Deschutes River Salmon Fly Action

Tradition has it in Oregon that when the Dogwood trees start to bloom the spring Chinook are running; another tradition that holds true in Oregon is when the Redwing Blackbirds show up on the Deschutes River the Salmon Flies are hatching!  That call of nature is heard by more than just birds and fish.  Fishermen flock from all parts of the globe to see this "freak of nature-four winged-food bananza" happen on the banks of our favorite river.

Salmon flies and the golden stones are insects that live underwater in the stones of the river some for up to three years in what looks to be an armored outfit.  Only clean oxygenated rivers with all the right components have hatches like the lower Deschutes River.  When the water temps hit 52.5 degrees, these armoured meat packages crawl out of the water into nearby vegetation and shed their skin as it were like the proverbial worm to the butterfly.  These critters not anywhere near the graceful beauty of a butterfly are clumsy fliers and often crash with a smack into the water making a veritable food buffet for hungry trout.

The intensity of this unique hatch which is found in only some of the most legendary rivers of the west can be amazing.  Afternoon flights of thousands of these four winged fliers can pepper the sky.  Driving near the river during one of these afternoons can be disasterous; leaving bloody smears of the three inch blobs coating a vehicle.  The good news is these clumsy critters do not bite.

The fish however do, they seem to love them and viciously attack a floating food morsel of both salmon flies or golden stones.  The goldens seem to be the prefered meal - perhaps they are sweeter?
All this combines to provide anglers on the Deschutes- who have the good fortune of timing their trip right - some unbeleivable dry fly fishing!

Favorite fly patterns for the hatch:
Chubby Chernobyl - Golden
Chubby Chernobyl - Salmon Fly
Chubby Chernobyl - Norm Woods
Sofa Pillow
Clark Stone
Norm Woods Special

Favorite Leaders for this hatch:
7-1/2' 3X tapered leader

Other hatches that show at the same time:
Caddis
Blue Winged Olives
PMD- pale morning dun
Green Drakes (inconsistently)

Fishing the Deschutes can be challenging as regulations do not allow one to fish out of a boat.  Good bank fishing access can be found around the town of Maupin or Warm Springs/Mecca Flats.

To really experience the best of the hatch, in the most remote parts of the canyon join the crew of the guides from Water Time Outfitters.  The WTO team has many decades of experience fishing the banks of the D.  Groups of 2- 10 anglers can easily be accomodated.  See more at:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Salmon Flies Starting to Stir- Deschutes, Oregon

Tanner Crandall with a dandy he hooked on a Chubby Norman- May 2, 2016

The expression on his face was priceless; the bend of the rod told the story.  This was no average Deschutes redside, this was a dandy.  The explosion on the surface surely surprised him- this being one of the first times my 9 year old son Tanner experienced salmon fly action on the Deschutes.  Sure, he's caught fish even some while he was too young to remember but this one I'm sure he will remember.  Camping, exploring Indian paintings and fishing on the Deschutes are sure to blaze strong memories of a lifetime no matter what the age. 

Well, it's that time of year when the big bugs of spring start to migrate from their stoney homes to the reeds and trees on the banks of the Deschutes River.  These big bugs are a highlight of the year as they represent the bounty of spring and kick off to the warm sunny season in this high desert canyon of central Oregon.  Virtual "Big Mac's" for trout these clumsy bugs fall into the river and are met with aggressive smashing strikes from hungry trout making for some of the best dry fly action of the season.

Favorite flies are big dry flies like sz 4,6 and 8 Stimulators, Chubby Chernobyl's, Sofa Pillows and such.  Using a short tapered leader tapered to 3X or 4X will help present these big flies close to the bank and under structure.  Water temperatures and flows are looking good and the hatch should be spread through the entire river and just getting better in the next 2 weeks.

Join us for trout fishing fun on the banks of Oregon's wild and scenic Deschutes River.  Water Time Outfitters guides have been working the Deschutes for over 20 years and love to share our favorite waters.  See more about our services at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Below is a photo journey of a recent father-son trip on the lower Deschutes.

Getting coaching from dad.

Exploring historic Native American pictographs

Golden Stone!

Fish to hand

Getting down the basics

Dry fly trout to hand

Big fish!  

