Summer is passing quickly, and opportunities to fish the Upper Deschutes will be gone before we know it. For anyone looking to target aggressive Rainbows and Brookies with dries, or wanting to fish around heavy structure in search of larger elusive fish with small streamers or a light nymph rig the Upper D is the place to go. The idyllic backdrop of the Cascades and good numbers of wild fish make the Upper Deschutes one of our favorite places to fish this time of year. Fishing has been consistent, and anglers should continue to focus efforts in the stretch of river between Little Lava and Crane Prairie to avoid warm water temps in the lower stretches of the upper river.
The Upper D provides consistent action throughout the day, and is ideal for a shorter 3 or 4wt and a handful of terrestrial, stimulator, and mayfly patterns. When surface action isn’t meeting expectations, drop a Pheasant Tail or Hare’s Ear below a relatively large dry and find the fish that aren’t looking towards the surface. The Chubby Chernobyl in a size 14 or 16 is a favorite around the shop, and will bring a good number of fish to the surface and float all day with the foam tied into the fly. It’s easy to see and can’t be beat for dry dropper rigs. To change things up or to target fewer numbers of larger fish tie on a Wooly Bugger or leech pattern and search the waters near downed logs and cutbanks.
Suggested Dries: Purple Haze #16-18, Parachute Adams #16-18, Tilt Wing PMD #16-18, Black Stimulator #14-16, Tan or Black Elk Hair Caddis #16-18, Cutters Caddis #16-18, Peacock Chubby Chernobyl #14-16, CDC Flying Ant #16, Black Flying Ant #16
Suggested Nymphs: Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail #14-18, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #14-18, Micro Mayfly #16-20, Black or Red Two Bit Hooker #16-20, Black or Pearl Rainbow Warrior #18-20, Copper Microstone #14-18