Sweater Weather
Hey all, back with a quick update about trout and steelhead fishing the Lower Deschutes. Trout fishing has been good lately. Small pheasant tails and midge pupas are beginning to take center stage as the trout’s choice of chow. Steelhead numbers are better than they have been in some time. For those putting in the time, plenty of fish are being found on scandi lines and traditional flies. In addition to all that the fall weather is settling in and things have really cooled off nicely for most days.
River Conditions -
First off the White River is behaving itself for now. Living up to its name with a chalky white color, the flows are low and it has not impacted the clarity downstream of the confluence. We did have some fires over the course of a couple weeks here which resulted in some closures downstream of Maupin however, those closures are over and life is back to business as usual here.
Flows coming out of the dam are currently sitting at 3,750 cfs and holding steady. Flows at the mouth are currently sitting at 4,400 cfs and holding steady. The temps being released by the dam this week are ranging between 55 and 57 degrees. The temps at the mouth are currently ranging between 59 and 65 degrees.
What’s Happening With Trout -
Caddis and Aquatic moths are still prevalent on the river. In addition to those we are starting to see a few Blue Wing Olives and a slight resurgence of Pale Morning Duns. While out guiding for steelhead I have seen a fair number of fish rising in the early morning shade. The cloudy days have provided longer dry fly fishing windows as well. On overcast days fish are even being taken on smaller stimulator dries like the Micro chubby.
The Midge hatches have become quite the sight on my lower river camp trips and I’m noticing the classic fall shift in my nymphing where fish really key into small flies subsurface. I have done best fishing small size 18 and 20 pheasant tail and midge pupa droppers with fish charging the suspended flies with reckless abandon. If you are fishing dry dropper or nymphing be sure to stock up on some of the little stuff!
What’s Happening With Steelhead -
Poppers, skaters, greaseliners, hairwings and intruders. All of them are viable and all of them have produced for myself and the other guides I work with on the lower river. It is still steelhead fishing, so there is a chance you won’t find one that day, but the reward is worth chancing it all and throwing 8 hours of sleep out the window until the season is over.
If you have the luxury of fishing a double shift and chasing shade you can leave the Skagit line at home and fish a scandi with a small traditional skater or hairwing on a floating leader. If you are just day tripping and don’t have that luxury, then the Skagit with a light T-8 or T-11 sink tip has been producing fish when the sun is high. Even if you find yourself fishing a Skagit line I encourage everyone to lean on the smaller side of your intruders or fish a larger traditional. Our fish aren’t winter steelhead 15 miles from eating their last squid—they like the smaller stuff and the longer they have been in the river the more trouty they get.
Fish are being caught in pods down low in the system with chances of multiple fish to a run within the first 10 miles of the river. This comes at a price though. Traffic in the lower 10 miles is brutal at this time and you have to get up really early or camp on a run in order to lock a spot down. Upstream from there you will find fish dispersed throughout the whole lower hundred miles. Shortly after my last fishing report I launched on a 3 day trout camp trip and we proceeded to hook 2 steelhead above Maupin with one as high as White Horse rapids. Fishing around town, hiking above the gate, and fishing the classics below Sherars are all great options at this time! If you aren’t finding fish in one zone over a couple days of swinging don’t be afraid to mix it up and head up or down by 10 miles to see if you can find a new push of fish.
Flies That Are Working -
Henry’s Fork Foam Stone Size 12, 14, and 16
Hi Vis Micro Chubby in assorted colors Size 12, 14 and 16
CDC Bullet Head Caddis in Olive or Brown, Size 16 and 18
Finfetcher Caddis in Olive or Tan, Size 16 and 18
Elk Hair Caddis in Olive, Tan, or Brown Size 16 and 18
Galloup’s Tilt Wing PMD in Size 14, 16, and 18
CDC Comparadun PED in Size 12 and 14
CDC Comparadun BWO Size 16 and 18
Hi Vis Parachute BWO Size 16 and 18
Silver Bead Green Glo Brite Perdigon in Size 16 and 18
Silver Bead Roza’s Green Tag Jig Size 16
Pink Bead Tasmanian Devil Size 16
Pink Bead Hares Ear Size 16 and 18
Copper Bead Olive Hares Ear Size 16 and 18
Copper Bead Quilldigon Size 16
Egan’s Frenchie Size 16, 18, and 20
Tungsten Zebra Midge in Black and Red Size 18 and 20
Olive and Partridge Soft Hackle Size 14 and 16
Peacock and Partridge Soft Hackle Size 14 and 16
Tan and Partridge Soft Hackle Size 14 and 16
Sculpzilla in Natural and Olive Size 4 and 6
Olive Bugger Size 10
Mayers Mini Leech Size 12
Size 6 and 8 Muddler Minnow in Natural tones
Any of your favorite traditional Summer Steelhead Hair Wings in size 6, 8, 10, 12
Any of your favorite Summer Steelhead Skaters
Small neutral tone steelhead flies have been most productive for myself and others swinging flies.
Mini Intruders in a variety of colors for different light conditions
Thanks for tuning in to my fishing report. Keep fighting the good fight and remember to use proper fish handling practices when you encounter one of those wonderful steelhead. Fight em quick, keep em’ wet, and limit the amount of time you hold the fish. Tight lines and I’ll see you out on the water!