The Deschutes River Fall Steelhead Experience

It is hard to find the words to describe the experience of the Deschutes River canyon fall steelhead trip. It's in Oregon's high desert, sage and juniper trees line the hills where basalt cliffs tower and canyons veer through the crags.  This is home to chuckar, quail, bighorn sheep, mule deer and coyote. A National Wild and Scenic cooridor that hosts a bounty of other wildlife along the river too. Beaver, otter, muskrat, mink, varieties of ducks and geese, great horned owls to name a few.  Then there are the big birds; bald eagles and golden eagles which are often seen soaring the basalt cliffs and wind ruffled ridgetops searching for prey.  Whitewater welcomes the prepared here and eats the non-experienced for lunch!  The remoteness of the canyon is part of the adventure where 32 miles of hard to get to water invites your exploration. www.watertimeoutfitters.com

The Deschutes river is an aqua ribbon through this desert landscape and is home to one of the most robust steelhead runs on the lower 48.  Here both wild and hatchery steelhead are seemingly somehow born with-out the abiltiy to resist the swung fly.  These fish average between 6-8 pounds but are often found to 10 pounds.  Each year we land fish in the mid-teens.  One does not simply put the breaks on when fighting a steelhead here.  Mix big water with powerful fish and it's a recipe made for good seeing portions of backing line.  Hang on and enjoy the battle, don't rush it; let that fish run and then coax him back.

Getting ready for Buckskin Mary Rapids.

Wading is required on the Deschutes as regulations do not allow for fishing out of the boat.  The best traction money can buy is well worth it here.

History abounds on the Deschutes.

The Deschutes River railroad has an incredible story starting back in 1908.

On this adventure you can wake up to the smell of coffee and step into a prime steelhead run just feet away from camp.  Fish til dark if you like and allow the glow of the lanterns in the large canvas tents to lure you off the water. Or perhaps it's the smell of hot chocolate chip cookies coming out of the oven that welcome you to camp.  The sound of a crackling fire and dinner on the grill are part of the memorable adventure that tingles the senses and creates lasting memories.

As the weather gets colder times around the fire get better!

Campfires are allowed in the canyon after Oct 15th.  

The cool clear waters of the Deschutes are a mecca for salmon and steelhead migrating up the Columbia river.  Many seasons the Deschutes runs 10 degrees cooler than the Columbia river and is a much needed safety zone for salmon and steelhead.  

Big Deschutes river rainbow trout like to eat steelhead flies too!

Fishing the swung fly for fall steelhead

Bull trout on the Deschutes River. 

Wild turkeys in the Deschutes canyon.

Bighorn Sheep on the hills of the Deschutes Canyon

Home away from home on the river.

Come join us for an adventure that words cannot describe; once you see it you will soon know why many of our customers have been fishing this trip with us for nearly 20 years!  Make the most of your water time with Water Time Outfitters.  For more info visit us at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com @robcrandall @sageflyfish #perfectingperformance 

September Steelhead - Oregon's Deschutes River Ups and Downs

The fishing update on the Deschutes River consists of typical steelhead fishing reports from a season that has been plauged by murky waters of White River dumping silt into the lower river - the mecca for steelhead fishing in August and September.  Recent coolings in our weather has helped but more frequent fall rains have continued the off and on clearing of the lower river.  Most days the water clarity is good enough to warrant plying the waters and even in reduced visibility we've been catching a decent tally - when the water clears to a clear vision of your boots in waist deep water watch out and double check your drag.  Our last day the water cleared enough to see boots in thigh deep water we tallied up 9 hookups for the day.

Swinging flies is the most productive way to cover a lot of water on a big river like the D.  The thrill of the take is unmistakable and addictive thing.  With off colored water we have done well with sink tips and Spirit River flies in the Crandall versions of:  The Wedding Dress (blue and Cerise), Devils Candy and The Provider have all yeilded great results.

We've even found a few willing chinook on recent days.  Some of these salmon are huge and large splashy jumps reveal their presence.  Steelhead typically don't mix well with thier smellier cousins and often are found higher in riffle water or deep in tailouts when chinook are around.

Trout fishing seems to be doing well with the cooler water and decent hatches of PMD, some Blue Winged Olives and sometimes blizzards of midges.  We also know fall is here as October caddis have been showing too.  Water flows have been very consistently around 3800 cfs out of Pelton Dam.  The upper river runs clear free from the effects of White river.

