enjoy our shade trees and manicured lawns all within site of the Deschutes and minutes to the Warm Springs boat ramp and Mecca Flats!

If you want someone to show you around and put you on to fish book a guide trip with River Borne Outfitters the most approximate guide service to this section of river.. We would love to show you around!

Crooked River -  (Fishing good)

After a kinda slow start to the season, the Crooked is finally starting to come into shape and fish well. And when I mean by in shape, I mean finally getting some color. The river has ran really clear for most of spring and early summer. Which is un usual for this little tail water, which is usually running a little off color because of the silt that is found in the reservoir. The stained water allows anglers to get closer to the fish and maybe get away with less than perfect drifts!

Hatches of PMD’s, Glossama Caddis, and midges are most common this time of year. Nymphing Midge Winklers, Zebra Midges, Mayhem Midges, FB Pheasant tails and egg patterns have been working best for me! Think small... size 18-20's.

For more info on the Crooked River, including info on Crooked River guide trips Read On...

Fishing Reports 6/13

DESCHUTES RIVER- Although the big bugs are gone, the fish are still hungry and the fishing has been great! With the end of the Stoneflies we see the first of the big caddis and PMD hatches, and the fish quickly take notice and turn their attention to the plentiful smaller bugs. Their have been lots of caddis out the last few days, and a few fish rising for them midday, but the evenings provide the best dry fly fishing. Carry #14-18 brown, olive, and tan caddis patterns like the X-Caddis, Elk-Hair Caddis, Double-Duck, and Partridge Spent Caddis. We have been seeing some big hatches of PMD/PEDs as well, and even a few Green Drakes.

Nymphing remains productive throughout the day, with most fish being taken on caddis pupa, soft hackles, Hare’s Ears, Pheasant Tails, and PMD Nymphs. The crowds we saw during the Salmonfly hatch have all gone home, and other than rafters and the odd fisherman, we have had the river mostly to ourselves the last few days. The caddis on the Deschutes make for some amazing fishing, and with warmer weather in the forecast it should only pick up from here!


CROOKED RIVER- The Crooked has been decent, although not great the last week or so. The Mother’s Day caddis are done for the most part, and we haven’t seen much in the way of hatches or dry fly opportunities. That being said, nymphing has still been productive on small (#18-20) mayfly and midge patterns. Small flashback PTs, Hare's Ears, Micro-Mayflies, Zebra Midges, Mayhem Midges and Two-Bit Hookers have all been great. Concentrate on on deeper riffles and buckets, as the water is low and clear and fish will congregate in these areas. 

Salmonfly update

SALMONFLY UPDATE!

The stoneflies are out in full force in the Warm Springs area, and fish are finally starting to focus on them! Although they have been out for about a week now, and we have been getting a few fish on adults here and there, yesterday was the first day I saw fish really looking for them. They have moved up into the “salmonfly water” – along the banks, under trees, etc. Some of the females already have their egg sack, and are making egg laying flights. We expect the dry fly fishing to remain strong for the next few weeks. Chubby Chernobyls, Norm Woods, and Sofa Pillows have all been working well. Also look for hatches of PMD/PED’s, Caddis and Green Drakes (especially on cloudy days. The caddis fishing in the evenings can be great! Nymphing has also been good, with fish being taken on Stonefly nymphs, Caddis Pupa, soft hackles, Hare’s Ears, Split Case PMD’s, Copper Johns, etc.

Our guides still have some availability mid-week, which are usually less crowded than the weekends and provide great fishing! Give us a call at 541-647-2584 or click here to book your trip today! 

Stop by and see us at Deschutes River Fly Shop and Camp for all your fishing and camping needs!

Deschutes River Fishing Report

5/6/18

Fishing has been great on the Deschutes these last few weeks. We aren’t seeing any salmonfly adults yet, but with warm weather in the forecast it won’t be long. We are guessing within a week we will be seeing the hatch as high as Warm Springs. Keep in mind that it usually takes a few days of the adult stoneflies being around for the fish to really key into the dry flies. In the meantime, the nymphing has been great, with fish being taken on stonefly nymphs, Hare’s Ears, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, and soft hackles. We have also been seeing some early Mother’s Day Caddis, and fish rising to them in the evenings. On rainy, overcast days we have been seeing hatches of BWO’s and March Browns, although the March Browns are on their way out. Look for hatches of PMD’s to pick up in the next few weeks. Stop by Deschutes River Fly Shop for the latest intel, bugs and beer.

Our guides have been having great days on the water lately, and still have some opening left in May, click here for more info or call 541-647-2584 to book your trip today!

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!