At last our favorite meadow stream has opened for the season! This year’s snowpack is sending lots of extra water into the Upper Deschutes area so as you venture out there, please be careful. The area that experiences the worst flooding is around Cow Meadow below Snow Creek. If you get out there and the meadow is partially submerged, you can still get around and fish but be very careful as you move from spot to spot.
The fish will be active, with a number of aggressive brook trout fighting over large, heavy flies fished around structure and in undercut banks. Have a variety of Skulpzillas and Crystal Flash Buggers, fished on short, stout leaders.
Meanwhile the Crooked River has at last come down to “Summer Flows”. It’s been the better part of a week and we are holding our breath to find out if there’s any fish left. Stay tuned till next week for a full report. Or better yet, get out there yourself to find out and let us know!! We have some reason for hope, but there’s been no confirmation either way since the flows dropped.
Down on the Lower Deschutes, the Salmonfly madness is in full swing. There are many, many bugs around and almost as many anglers. This is a special event down there and we hope many of you will be able to experience the hatch, either with one of our guides or on your own. While we understand completely the draw to the river when the big bugs are out, we also hope that those of you who are spending time down there are being respectful of the fish, the canyon and each other. We’re ALL in this together!!