Those of you who live in the NW know that we haven’t seen too much sun in these early days of summer. Fortunately, the last two weekends have been beautiful and I took full advantage by dragging my raft down from Portland for some fly-fishing on the world-renowned Deschutes River in Central Oregon.
If you have ever had the chance to fish this river you know it is quite the experience. The beauty of the red cliffs and sage brush are beyond picturesque, and on a clear night the stars are unrivaled. Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures as I normally don’t bring my camera when I float new water, so you can let your imagination run wild.
Fishing was good, but not spectacular. The biggest fish we saw were the ones we spooked while stalking the grassy banks. That being said, there is something incredible about landing the beautiful rainbows that the Deschutes are known for. I still remember the first time I saw these beautiful “red-sides” and that experience will keep me coming back time after time.
It’s too early for the summer steelhead run so the number of fishermen on the river is manageable, but will only increase as the summer and good weather continue. You are going to have to go downstream of Maupin quite a ways because the recreational rafters and commercial operations are ramping up and busy!
Here are some tips for your next visit to the Deschutes:
- Remember, there is no fishing from the boat even though access can be hard….
- The sun is intense, I found fishing early and later in the evening the better. Make sure you stalk your holes appropriately and don’t spook the fish with your shadow. Beware of the wind picking up around 4 and blowing into the evening. Also, remember no fires.
- Watch out for rattlesnakes.
- The rocks are super slick — you’ll definitely want studded boots or be very cautious.
Flies:
- Caddis (smaller 10-14 worked for me)
- Pale morning dun
Larger nymphs:
- zug bug, prince, darker stone fly, hares ear, pheasant tail, lightning bug