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The Deschutes River, Oregon: Arguably one of the most famous
rivers in the world, the Deschutes River, Oregon offers
tremendous fly fishing opportunities in its’ pursuit to the
mighty Columbia River. Beginning deep in the heart of the Oregon
Cascades the Deschutes River,
Oregon, known as the Upper Deschutes, makes its’ way from Little
Lava Lake through two famous impoundments, Crane Prairie and
Wickiup Reservoirs. Here, the river has created a haven for
estuary birds and larger than life Rainbow and Brown Trout. As
the Deschutes River, Oregon spills out continuing its journey to
the Columbia, the river takes on a new face and meanders through
meadows and marshes with a Cascadian backdrop of snow covered
volcanic peaks and giant Ponderosa Pines. As the river
eventually drops more than 700 feet it carves a canyon through
4000 year old lava flows creating a white water boaters
playground. Although the river’s pulse is erratic and sometimes
down right cardiac, it still hosts good populations of Rainbow
and Brown Trout for the adventure angler. As it slows for a
breathe of air, the Deschutes River, Oregon quietly glides into
the city of Bend. At this point the river gives up more than 90%
of its flow into the Central Oregon Irrigation Districts vast
canal system. This incredible system creates a stable farming
economy and bread basket of crops and turf in an otherwise
desolate
 region. The remaining flow, considered by most to be
the Middle Deschutes, continues its trek north through rugged
and treacherous canyon country. This stretch offers year round
fishing and some of the most prolific desert vistas. Home to
Rainbow and Brown Trout, the Middle has very difficult access
yet rewards those that venture into her intense beauty. Tiring
from its course through the canyon, the Middle rivers’ final
progression finds its way to Lake Billy Chinook, the last
impoundment. This great high desert reservoir, covering 4000
acres, was created in 1964 by the implementation of a hydro
electrical dam known as Round Butte. Stretching over 400 feet
high and 1500 feet in length this dam swallows up nearly 600,000
acre feet of water that flows in from an area of 7000 square
miles. This desert oasis is the embodiment of the Metolious,
Crooked, and the Deschutes Rivers. Now, on its final 100 mile
leg of the 250 mile journey, the Lower Deschutes is made. This
most famous stretch of the Deschutes boasts incredible
populations of the wests hardest fighting wild Rainbow Trout,
the “Redsides”, as well as home to the elusive Summer Steelhead
runs. At an average flow of 5500 cfs, the river plows to the
Columbia with an intense vertical drop of 1200 feet causing the
canyon rim to peer down at you some 2000 feet above. The
Deschutes River, Oregon’s shear immensity can certainly
overwhelm and inspire anyone who travels her. Known for its fly
fishing, the Deschutes River, Oregon is still recognized world
wide as a trophy fishery. Prolific hatches of Salmonflies and
Stoneflies kick the season off in May and gradually transition
into summer Caddis hatches that some would say “are of biblical
proportions”! As cooler autumn temperatures arrive, so do the
chrome bullets from the Columbia….Steelhead. The summer
Steelhead season begins and the Deschutes canyon changes its
mood to a fall spectacle of color. Long shadows and harsh
Columbia Gorge winds find their way up the canyon to confront
the undaunted steelhead angler. Two handed “Spey Rods” and swung
wet flies can produce little heart attacks as these hot fish
make their way up the river. As the river and the weather cools
these fish continue to respond to the fly. Deep presentations
with sinking tips and larger flies will pull these “street
thugs” from the bottoms where they lie. The battle ensues
through December until the last Alder leaf falls to the surface.
This is a river that one can only experience its intensity
through a physical journey. It flows through memories of past
and present. Anglers who venture into the vast canyons return
year after year. Now is your time. |
