FISHING: Great
Deschutes at Madras: 4,200 cfsWell the salmon fly and golden stones are all wrapped up and it’s on to the next phase of the summer trout menu.We are transitioning well into the Caddis and PMD hatches.The further down the river the more concetraions of caddis and fish working that you seem to find.It has been weeks since the salmon flies have been around down there and the fish have adjusted accordingly and are posting up in the caddis zones.Warm Springs to Trout Creek is a week or so behind.A couple of hot days in a row to really jump-start the caddis blitz and this will all change.Everywhere in between the nymphing and dry and a drop in the riffles has been good.The evenings are starting to fish better and better as well.We are primed up and ready to crack open on some great dry fly action and dive into our mid-summer trout program, caddis.
RECORDED:71 °FISHING: Good In the upper sections of the River, Warm Springs to Trout Creak, the Salmon Flies and Golden Stones are still around. We are getting down to the wire, though. It has been good but should start to thin out soon. As of now, the fish are looking up and the big dries are still working...enjoy it while you can.
The Stones have really thinned out on the lower sections of the River, especially below White Horse. Down into Maupin they are all but gone. Still worth throwing a big dry and seeing what happens—you can at least search with a dry-'n'-a-drop. Caddis and PMD's are starting to crowd in on the lime-light as the Salmon Fly hatch is about done.
July and Caddis can be fantastic so all is far from lost as the big bugs pack it in for 2009.
RECORDED:80 °FISHING: Great There is still a boat stuck on “Oh $h!t Rock” in White Horse rapids. Mark Angel has been in there working on it and it should be off in the next day or two if it isn’t by the time of this report (an interesting side note, but if you don’t know who Mark Angel is, it is definitely worth a Google to read a little bit about him).
From Warm Springs to Trout Creek, still plenty of adults around. Fish are looking for them but they are definitely pressured and getting even more picky. Keep bringing that “A-game”. The PMDs and Caddis starting to show up top with scattered reports of Green Drakes, but those are day-to-day and spot-to-spot.
Below White Horse, the Big Bugs continue to thin. Still fish looking for ‘em but getting tougher the further downriver you go. They are all but gone around Maupin. Still worth throwing those big Stones and milking the rest of the hatch but be prepared to switch over to PMDs, Caddis, and even nymphing if you don’t get any takers.
A quick update to yesterday’s fishing report but a lot has happened in 24 hours.
We had some thunderstorms move through the area and Muddy Creek is living up to its name. It is currently blown-out and the Deschutes is running milky below it. The storm wasn’t a very big one so things should clear up fast. Just take a little more time working your way down to the confluence by working the upper stretches a little harder. This should give things some extra time to clear up.
Also, looks like the Deschutes has eaten another one. There is currently a boat stuck on “Oh $h!t Rock”. This seems to happen every year (if not more often). Trust me, taking just a couple of extra minutes to scout your line can make all the difference in the world. Know what you are going to do ahead of time and make sure your head is on right—things can get very serious, very quickly. Haven’t heard the fate of the occupants.
Otherwise, basically the same report as yesterday:
The Salmon Flies and Golden Stones are still really thick above Trout Creek. However, this section of the River seems to be busier than past years. This means the fish are experiencing tremendous pressure. Fish are working the surface but you are going to have to bring your “A-game”—your very best flies and your very best presentations. The smallest mistake will send this fish running for cover.
The Stones are definitely starting to thin on the lower sections of the River. Seems like even more so than yesterday. There are still some adults in the trees, bushes, and grass so still worth throwing a big dry and seeing what happens. I think you still have a little bit of time to milk this hatch. The fish will remember those guys even after the hatch has completely finished-up.
The lower section is definitely switching to a PMD and Caddis show. Seeing tons of these bugs flying around.
And don’t forget about the Green Drakes. Always a chance they may show. Stock your fly boxes accordingly.
In the upper sections of the River, Warm Springs to Trout Creak, the Salmon Flies and Golden Stones are really getting thick—it’s this section’s turn to shine for the big Stonefly hatch. Not only are the Big Bugs around but also saw a lot of fish working ‘em. It is really just starting to come into play up there and the top will have more of the big bug action in the coming week (hopefully longer).
The Stones are starting to thin on the lower sections of the River, especially below White Horse and down into Maupin. But even close to Maupin there are still some adults in the trees and bushes and the fish are still looking for ‘em. Still worth throwing a big dry and seeing what happens—don’t give up just yet.
I have noticed more-and-more PMD’s around—the afternoon thundershowers have been pretty good for the Mayflies. Look for the PMD’s and Caddis to start taking over on the bottom end, and like all the hatches, moving its way up the Canyon and becoming the main staple through July.
We have also seen some Green Drakes so they are around. Keep a close eye out for these guys in case they decide to make an afternoon cameo.
