Deschutes River Report

May 13th

Salmon flies are hatching on the Deschutes River right now!  Last week we saw the first few flying around the Maupin area and below.  Now there are golden stones and black stones flying and trout have started taking them around and below Maupin. 

We have seen hatched out salmon flies as far upstream as Warm Springs but that is still a ways out at this point. 

River levels have been dropping nicely.  We'll see what happens with this warm weather we are having and if it gives us another shot of snow melt. 

Good luck on the water!

www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Deschutes River an Oregon Fishing Treasure

Nestled in the center of the state and forming a squiggling line on the Oregon map is the most famous river in the western United States, the Deschutes River.  Know for native redband trout, great steelhead fishing and whitewater rafting the Deschutes river flows to the Columbia river at an average of 6 miles per hour.  The river itself originating near Little Lava lake high in Oregon's Cascade Mountains flows 252 miles north to the Columbia River.  Home to wild trout, steelhead, salmon and endangered bull trout the fertile waters of the Deschutes are a living oasis in what truely is the high desert of Oregon.

                        The Deschutes River near the base of White Horse Rapids

Home to wild trout and good runs of steelhead the Deschutes River is the go to river for most anglers in the region.  Stable water flows a side effect of being a tail water river (river which flows out of a large dam) enhance insect hatches and fishability.  The most famous hatch on the Deschutes River is the Salmon fly hatch.  This insect is up to 3" long and a great meal for hungry trout.  Other prolific hatches through-out the year include: blue wing olive and pale morning dun mayflies and a handfull of caddisflies.

                           Deschutes River has Giant Salmon Flies and Golden Stones

Flowing mostly through BLM lands, some private ranch lands and bordered by the Warm Springs Indian tribe for nearly 20 miles the Deschutes has bountiful optiosn for both the boating and bank bound angler.  The lower 100 miles of the Deschutes River is the most prolific and abundant section of the river and where most anglers focus their attention.

Access on the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes is available in many forms.  The first access point below Pelton Dam is the Warm Springs area.  There is a boat launch located just off HWY 26 near the town of Warm Springs.  A second access point is found just 2 miles down river at Mecca Flats, here there are picnic tables and camp sites.  About 10 miles down from Mecca Flats campground is another fishing access point.  This is called the Trout Creek campground.  Boat launch, vault toilets, and campsites are found here.  This section of river borders the Warm Springs Reservation on the west side of the river.  Boating passes are available at www.tribalpermits.com for the section of river from Dry Creek to Trout Creek about 8 miles.

                                      Water Time Outfitter's Riverside Camp

Once past Trout Creek access is limited and boaters passing Trout Creek must be commited to about 30 mile float and some serious whitewater.  First time floaters are advised to go with a guide.  Whitehorse rapids lives in this section of the river.  It is a famous rapid with rocks in it who have earned names like: "can opener", "house rock", "slide rock" and most famous- "Oh shit rock."  Portable toilets and boating passes are required to float this section of river.  Boater passes are required for any floating device on the Deschutes.  Passes on the lower river are subject to limited passes.  These passes are regulated by the BLM and are available at: www.boaterpass.com

         Water Time Outfitters clients enjoying a ride through Buckskin Mary Rapids

The town of Maupin is sandwiched in the middle of the lower Deschutes River.  At about the 60 mile marker this section of river is popular with rafters as there are series of great whitewater rapids in this section of river.  Rapids like Boxcar, Oaksprings,Elevator shaft and Wreck rapids make for an exciting adventure in a whitewater raft.   

The bumpiest gravel access road on the river stretches from below Sherars Falls.  It is miles of 15 mph driving.  (Recent road work may help- spring 2012).  This road takes you to Max Canyon, the end of the road for non-floating access.  From Max Canyon it is 22 river miles to the mouth where the Deschutes meets the Columbia river.  This section of river has multiple user groups.  Jet boats are allowed every other weekend, drift boats and rafts frequent this stretch in summer and fall.  Here you may see big horn sheep treading the steep hills of the big canyon. 


