Sunrise Over a Spey Rod
With low returns of steelhead in the recent years, I think I speak for everyone when I say it’s nice to see the steady parade of fish over Bonneville Dam this summer! Although it is still on the early side of the season fish are being caught on the swing both above and below Sherars Falls. Trout fishing has been great lately as well. Caddis and aquatic moth hatches vary by day, but early morning starts and late evening sessions have produced plenty of dry fly activity.
River Conditions -
The flows on the river have remained steadfast with the exception of one small bump in flows out of the dam last week. This fluctuation of 600 cfs was short lived and we are back to the flows we had before. Current flows coming out of the dam are sitting at 3,800 cfs. Current flows at the mouth are sitting at 4,400 cfs. The temps coming out of the dam have unfortunately been brought up a bit and are currently ranging between 57.5 and 59 degrees. The temps at the mouth are currently ranging between 65 and 72 degrees depending on the day. Remember to take water temps and give fish a break when water temps climb in the afternoons on the lower stretches of the river.
What’s Happening With Trout -
Caddis and aquatic moths are dominating the dry fly game for those wishing to fish a single dry. Early mornings in the shade of the canyon will produce best results for dry or dry dropper fishing below Sherars Falls. This is due largely in part to water temps. The Maupin stretch has considerably better water temps mid-day and better evening activity with trout. Mayfly hatches have been light but on a cloudy day you may encounter some PMD or PED hatches. If you are fishing dry dropper, you will of course find a fair number of fish willing to take a swipe at a size 14 or 12 Chubby Chernobyl. The dropper will out-produce the dry fly eats with this setup.
Nymphing setups are a great option as well. Most days all you need is a size 16 caddis pupa paired with a size 16 pheasant tail. If fish are being finicky a smaller size 18 or 20 pheasant tail or midge pupa can turn things around. There have been some early midge hatches happening below Sherars, which I assume contribute to the interest in such small nymphs.
Trout spey has been pretty good mid-day with sink tips and a variety of olive or darker natural flies! I have been finding a fair number of trout while steelhead fishing with a size 6 natural Muddler. Evening caddis hatches have made for some wonderful soft hackle fishing with lighter trout spey rods and Scandi lines. Size 16 olive soft hackles swung quickly will do the trick!
What’s Happening With Steelhead -
The Lower Deschutes River has met the quota set by ODFW and will remain open to Steelhead fishing this season! Fish are being caught both above and below Sherars Falls on the swing and incidentally on trout gear. With an early push of fish in the system, some of the jet boat guides were consistently finding fish in early July below Macks. As those fish feel that warmer water in the afternoon, it appears they decided to move quickly in search of colder water upstream. I have heard of multiple reports from guides on the upper river that they are finding steelhead while nymphing or fishing dry dropper. I am yet to find one in the town stretch but had a wonderful encounter with an 8-pound buck in the shade of the canyon below Macks last week. Tie up your muddlers, hair-wings, or skaters and set your alarms accordingly!
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
Chubby Chernobyl in assorted colors Size 8, 10, and 12
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
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
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 Muddler Minnow in Natural tones
Any of your favorite traditional Summer Steelhead Hair Wings
Any of your favorite Summer Steelhead Skaters
Small neutral tone steelhead flies have been most productive for myself and others swinging flies.
Thanks for tuning in. I hope everyone is having a great summer full of wonderful memories on the water! Keep fighting the good fight and do something nice for your spouse after waking them up at 3 a.m. for the sixth day in a row of steelhead fishing. I’ll see you all on the water!