Marty Smith working the camp kitchen

It's that time of year when we operate our camps on the lower Deschutes River; launching our jet boats from Mack's Canyon and setting up residence for 10 days at a time on the most famous steelhead waters of the Deschutes.  Camp life is great when you've been fortunate enough to get a camp with great steelhead water and good protection from the wind.  It's also a life saver for a fishing guide to have Super Man of running camp Marty Smith keeping things running smoothly.  However, I can attest; even Marty can't help when a guide leaves his best pile of boot socks at home-yet that's another story (big thanks to client Kevin L for saving the day there!).

For a taste of adventure visit our website: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Deschutes Guide Tricks -Working in August Water

Fishing the Deschutes for steelhead has been interesting this year.  With low flows, warmer water and glacial silt coming in from White River the angler who adapts and changes their approach will do much better.  

White River a tributary to the lower Deschutes has been dumping in chocolate milkshake colored water this year.  Some days more than others.  Often it is but a trickle and doesn't effect the big Deschutes river, however some days it can make the entire lower 50 miles look the color of concrete.  We have been hearing of many anglers getting blanked on the lower Deschutes.   We have found that switching our strategy and flies has produced consistent results even in the murky water.

As fishing guides who make a living finding steelhead year round we have found a comfortable switch for us has worked; diving into our winter steelhead strategies has made a difference.  Get the fly down where fish can see it seems to be the ticket lately with water clarity as a mere 20" some days.  T-11 sink tips and big flies have created some lasting memories and slimy hands for many of our guests this season.

Top flies have been the Crandall's Wedding dress in cerise and the Crandall's Devil Candy pattern.  Both these flies have delivered for us quiet well during limited visibility times.  

You can find these patterns at:  Royal Treatment Fly Shop in West Linn, OR or at www.spiritriver.com 

#crandallflies, #flyfishsteelhead

July Trout Fishing on the Deschutes- Oregon's Best Trout Water

Trout fishing the Deschutes River in July has been up and down but recently the up's have been way up! Water temperatures released out of the "selective water withdrawl" system at Pelton dam on the Deschutes river are now selecting to cooler waters and that is great news for trout and the bugs they feast on.  Caddis action has reached a new ferver with a spade of cooler flows and the trout are feisty and fat.

A double on strong Deschutes Rainbows!

Water Time Outfitters guides favorite stretch for rainbows on the Deschutes is the most remote part of the canyon floating from Trout Creek down.  These waters have great riffles, legendary back eddies and big rapids.  We've been guiding this section for over 20 years and love to share our favorite strategies for working productive riffles, sudsy back eddies and stalking big bows under the shade of our favorite trees.

Camp time on the river is about making memories!

Caddis patterns this time of year are generally size 16 or 18 and the most common color is tan.  A smattering of mayflies are found this time of year with the magany dun the most common.

The Deschutes River flows north towards the Columbia River.  It is near the towns of Madras, Maupin and the Dalles, OR.  It's not a bad drive from Portland (about 2 hours), Salem and Eugene.

For more information about fishing the Deschutes River in July visit our website or give us a call!  www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Deschutes River Water Temperatures- Fishing in August

Here in Oregon we are in our second year of a drought.  In much of the west many of our rivers are missing the much needed snow pack reserves to keep waters cool through the summer.  Record warm flows are changing things for wild fish at they attempt to ascend NW rivers.  The Deschutes River is no exception and we have seen extreme warm conditions already this year.  A recent cooling trend has helped knock the edge off the heat and has dropped water temps back to a survivable range but many of our rivers like the Clackamas, Willamette and lower Deschutes fish have been stressed.  

On the Deschutes River water temps are coolest towards the dam.  For trout fishing focus on Warm Springs area for coolest water.  In addition expect that water temps from the dam will be cooler starting Aug 1. The new selective water withdrawl system in place now mandates cooler water reserves to be used in August.  With very low snow pack in the region the Columbia river is running much warmer than normal.  This creates an incredible draw to the cooler waters of the Deschutes for the entire Columbia river run of steelhead passing the mouth of the Deschutes.  

(Compare the two charts above- the top chart is the Deschutes water temp at the mouth of the Deschutes.  The bottom chart is the Columbia River water temp near the mouth of the Deschutes. This difference in temperature will draw a lot of fish into the Deschutes.)

We recommend fishing with a thermometer and limit your fishing when water temps soar to around 68 or more.  This range is extreme danger for our wild trout and steelhead.  Fish mornings for coolest water temps and be sure to crush the barb for a quick release.