For Deschutes River fly patterns a must stop shop in the Portland area is Royal Treatment Fly Shop.  Call Joel at: 503-850-4397 for the latest on what patterns are hot right now.  www.royaltreatmentflyfishing.com

The Deschutes River has much to offer from excellent trout and steelhead fishing, whitewater rafting, and sight seeing this green emerald in the tan colored high desert of Oregon is a great get-away for any outdoor enthusiast. 

Mark Ellis (who was second baseman for the Oakland A's at the time) and his first steelhead with guide Rob Crandall

For the best of guided fishing trips on the Deschutes River connect with Rob Crandall at Water Time Outfitters.  Rob has been guiding the Deschutes for over 20 years and his energetic but patient attitude is fun to be around.  Wether learning or adding a great river to a long list of waters you've fished Rob will do his best to make it a great day.  Call Rob at 503-704-6449.  Rob and his crew of top guides will do their best to make the most of your water time. www.watertimeoutfitters.com
To book a fishing trip or ask for more info:  click here

Deschutes River -Salmon Fly Workshop

2012 Salmon Fly Workshop

Deschutes River Salmon Flies-Mystery Solved

Water Time Outfitters has the perfect package for fly anglers plying the Deschutes River salmon fly hatch. Have you ever been there and experienced frustration-struggling for success while trout readily ate naturals? Or seen so many bugs on the water and not one rise? We explore these problems and offer solutions in this one day class. We'll meet on the water at 9am armed with coffee and donuts. We will have a detailed discussion of the salmon fly hatch, how it works and what patterns produce. Then we'll spend some time on the water revealing our tricks of the trade for best success. We provide a full lunch, an entomology session and an afternoon fishing session in this action packed day.

This class is taught by Rob Crandall, Water Time Outfitters guide and editor of Flyfishing & Tying Journal magazine. 

Special Class offering is only May 19, prepayment is required to reserve your spot, fee is $100.  Please email or call to enroll.  503-704-6449 or email: crandalls3@ccwebster.net

Deschutes Trout- June 6

Salmon Flies are still the main ticket for trout on the Warm Springs to Trout Creek section.  The big bugs are most prolific from White Horse rapids on upriver.  With cooler weather the bugs have been hunkered down.  The dead drift presentation and Moorish Still Stones have been the good producers along with the Chubby Chernobyl. 

Today's water level was running around 5710 cfs at Madras.  SLOWLY the river is dropping.

Good fishin!

FYI- watch for Rattlers, a fair amount of the buzzworms were out today on the west side above Trout Creek!

Spring Time in Oregon

It's that time of year here in Oregon where there is so much to do.  Trout fishing opportunities are really starting to ramp up and steelhead fishing has some interesting things going on as well.  Living in Oregon sure has its perks and its this time of year that I am reminded how fortunate we are to live in such a great part of the world.

Trout fishing opportunities are vast this time of year.  One of the big ones that comes to mind is the Salmon fly hatch on the Deschutes river.  This is a world class river that has some truly great fly fishing opportunities.  Add to that equation a bug almost 3" long and you've got a great combo.  Salmon flies are like "Big Mac's" for trout.  As the hatch gains momentum expect rainbows to greedily gorge on these big bugs.  Add in the many opportunities of lakes and small streams around the state and you've got some good stuff going on.

One of my favorite fisheries for this time of year is the spring steelhead we get on the Willamette Valley streams.  Better known as summer steelhead these silvery rockets come into our rivers in the spring and stay in the river for nearly a year.  These fish are a Skamania strain fish of hatchery origin.  The Clackamas river has these fish returning every year around this time.  This years run are identified by a clipped adipose fin and a maxilary fin clipping.  Once hooked they are ballistic rockets and some fish are simply unlandable!

I hope you are getting out on the water and experiencing some of the fantastic opportunities we have here in Oregon.

Good fishin!

Rob