Fish On!

Upper Deschutes River

Your Direct Line to the Water

Guide Report

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

General Weather

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Details

About the Water

Little Lava Lake to Benham Falls

The Upper Deschutes River starts its journey as a narrow stream exiting the southwest corner of Little Lava Lake. In the shadow of Mount Bachelor, the Upper Deschutes continues roughly 7 miles southward until it enters the north end of Crane Prairie reservoir. Although generally in the 6-9 inch range, anglers can enjoy the fantastic brook trout and redband fishing in this stretch. Casting dries and terrestrials during the summer months can offer hours of excitement. Undercut banks and fallen timber provide excellent habitat for these fish, but can make casting a bit challenging at times. The remaining stretch downstream from Wickiup Reservoir to Bend is generally meandering, shallow gradient, and sand bottomed. This stretch of river is home to Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout.

Current Hatch Information

Dry Flies

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

Subsurface Flies

Caddis Pupa Nymphs (Spotted) #14, Golden Stonefly Nymph #8-10, Mayfly Nymphs (small) #18-20, Midge Larva and Pupa #18-22, Salmonfly Stonefly Nymph #6-10, Streamer-style fly patterns (2” to 4”) – imitating juvenile rainbow trout, whitefish, sculpin

Recommended Gear

SINGLE HANDED ROD: 3-6wt
FLY LINE: Floating
LEADER/TIPPET: 9’ 4x-6x Nylon tapered leader

2x-6x Fluorocarbon and Nylon tippet

EURO-STYLE ROD: 3-4wt
TIPPET: 3x-6x Fluorocarbon tippet
TWO-HANDED ROD: 3-4wt Trout Spey
LINE: Skagit-style fly line with an assortment of tips of various sink rates
LEADER/TIPPET: 2x-4x Fluorocarbon tippet