Deschutes & Crooked River Fly Fishing Reports

6/23/19

Deschutes River:  4,000 CFS

The river is transitioning towards the summer Caddis thing right now.
The cooler weather has cooled the caddis hatch a bit, but once things warm up (Read 80 degrees and warmer) the bugs should really pop.

The hotter the better when fishing theCaddis hatch! Right around the Fourth of July is typically the peak of the Caddis hatch, though I think we will have good Caddis dry fly action all through July and possibly into August with the Cooler, wetter spring we have had!

When fishing the Caddis hatch, be very observant! Watch for tiny rise rings from large trout lazily sipping spent bugs and emerging bugs in the back eddies, foam lines, and under the Alders.

Popular bugs for fishing the Caddis bite are tan X-Caddis sz 16-18, Skaddis Sz 16-18, CDC & Elk, and Double Duck Caddis in smaller sizes.

Dry/dropper combo's can be productive too, fish a larger Caddis (Sz. 14) like a Parachute Caddis or a Hi Vis Elk Hair, with about 3' 5x and a small nymph dropped off the back!

Swing on into the Deschutes River Fly Shop & Camp on your way to the river and we can set you up with some productive flies for what is some of our favorite fishing of the season!

Day and multi day guide trips are available on the Deschutes all season long, give us a ring at 
541-647-2584 for more info...

Crooked River:  231 CFS

Flows are good on the Crooked, though the river is also in transition mode.
The river is running clearer than normal, due to the fact that the reservoir has not turned over yet.

Fishing is fair to good still, and will only get better as we get into the summer months.
Hatches of PMD's and caddis occur during the summer and nymphing is always a good option out there! Think small.. size 18-20 midge patterns, flash back pheasant tails, copper johns, and the like will produce fish nymphing.

Half and full day, walk and wade fly fishing trips are available all summer long on the Crooked.
The Crooked is a great option for first timers, small groups and families!

Call 541-647-2584 for more info..

Deschutes Fly Fishing Report

5/6/19

The Deschutes bordering the Warm Springs section of the river has been open a little over two weeks now! We have had guide trips out quite a bit already, and fishing has been pretty good. Especially considering that the river has been a little high and off color.

It has dropped more into shape of late, and things are about to really turn on. The Salmonfly and Golden Stone nymphs are getting very active, and with the heat forecasted for this next week I think we will see some big bugs starting to hatch soon!

Now it always takes a bit for the fish to get keyed into the Adults, so don’t be surprised if fishing is a little slow on the dries when they do, at first...

We do still have some availability for guide trips for the Salmonfly hatch, but time is running out to line up a guide for what is the most anticipated dry fly hatch of the season!

Now Booking for the 2019 Season!

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.