10/12/2024 – Closed for the season as of October 1st.
9/28/2024 – ATTENTION: This weekend is your last chance to get out on the Upper Deschutes before it closes for the year! The river will be closed from Oct. 1st until mid-April 2025. That being said, fishing is still good in the Headwater stretch below Little Lava! Fish received a temporary break from angling recently due to the surrounding fires. Nymphing is going to be the most effective technique, with fishing keying in on #14-18 PMD and caddis nymphs. Streamers like Kreelex Minnows (#4-6), Fish Whackers (white and olive #4-8), Meat Sweats (#4-8), and Sir Sticks A lot (#4-8) will produce big fish when fish around the undercut banks and logs. Twistr Eggs (#16-18), and Gorman Eggs (#10-14) will also produce as the Kokanee continue their spawning journey upstream.
9/17/2024 – A lot of news out from the Upper Deschutes lately. After a temporary closure by the Forest Service, Little Lava to Bridge 40 is tentatively open. The Deschutes River Arm of Wickiup Reservoir between Gull Point Boat Ramp and the ODFW markers upstream of Sheeps Bridge is officially closed until next April to protect spawning Kokanee. Furthermore, the Deschutes River District will be operating a weir and a fish trap around the Cow Meadow zone until Sept. 27th, so we are advising anglers to please avoid this area while they complete this critical work.
On a more positive note, the areas of the Upper D that are still open are fishing well! People have been picking up good-sized fish on trout spey setups (#4-8 Sculpzilla, #8 Mini Fish Whackers, #4-8 Clouser Minnows), while nymphing has continued to be the most productive technique (#14-18 Pheasant Tails, #14-16 Quilldigons, #18-20 BWO Tungsten Splitbacks, and #18-20 Two-Bit Hookers).
If you plan on heading out that direction, make sure to check ODFW’s website for current updates on closures!
Link: https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/central-zone
