Want to See your Backing? Visit our Spey Water Steelhead Camp

August and September is prime time for the most pissed off aggressive steelhead of the season and if you want a chance to see your backing, this is the time.  Our jet boat trips offer you the best flexibility and access on the river.  This allows us to stay in shaded water longer and fish specific runs and light angles at the right time of day with very little downtime between the amazing riffles, pools, and runs of the Deschutes.  We pick you up at the boat ramp in the afternoon before your first full day so you can get to camp settle in and get a good dose of evening fishing, departing around 1pm the last day- your time on the water is optimized you simply fish and relax. 

  

Located in north central Oregon the lower Deschutes River is an immense fish magnet which flows into the Columbia river near the Dalles, OR.  In August and September near lethal water temperatures are common on the Columbia river and the spring fed Deschutes river commonly flows 10 degrees cooler than the Columbia.  This creates a magnetic effect that draws thousands of fish into the lower Deschutes.  On top of a bumper Deschutes river steelhead run these out of basin fish linger in the Deschutes for weeks waiting for cooler temps to continue their journey on up the Columbia river.  This is a bonus for anglers at times in Aug/Sept as staggering numbers of fish are available.  This is prime time for dry lines- the hallmark of Deschutes River fly fishing.

    

The thrill of the take from an aggressive steelhead can be only a cast away.  Wake up in the morning with a cup of coffee and step into a prime steelhead run only feet away from camp.  With the power boat we have the ability to cover lots of water and stay in the fish as they migrate up river.  Comfortable camps on the world famous Deschutes River get you into the action.  Our camps are designed to be home away from home with large 14' x 14' canvas tents that you can stand and walk around in.  Comfortable cots and plush sleeping pads make your adventure a breeze.  Our camp staff prepares your lodging in advance.  Steelhead Camp is 3 - 7 anglers with one or two comfortable and stable jet boats.

What we provide:

Our signature overnight guided jet boat trips are with an experienced guide who has spent countless hours on the waters you are fishing.  Expect patient personalize attention and intent focus on optimizing your time on the water with a willingness to teach you our favorite tricks to catching steelhead and trout.  River history, tall tales are river lore often come up too.  This trip also includes camp staff to cook and assist in camp as needed.  Camp is fully supplied with tents, cots, and comfortable sleeping pads.  We provide jet boat, life jackets and boaters passes.  We carry thousands of flies however we recommend you have a selection of favorites.  We supply all your meals starting with dinner day one through lunch the last day with soft drinks, snacks and water.  Meals are hearty and you won't leave hungry- most special dietary needs can be accommodated. 

These trips focus on the most remote part of the canyon to optimize our fishing success and will be downstream from the Mack's Canyon Boat ramp.  We use jet boats for transportation only as regulations do not allow fishing from a boat -all fishing is done while wading. 

Standard Jet Boat Camp Package:     Three person minimum - seven person maximum

2 nights, 1 full day fishing, 2 8 hr*-days fishing        $1250

3 nights, 2 full days fishing, 2 -8 hr* days fishing      $1650

Additional nights can be added at $425 per night / per person

Come join the fun on this world class fishery!  To save your spot call today:  503-704-6449 or email guide Rob Crandall at: rob@watertimeoutfitters.com  *approximate

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 River Steelhead - Best on the Planet?

The lower Deschutes River is perhaps one of the very best steelhead fisheries available to fly fishers in the entire western United States.  Columbia River which cuts a line between Washington and Oregon is the river highway for summer steelies going to eastern Washington, Oregon and Idaho.  Most years over 1/2 million steelhead migrate this passage.  During the warm summer months the Columbia River gets intolerably hot while the Deschutes River often stays relatively cool by comparison.  This creates a cool water magnet that steelhead cannot resist and often a major portion of the entire run will branch off into the comfort zone of the Deschutes waters.  Many of these fish travel the 100 miles up to Pelton Dam before turning back down river and on up the Columbia to their final destination.  This strain of summer steelhead is much different than it's winter run cousin.  These fish begin entering freshwater in July, August and September and won't spawn until the following February, March or April.  A long stint in freshwater for sure but puts into perspective how a short 100 mile jaunt up the Deschutes for them is no big deal.  The combination of cooler water, mega amounts of fish, the natural tendency of these fish to attack flies on the surface is the perfect combination for creating one of the best steelhead fisheries around.

The lower Deschutes has many access locations.  Favorite access sites are the mouth of the River at Heritage Landing or the Deschutes River State Park or the Maupin area.  For the traveling angler with a family there is a lot to do in both locations.  White water rafting is a big deal in Maupin with one day floats that have frothy whitewater spray for miles- a sure fire fun way to cool off on a hot August day.  Near the mouth of the Deschutes there is a great campground- called the Deschutes River State Park.  Full hookups here go for $20 per night.  Hiking, biking and swiming  fun are all around.  Of course fishing for steelhead can also be supplemented with some local smallmouth bass fishing on the Columbia River and the many small ponds along HWY 84. 

The old railroad bed build in 1909 is a great way to see the lower Deschutes River.  From the mouth of the river this grade is perfect for a mountain bike and a great way to access to lower 8 miles of the river. 

The mouth of the Deschutes is a popular trolling zone, just below the bridges where the Deschutes meets the Columbia River, steelhead and salmon alike will stack up.

This area is a historic zone where Lewis and Clark, native Indians and the Oregon Trail come through at the mouth of the Deschutes River. 

An interesting side trip a little over an hour from the mouth of the Deschutes river and about the same from the town of Maupin, OR is the interesting little town of Shaniko.  A listed "Ghost Town" Shaniko has a lot to see and represents a lot of history in the area.

If your wife likes to knit like mine does the Imperial Stock Ranch not far from Shaniko and a scenic drive from Maupin will give her plenty of great material for her next project.  A working ranch since the 1800's this ranch has some amazing history. 

Scenery on the drive to Imperial Stock Ranch.  The land between the Deschutes River and John Day river are full of scenic views of the Cascade range, rolling hills of wheat and plentiful deer. 

See more info on the Deschutes River including Trout and steelhead fishing- click this link for one of our other articles: http://watertimeoutfitter.blogspot.com/2012/04/deschutes-river-trout-fishing-oregon.html

If you come to the state of Oregon, be sure to visit one of the best steelhead fisheries on the planet.  The Deschutes River has steelhead fly fishing from July through November.  Water Time Outfitters offers guided fly fishing trips on the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes River.  Limited BLM permits allow guiding on the river.  Our permit allows us to offer guided float trips, jet boat trips and walk in fishing trips.  Come join us for a Deschutes River fishing adventure! See more at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com