Fish On!

Lower Deschutes River

A pair of anglers takes a break from fishing for the native-Redband rainbows and legendary steelhead that inhabit these waters, while resting against their loaded drift boat during a sunny summer day on the Lower Deschutes river.
Your Direct Line to the Water

Guide Report

Fly Rod Divider Design Detail Confluence Fly Shop Bend Oregon
9/28/2024 – When it comes to the Lower D, I have nothing but good news to report: steelhead are all over the system, with anglers catching them by swinging intruders and classic flies (#4 Hoh Bo Speys, #4-8 Streetwalkers, Green Butt Skunks, and Silver Hiltons) and nymphs, too (#4-8 Pat’s Rubber Legs, #4-8 Hot Bead Stones, and #8-14 Eggs).

If you plan to target trout and hope to hook up with a Steelhead, make sure that you size up your tippet! Either 2x or 3x to a stonefly and 3x or 4x to anything else. Consider using a 6wt rod with plenty of backing as the runs those Deschutes fish take are famously powerful.

Nymphing under an indicator or a size #6-10 Double Stack Chubby is proving the to be the most productive technique. Effective trout nymphs include: #14-18 Perdigons, #14-16 CDC Pheasant Tails, and #14-18 Tungsten PMD Splitbacks. While October Caddis have been seen sporadically throughout the system, the fish still don’t seem to be keying in on them quite yet. That said, #6-8 October Caddis dries and nymphs are a good idea to have with you.

9/17/2024 – After a lull during the heat and smoke of early-August, fishing on the Lower D is back and better than ever! In honor of football season starting back up, the rainbows have been absolutely GORGING themselves on mayfly nymphs and the occasional caddis floating over them. Stonefly nymphs (#6-10) are fishing well, and Micro-Chubbies (#14-16) are getting occasional eats on top. A dry-dropper with a jig nymph 2-3ft below is probably the best tactic for covering water. Flies we’re liking right now: Galloup’s Wood Duck Hare’s Ear #14-18, Diabaetis Perdigons in #16-18’s (olive or black), and Firestarter Jigs or similar (#14-18). While it is still a little bit early, an October Caddis pattern like Rio’s Caddyshack October Caddis (#6-10) will also catch fish.

BE AWARE: Steelhead are in the system! While many are in the lower section of river (Maupin to the Mouth), they are getting picked up here and there on the Day Stretch (Warm Springs to Trout Creek). Remember to use best release practices if you happen to pick one up. Tight lines!
General Weather
Details

About the Water

Pelton Regulating Dam to the Columbia River

 

The Deschutes is a desert river flowing north through deep, rugged canyons and has some of the biggest trout water that an angler will ever see.  High-side drift boats or inflatable rafts help anglers easily cover large stretches water, but numerous class III and IV rapids make the Deschutes appropriate for experienced whitewater boaters only.  Keep in mind, there is no fishing from a boat allowed on the Lower Deschutes.  This roughly 100 miles of river boasts abundant insect hatches, healthy populations of Rainbow Trout, and a run of Summer Steelhead.  The Deschutes basin’s strain of rainbow trout, called “Redsides,” grow thick shouldered, and are surprisingly strong for their size.

A popular float with plenty of fishing time and great views is the almost 10 mile stretch from the Warm Springs boatramp to Trout Creek Campground.  Beyond Trout Creek, boaters must float 30-35 miles before arriving at one of the three next possible takeouts.  The first is a boat ramp at Nena Creek, followed by Long Bend, then the biggest at Harpham Flat, then finally Wapanitia.  We fondly label this lengthy section of river, the “Camp Stretch”, where numerous BLM campsites dot the river’s edge, and provide boaters a chance to camp and unwind.  Towering canyon walls and challenging whitewater guard the beauty and remoteness of this section of the river from over fishing.  A float on this Wild and Scenic stretch of the Deschutes is our most popular guided fly fishing trip.

Dry Flies

Blue-Winged-Olives #18-20, Caddis – Saddle #16-18

Subsurface Flies

Caddis Pupa Nymphs (Spotted) #14, Golden Stonefly Nymph #6-10, Golden Stonefly Nymph #8-10, Salmonfly Stonefly Nymph #6-10, Streamer-style fly patterns (2” to 4”) – imitating juvenile rainbow trout, whitefish, sculpin, Woolly Buggers
  • SINGLE HANDED ROD: 5-6 weight
  • FLY LINE: Floating
  • LEADER/TIPPET: 9’ 3x-5x Nylon tapered leader
    • 3x-5x Fluorocarbon and Nylon tippet
  • EURO-STYLE ROD: 3-4 weight
  • TIPPET: 3x-5x Fluorocarbon tippet
  • TWO-HANDED ROD: 3-6 weight Trout Spey
  • LINE: Skagit or Scandi style fly line with an assortment of tips of various sink rates
  • LEADER/TIPPET: 0x-4x Fluorocarbon tippet
All Oregon fishing licenses can be purchased online or by downloading the MyODFW app on your smart phone. An Oregon Angling License required for any and all fishing.

What To Fish For

Artwork by Tye Krueger