Lower Deschutes Steelhead
Recent reports have steelhead moving quickly up the Lower Deschutes River spurred on by lower water temps and the White River blowing out the lower 30+ miles. With every passing day the great fish move farther towards their ancestral spawning grounds, drawn inexorably against the current. Now is the time to look into booking a trip or just stop by the shop for the latest intel. The dam counts are good, the condition of the river is really good and the fish are epic! Let us get you into some steel soon!
Educational Night at the Shop
Next Thursday, the 20th from 6-8 we will be hosting our monthly Educational Series. This event will be focused on how to approach our local fisheries as sammer wanes into fall, including flow changes, seasonal river closures, the best spots to look for late summer action and the ways to fish. As usual there will be some munchies, beer and wine. And as usual, the night is free to all comers. Please RSVP to the shop either by phone or email and don’t forget your chair.
Local Trout Fishing Has Been Great
From all reports we are seeing improving fishing on many of our local waters as we head into August. The Crooked River has really picked up. Recent trips have seen lots of fish hooked on a variety of nymph rigs until around 1 or 2pm when we’ve seen a pretty good PMD hatch come off. Lots of different midge nymphs have been productive in the mornings as have a couple variations on the PMD nymph. Stop by the shop for the latest patterns or better yet book a half or fuul-day trip with one of our guides to get shown the best methods and places to fish. We would be stoked to turn you on to the next level!
Meanwhile the Upper Deschutes has been fun for brook trout from Cow Meadow up to Mile Camp. There’s so much exploring to do up there. Pack a lunch and some water and explore! Way out in the meadows are some great spots to either fish nymphs, streamers or dries depending on your idea of a good time. But get off the beaten track if you can. And either early or late are the best times up there right now. With the low water and long bright days the fish get less eager to feed. So dawn patrol or into the dark. But no matter what bring your best bug spray!
The Lower has been good fun the last few trips. Mostly nymphing with the occasional fish working caddis dries. Whether you have a boat or not, there are plenty of areas to catch fish. Everything from Olive Dirty Birds #18 to little Black Rainbow Warriors to un-beaded Sparkle Pupae have caught fish –and that was just at one stop today! As normal for this time of the year it is a pot-pourri down there bug-wise so change often and you’ll find something that works. Our guides have been hard at work day after day to sort out the best water to fish and how to fish it. All the intel is at the shop, or call to book a trip and let us get you dialed into some slabby Redsides.