Salmon Flies and goldens are full throttle. The fishing just kept getting better and better last week. Big bugs are present from Warm Springs to Maupin and the fish are keyed in. As good as the fishing has been, I am now waiting for every Redside in the river to be stuffed..and fishing to slow...joking. But with things progressivley getting so good, you do wonder when it will slow. Hopefully not soon, it has been good, and throwing those big dries never gets old.
With the long stretch of warm (hot) weather there has been a continued increase of caddis, PMD's, big PED's, and yellow sallies. I have only spotted a token Green Drake. With the thunderstorms and potentai cooler weather next week, the stage could be set to stumble into some Drakes..or a ripping PMD event.
Do not underestimate the "little guys" (mayflies, caddis and yellow sallies). If you are working a picky fish blowing up on natural stones/salmon flies and it is snubbing yours; try a smaller stone or the change up with a PMD or caddis.
In the evenings, don't over look an e/c caddis or PED pattern if things aren't working.
Have fun and enjoy the big bugs, they'll be gone before you know it and you'll be straining to see size 16's.
RECORDED:89 °FISHING: Great BIG DRY FLY SEASON IS HERE!!!
Off again on another multi-day. Basically we’ve been doing laps on the multi-day stretch from Trout Creek to Harpham Flats (Maupin). The good news is the BIG bugs have been getting thicker and thicker each trip. Fish are definitely eating adults the whole way through and more and more fish are keying in on them, especially on the lower stretches. This trend will continue to work its way up the River. But the fishing has been consistent and good all the way through the Upper Deschutes—there should definitely be adult Salmon Flies (and Golden Stones) all the way up to Warm Springs. The Bugs have been very active with all this warm weather we’ve been having and are flying a lot and even migrating at night. It’s been a “flip-flop” as to whether it has been better fishing in the morning or the evenings but it will only get better as the fish continue to cue in on the adults.
Starting to see more and more PMDs and fish working ‘em. There have also been tons of Caddis already and even some BIG PMD’s around. Also, it is a little early but I have been seeing some Little Yellow Sally’s as well. Things are really primed and the next couple of weeks should get even better and better with all this warm, consistent weather we’ve been having.
The one downside to all this warm weather is that the Salmon Fly Hatch might spin-out a little early this year. But that isn’t a bad thing. Plenty of good dry-fly fishing the rest of the season on the Deschutes and the crowds will continue to decline from here on out. Oh well, their loss and more for us...
RECORDED:89 °FISHING: Great SALMON FLIES ARE HERE!!!
Just got off another multi-day from Trout Creek to Harpham Flats (Maupin). We were seeing adults, even at the ramp in good numbers. With all the warm temps we’ve been having, the bugs are flying starting to fly and we found fishing taking dries the whole way through that stretch. There should even be Salmon Flies up on the 1-day (Warm Springs to Trout Creek).
If you do go out and start throwing dries and aren’t having any luck, it is still early in the hatch and the fish may not have keyed in on them just yet so don’t be afraid to go back to nymphing. We had the best success using a lot of the smaller stuff like 18-20 Lightning Bugs, red Copper Johns, and Batman Nymphs. Some on the traditional big Stonefly patterns were getting takes but smaller was definitely working better if you can’t coax the fish into taking the adults.
Also saw quite a few Caddis and even saw fish work some PMD’s.
Everything is primed for the fishing to crack wide-open. Fishing has been really good and traffic has been lighter than usual, especially for this time of year. Have fun and get out there
RECORDED:77 °FISHING: Great SALMON FLIES ARE HERE!!!
We just got off a multi-day trip fishing Trout Creek to Maupin. From Trout Creek to Maupin adults are present in pretty good numbers. From South junction down, nymphing was better above White Horse but below White Horse the fish are definitely looking up and were keying in on the adults. With all this warm weather we’ve been having the adults are very active and flying and it should be any day that they are starting to emerge on the upper sections of the Deschutes.Fishing is getting ready to crack wide-open for the summer. There are plenty of bugs around and probably even some bugs starting to show on the 1-day section. Get out there and starting throwing those big dries! SUMMER IS HERE!!!
Weather is amazing! Is this June or what?River bumped up a little bit (200 cfs) from this weekend, still at a nice level.Fished this weekend (Warm Springs to Trout Creek).Weather was a lot nicer than the fishing.It was a little slow.Not bad, but huge expectations made it seem slower than it was.
There were quite a few Caddis around and a mix of Mayflies coming off.Did not see much for fish working on top except smolts.One day the bigger Stonefly nymphs accounted for the bulk of the nicer trout, the next day it was the smaller nymphs that hauled the mail.The bigger redsides that came to hand were in great shape, fat and sassy.
Despite the slower days this warm weather should only increase and jump-start the stonefly nymphs on getting active and migrating.Word on the street is that adults are present down lower.We did see one adult Salmon Fly, but more of a fluke, but an indication of what is on the horizon.With the continued nice days, more fish might start keying in and working the caddis and looking up.It is only a matter of time before those big dries that have been hibernating in your boxes will see the light of day.