Feel free to give us a call for an up to date report on water conditions.  www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

October / November Deschutes River Reports

Water Time Outfitters has been guiding most every day in the last several months on Oregon's Deschutes river chasing our favorite fish- Steelhead!  Here we swing flies for the aggressive grab from elusive steelies.  As steelhead migrate in from the ocean they spread out over the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes River.  These fish like to hide in certain spots where the water speed and depth are to their liking.  Structure like boulders and riffle breaks in the current give these migrating beauties a place to rest from their journey against the steady flow of the Deschutes River which averaged 6 miles per hour.  River flows for much of October were steadily around 4000 cfs at Madras and bumped up to around 5000 in early November.  Water temperatures have been very mild and steadily in the 50's slowly migrating lower into November.  The consistent flow and tailwaters of the Deschutes make it ideal water to chase steelies Here you rarely have to worry the river will blow out or turn brown when you arrive.  www.watertimeoutfitters.com

The Deschutes River flows through arid canyons of the high desert of central Oregon.  Sage brush and juniper spice the dry air and fill your nose with a medly of the desert country smells.  Columnar basalt cliffs rise high above you as you float the ancient Deschutes River canyon.  Golden eagles often soar on the rising thermals near these cliffs.  Mule deer and otters often great you along the river's narrow but lush riparian zone next to the steady flowing river.

Our favorite trip on the Deschutes is a camp trip.  Here we send Marty Smith with our gear boat ahead to set a comfortable camp.  Anglers and guides spend all day on the water and come into a prepared camp with a warm campfire going.  Marty often has chocolate cookies in the oven as we arrive.

The Deschutes River has a variety of steelhead strains that arrive in the fall.  The Deschutes hatchery steelhead is from the Pelton Dam hatchery located near the 100 mile mark.  These fish are clipped with the distinctive adipose fin and maxillary fin clipped.  Wild - unclipped fish also spawn in the Deschutes basin.  A strong run of wild fish ascend the Deschutes River each fall.  Out of basin steelhead often stray into the cool verdant waters of the Deschutes as well.  These fish are both wild and hatchery origin.  Hatchery strays will have only the adipose fin clipped.

Water Time Outfitter guides have been sharing the Deschutes river with anglers for over 20 years.  Our seasons are generally filled up with returning guests but we always love to meet new friends.  If you'd like to join us for a Deschutes River fishing adventure visit our website: www.watertimeoutfitters.com and give us a call!  Guides Rob Crandall, Gil Muhleman, Marty Smith and Kenny Kiley.  

Ten Tips for Deschutes Caddis Success

During the summer months on the Deschutes River below Pelton dam the main food source for feisty redband rainbow trout are caddis flies.  Along the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes river there are a handful of species of caddis that live and thrive in the cool waters of this high desert river.  Below the columnar basalt cliffs the emerald waters host a strong population of caddis that hatch each day from May through October. During the season the size, variety and density of these caddis change but a basic understanding of these moth like critters can help give you boat loads of rod bending success.

Caddis flies line the table cloth near the lantern at night on our Deschutes River camp.

The main caddis we focus on during the summer months are the Green Sedge or Rhyacophila, the spotted Sedge or the Hydropsyche and the Saddle-Case Caddis or Glossosoma.  These caddis have four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult.  Most species live in the river for about one year.  A major portion of the life of a caddis is spent as a larvae which looks like a small worm.

There are a number of tricks that can help you be more successful with your time on the water during the summer caddis hatches.  Below are some favorites that the Water Time Outfitter guides use to help their clients consistently get into fish on the Deschutes.  Hopefully these tips will help you make the most of your water time.

1. Match your fly size correctly to the natural.  Find hatched caddis that are along streamside foliage and grab one.   Get a good look at that little guy and see that your fly pattern is close in color and size.  It is easy to tie on a fly that is too big.  For the Deschutes river our most common sizes are size 16 and 18.

2.  Focus your effort on dry flies at the right time of day.  Not that you can't catch fish on dries all day long during the summer months; you can, but you will find more success at specific parts of the day.  Prime times to fish dries are during the mid morning hours from 10am - around 2 pm.  Often from 3-6 there is a lull in dry fly action.  Then the last 2 hours of the day (depending on the weather) the best dry fly action of the entire day is often had.  The last 20-30 minutes before dark can be a frenzy!

3.  Fish around structure and shade.  Big rainbows are smart and if they live on the Deschutes they have survived the legendary hunter in the sky - the osprey.  There are so many osprey on the river now that you can see a different nesting pair about every mile of river.  That means rainbows are smart to their enemy from above or they are dinner!

