Swollen River Tactics
We’re slowly transitioning into spring here in Maupin, and it’s proving to be a wetter season than usual. Over the last couple weeks the river has climbed and dropped multiple times. We have had snowstorm after snowstorm, and persistent rains in between those storms that only exacerbate the problem. With that being said the river has stabilized. I have gotten out to fish the higher flows and fish can still be found as long as clarity is within a couple feet. The forecast is looking a bit dryer over the next couple weeks, which should help us out majorly on the Lower Deschutes.
River Conditions -
The flows at the mouth of the river are a whopping 7,400 cfs, and the flows coming out of the dam have settled in at 5,000 cfs. The Warm Springs River is flowing at 770 cfs and dropping. This means anyone fishing above the mouth of the White River can expect to be fishing around 5,700 to 6,000 cfs depending on what runoff is coming from the smaller feeder creeks like Bakeoven and Nena. Flows coming out of the White River today are 950 and dropping steadily, which should bring the river below Sherars Falls into a more fishable flow before too long. Temps coming out of the dam are right around 46 degrees and temps at the mouth are between 44 and 45 degrees.
What’s Happening -
With the higher water, fish are without a doubt pushed up to the banks pretty tight. When you get to the river, be sure to focus most of your efforts on the first two feet of water off the bank. In higher water conditions these fish seek the banks as a refuge from the onslaught of heavy flows. I see people step on fish all the time to fish the seam 4 to 6 feet off the bank.
I got out to do some prospecting a few different times and found a nice mix of trout and whitefish nymphing with worm, egg, and brighter stimulator nymph patterns. The majority of the fish I found were within two feet of the bank and some of them were under the edge of grass hummocks that are usually dry bank. Dry dropper or tight line nymphing approach will work best in these conditions. An indicator and split shot rig will be more difficult to control in shallow water close to the bank. I personally do not like to fish stonefly nymphs outside of the few weeks leading up to the hatch, but my buddy did really well fishing them over the last couple weeks.
Blue Wing Olives are making an appearance on some of the cloudier days around mid-afternoon. Smaller has been better when matching this hatch, with most of my success on size 18 and 20 adult imitations. If fish are feeding heavily you can get away with fishing a larger size 18. If there are not a lot of bugs around or fish are being finicky, smaller flies should help out with convincing a weary trout to eat.
Streamers are always be a good option during the high water conditions too. A fellow guide was out the other day and found multiple fish stripping olive sculpin downstream along the banks and jigging dark leeches in deep pools.
Flies that are working -
CDC Blue Wing Olive Cripple Size 16 & 18
Hi Vis Parachute BWO size 16 & 18
CDC Comparadun BWO Size 16 & 18
Purple Haze Parachute Size 16 & 18
Pink Bead Tasmanian Devil Size 16 & 18
Pink Bead Hares Ear Size 16
Pink Bead Pheasant Tail 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 18 & 20
Silver Bead Blue Glo Brite Perdigon with Hot Orange Collar Size 16
Egg Taco in Orange and Peach Size 16
Slush Egg in Orange, Pink, and Peach Size 16
Eggstasy Egg in Orange and Peach Size 16
San Juan Worm in Fluoro Orange and Fluoro Red Size 14
Heavy Metal Worm Size 14
Jigged Kreelex Minnow in Gold and Silver Size 8
Jigged Mayers Mini Leech in Olive Size 8
Jigged Hot Bead Mayers Mini Leech in Black Size 8
Kelly Galloup’s Mini Dungeon In Olive
Kelly Galloup’s Mini Dungeon In Black
Meat Whistle In Olive (Smaller Sizes)
I’m off to Mexico to enjoy some sunshine and saltwater this week, but I’ll be right back into the swing of guiding when I return. My late March and April still have dates open. Shoot me a message or give me a call to get out and do some spring fishing. March is great for nymphing and Blue Wing Olive action and April is great for nymphing, mixed mayfly hatches, and streamer fun. Good luck and tight lines to everyone who gets out fishing this spring! Stay safe in these higher flows and I’ll see you on the river.
