High Brown Water
I’m writing this report because unfortunately the Lower Deschutes currently has around 18 inches of visability and the flows have increased quite a bit. With heavy rains to the south, Shitike Creek has blown out and the middle Deschutes shot up considerably. It wasn’t long after the spike in the Middle Deschutes that higher flows started coming out of Pelton Dam.
Flows out of the dam are currently up 1,000 cfs at 4,800. Flows at the mouth of the river are currently up 1,200 cfs at 5,800. The White River doubled in size but has quickly dropped, so the effects on the Deschutes should be minimal. The Warm Springs River has come up only a small amount so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Mt. Hood is slated to get some rain tonight, which may have an effect on the flows of the White River. The weather is supposed to clear shortly after, so hopefully these effects should be short lived.
What Has Been Happening -
It was a great stonefly hatch this year and big thanks to everyone who came out this May to chase fish on dries! Fish are definitely mellowing out on eating stoneflies this week. There are still opportunistic fish in faster water eating the dries but the shaded pockets behind our favorite trees are waning in productivity.
Before the river blew out, fishing caddis dries has been productive in shaded areas. Early in the morning or late in the day you can find ample shade to present dries to rising trout. Dead Caddis patterns are working well in the morning and live Caddis patterns are working well in the evenings.
Lately the dry dropper game has been great. This provides an opportunity to catch fish that are still keying into stonefly dries. Fishing smaller golden stone dries paired with a pheasant tail dropper in fast pocket water has been my main program in between caddis spots. In the faster water fish have less time to make a decision and I find them to be more opportunistic on large dries.
A colder and wetter than normal spring has brought great mayfly hatches. Pale Morning Duns have gotten fish up eating dries on our cloudy and rainy days and Green Drakes are still hatching in small clusters below the falls. I haven’t been seeing large numbers of Pale Evening Duns below the falls, but in the Maupin zone I have had some on my porch every evening.
Pale Morning Duns will be smaller with three tails in a size 16 or 18, these have been hatching mid day. Pale Evening Duns will be much larger with two tails in size 12 or 14, these have been hatching later in the evening. Green Drakes will be the largest with dark grey wings, a dark green body, and brighter green accents. Look for Seagulls swooping over heavy water for signs of a Green Drake hatch.
Flies That Have Been Working -
Lucent Wing Green Drake Size 10
Flash Cripple Green Drake Size 10
Purple Parawulff Size 16
Hi Vis Parachute Adams Size 14 &16
CDC Comparadun PMD Size 16
Galloup’s Tilt Wing PMD Size 16 & 12
Purple Haze Parachute Size 14 & 16
Pink Bead Tasmanian Devil Size 16 & 18
Pink Bead Hares Ear Size 16
Roza’s Red Tag Jig Size 16
Roza’s Pink Tag Jig Size 16
Silver Bead Pheasant Tail with Hot Orange Collar Size 16
Copper Bead Light Green Caddis Pupa Size 16
Better Foam Caddis in Tan and Green Size 16
Finfetcher Caddis in Olive and Tan in Size 16 and 18
Fools Gold Stone Size 8
Clarks Stone Golden Size 8
Silvey’s Yellow Sally Size 16
Henry’s Fork Foam Stone Size 16, 14, 12 & 10
Chubby Chernobyls in a variety of sizes and colors.
Thanks for tuning in! I’ll be sure to post an update when the river returns to a more fishable state, hopefully within a couple days. In the meantime tie some flies and make your fishing plans. I’ll see you on the water!