4.  Keep your fly floating.  If you can't see that dry fly it's very difficult to be effective, especially if you are presenting the fly upstream.  When you can't see your fly present close with an across current present and you'll feel the take better (good to do in low light right at dark).

5.  Polarized glasses for back eddy fishing.  Sipping rainbows working the suds are a fine target mid-day.  Often food piles up in the eddies more than any place on the river.  Big rainbows are well aware of this food smorgasborg and they are there.  We like to say "foam is home", meaning where you see foam pile up on the water you will also see lots of food.

6. Casting accuracy for rising fish.  Don't line big rainbows that are rising.  False cast to the side and get the right line length then present your fly.  Your first false cast over a big fish throws spray off your line.  Do this to the side of the fish so spray of water droplets doesnt come down right on a feeding fish.  It also helps to keep a shadow from crossing over a spooky fish.

7. Emergers - fish deep pupa emergers when nothing is happening on the surface and before the evening hatch to keep the action going during dry fly lulls.  When nothing is happening on the surface it might be because there is so much food in the drift the trout have switched their focus.

8. Use both a dry and an emerger dropper during the hatch will get you more results.

9. Bow and Arrow casting under the trees for the biggest fish.  The best way to get to big rainbows under the trees.  Try it, you might be surprised.

10. Trim the bottom hackle on your dry flies (like Elk Hair Caddis) so they ride on the surface correctly more of the time and sit a bit lower in the surface film.

To fish with the guides who've been doing it for over 20 years come join Water Time Outfitters and Rob Crandall on the Deschutes River.  See more information at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com  We offer single and multi-day float trip adventures on the wild and scenic Deschutes River canyon.  Trout and steelhead fishing are our favorites - come see why!

Water Time Outfitters 2013 Highlights of the Year

It has been a great year with fantastic clients like you!  We just wanted to thank you for your participation in our 2013 season with Water Time Outfitters.  It has been busy with some amazing highlights.  We are glad that you could be a part of it.  We look forward to spending time on the water with you in 2014.  Here are a few of the many highlights from the year.

The first one of the day.

The BIG ONE!

Clive Furrows of San Diego with several amazing wild fish from one exceptional day on the N. Oregon coast.  After many years fishing BC and around the world Clive landed his biggest steelhead ever on a #7 weight spey rod.  By the measurements this fish         easily went 23.3lbs. Congrats Clive!

Congrats to Adam Straw who landed his first steelhead on the fly rod this year on the Clackamas River.  He was swinging a marabou spey pattern with a sink tip and hooked two in one morning.  Adam had that smile on his face for at least a week!

Jim Drew (photo to right) snuck this dandy chromer out of the run right behind a fly fishing legend.  He did it so non-chalantly that I had to give him mega credit.  His friend and fly fishing guru wanted Jim’s fly after the dust settled from the camera shutters. 

New guide in training- my son Tanner at the tiller on the jet sled.  Oh yeah, he landed a steelhead that day too!

Happy New Year!

 Fly fishing for shad in June was a definite highlight- what a blast!  We did ½ day trips morning and evening for shad and averaged 40 hook ups each 4 hours.  We had many doubles, saw huge sturgeon jump right in front of us and even caught some dandy smallmouth bass. 

 Tanner Crandall got in on the action and hauled in this whopper shad. (Left)




Jon Hill worked over the shad pretty good but was surprised when he brought in this red eyed devil- a      hard fighting Smallmouth Bass.

Deschutes River Trout fishing was good this year.  We had so much fun!  A favorite trip was hanging out in one camp for three days.  There were so many caddis in July- the word blizzard comes close to describing it!

Don Lewis and Henry M. had a productive trip on the lower D. this year in early September.  Don commented: “What is wrong, I can’t get this one in”… that’s because it’s a big strong steelie in it’s prime Don!

Jeff Evershed hit it just right this fall on the lower Deschutes; one of those rare days when it is overcast and a bit rainy.  We stopped counting after he had 10 hookups on steelhead.  Fish were rolling everywhere! 

  

An epic morning on the Deschutes(right), we watched 30 bighorn sheep across the river, had deer 15 yards away and landed this dandy steelhead and lost one the first stop of the day!

Thanks again for all the wonderful days on the water this year.  There are so many, many more stories and pics that are also highlights.  

All the very best to you and yours for 2014!

From the Crew at Water Time Outfitters: Rob Crandall, Gil Muhleman, Marty Smith and Kenny Kiley