Summer Sunrise
August is an often overlooked time of year to fish the Deschutes. With fewer anglers targeting steelhead this time of year, the fish are less pressured and happier to take a swung fly. As for trout, if you are willing to wake up early and fish smaller flies, you’ll find yourself catching fish on dries and dry dropper rigs in the morning hours.
River Conditions -
Current river conditions have not changed very much over the last couple weeks. There was a dip in water temps at the mouth for a week during the overcast, cooler weather. The colder water down low brought out some great caddis hatches and got some steelhead moving upriver. Current flows at the dam are holding steady at around 3,600 cfs, and flows at the mouth are around 4,100 cfs. There has been a fluctuation of temps at the dam between 56 to 58 degrees each day; however, just this week they dropped the temperature down to 54 degrees. Temps at the mouth have been consistently ranging between 64 to 71 degrees. With our latest (and hopefully last) heat wave ending, temps at the mouth stay lower, and the change in dam release temps should help as well.
What’s Happening With Trout -
It’s the time of year when trout gravitate to smaller and smaller nymphs. Midges come out in large numbers and our caddis hatches are made up of a fair number of size 18 caddis. Over the last two weeks I have noticed a huge uptick in productivity fishing size 18 and 20 pheasant tails and midge pupas as droppers. It may not feel like the small tungsten beads are heavy enough as a dropper in our fast summer water, but these trout are moving pretty far through the column to grab the smaller offerings.
On days when water temps are cool, the caddis hatches have been prolific. Even if you missed the day they hatch, the following morning and mid-day session can be incredible dry fly fishing as the previous days fare die off. This week we hit 110 degrees, and I thought for sure we would be nymphing most of the day. But the day before was cooler and the caddis were still around that morning, making for one of the best dry fly days I have guided in a while. If you are out fishing in the coming weeks, I recommend fishing a caddis dry with a tiny dropper in all of the usual fast riffle breaks and pocket water.
Trout spey and European Nymphing have both been good standby tactics for days when fish are not as willing to take our dry dropper setups or eat caddis on the surface. If you are having a tough day, switch it up and swing a fly or get one down deep. Small size 18 and 20 nymphs have been great as a tag on the Euro setup.
Keep your trout session in the morning for best productivity until cooler days make for more consistent evening fishing. Remember to be mindful about responsible fish handling practices and give the trout a break when the water is above 68 degrees.
What’s Happening With Steelhead -
ODFW announced that the Deschutes will remain open to steelhead fishing for the rest of the year. This doesn’t mean that we are anywhere near the number of fish we should be seeing returning to the Columbia basin, but we have the chance to swing during another beautiful Deschutes fall. Crowds are yet to show up in any real numbers, though there are some die hard anglers getting after it. If you want to ensure that you get the run you have been dreaming about, you will need to wake up very early and lock it down.
The evening sessions have not been as consistent as the morning. On my steelhead trips I have been focusing my efforts on fishing when the water temps are most ideal: at first light with a floating line and leader with skaters and traditional hairwings in the shade. Once I have run out of shade, I switch to Skagit lines and t-8 or t-11 sink tips and fish until 3 p.m. I just don’t have enough confidence fishing in 65 to 68 degree water to stay out late and wait for evening shade. When cooler weather moves in I will take a mid-day break and fish into the evening with floating lines. Remember that our summer steelhead like small flies; we’ve got all winter to wear ourselves out with heavy flies and tips.
It’s still early season, but time on water is paying off. I have had a couple guide trips for steelhead with two grabs. I have fished four days by myself and with friends, and between my friends and I we have had 6 legitimate grabs and 3 fish landed. Evan got a chance to row from Macks Canyon to the mouth and he rose 6 fish on skaters and landed 2! The better your casting, the better the odds of connecting with a fish, and the best way to practice your spey cast is time on water. So get out to Maupin and start swinging sunrise. You won’t regret it.
Flies That Are Working -
Henry’s Fork Foam Stone Size 14, and 16
Hi Vis Micro Chubby in assorted colors Size 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
Silver Bead Green Glo Brite Perdigon in Size 16 and 18
Silver Bead Blue 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 Pheasant Tail Size 16, 18 and 20
Pink Bead Hares Ear Size 16, 18 and 20
Copper Bead Olive Hares Ear Size 16 and 18
Copper Bead Quilldigon Size 16 and 18
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
Turkey Wing Orange Muddler Size 6 and 8
Steelhead Bee Size 8
Tied Down Steelhead Caddis Size 8
Rusty Bomber Size 6
Any of your favorite Hair-wing or Skater Steelhead flies in smaller sizes
I hope everyone has a productive end of summer filled with plenty of moments riverside. Give those small flies a try for trout and keep the faith swinging for steelhead. If you hook a steelhead or trout remember to keep it wet and take care of those precious critters. Refraining from pictures is still a good idea when the water and weather gets warm, Take care of them and they will take care of you. I’ll see you all on the river. Tight lines!
