Fishing Reports

Winter Steelhead:  As things simmered down from our week of raging blown out rivers, it was time to start hitting the rivers on the drop. Friday fished well with multiple shots on swung winter steelhead. Saturday was great with a guest that came all the way from PA getting on the board with a good one in the first run.  A little bump in levels on Sunday, and looks good the next couple days.  Time to get out there, winter steelhead is on.

Winter Steelhead:
We have recieved some much needed rain after a long dry spell. Most of the systems have bumped and the fishing as picked up. The season is just getting going. Time to start keeping tabs on river levels and getting after it.

Deschutes:
Pelton to the Northern Reservation boundary is closed for trout and steelhead.  It is open year round below that. Winter trout fishing (Maupin area) can be good and the crowds are long gone. Mostly nymphing with some Blue Wing Olives and midges present. Look to soft seams and eddies for potential dry action. 

Still steel to be found. The clock is ticking on Pelton to Northern Reservation boundary is closed for trout and will close for steelhead December 31.  Matt is on Trout Creek and down as we speak and will have a fresh update.  Temps are 45 and below, so bust out the tips. Watch hanging up too much and not being able to swing into soft stuff. As temps cool and fish move less ( stacking, they won't spawn till Feb-March) some of the softer water seems to fish.  Some fish still being picked up lower (Maupin) as well. Seems day to day, as less fish are showing up runs won't or don't seem to "reset" as fast as October or November.  Still some time left and not all the fish are dark tomatoes.

Late innings, time to get the bats warmed up and swing for the fences.  Crowds have thinned for sure.  Top section, Pelton to Northern Reservation boundary, closes December 31.  Just came off of a Thanksgiving float. Great place for a turkey dinner and the weather was fantastic. If we keep this weather get out there. Fishing is fair. We found 2-4 a day. Not too bad, still covering and working a ton for your shots on a swung fly. Pretty much commited to tips and leechy look. Mostly swung Bantams, Hosers ( I trimmed back the underwing to lessen the bulk), and marabou tubes.  The clock is ticking, if any one is into late season camping, we are in. Give a call if you need to give it a shot.

For those trout chasers, saw plenty of BWO most mid days and some of the eddies and soft spots had quite a few heads poking up..... Open year round Northern Boundary of Reservation to the mouth (Maupin).

Steelhead:  Fish are throughout the entire system.  Warm Springs to Trout Creek seems to be picking up as more fish show up.  Bulk of the action is shifting above Maupin, as it should be this time of year.  Seems to be fishing a little better as of late, but it has been more typical work hard for your opportunities steelheading. Cover water, keep the faith and keep at it.
Trout:  Fishing has been pretty good or those not interested in the steelhead hype. Mostly nymphing, but some opportuntites for dry if the mayflies pop and some caddis. More day to day on the dry action, but the nymphing has been pretty darn good.  Trout closes Pelton dam to the Northern reservation boundary October 31.  If this is your prefered zone to harrass trout, get your last licks in before it is shut down.

Not a whole lot of changes, trout continues to be pretty good, the upper river ( Pelton to Northern Reservation boundary) closes at the end of the month, so go hit it if you are a trout guy.  A big bug, and little trailer (pheasant tail etc) has been consistent enough to not change around too much whne nymping. Keep looking for good numbers of BWO and other mays on the cloudier days  ( some eddies have been real decent) and there are some caddis kicking around ( sparkle pupas did well) on the warmer days.

Steel.  Fishing has been midiocore. Not horrible, not red hot. Steelheading, couple shots a day, some days better, some more work.  Fishing on the upper end should continue to improve as numbers increase. Only way to catch steel is to go, always worth it, when they climb on.