Join us for a day of steelhead fishing on the Lower Deschutes. Our summer run of steelhead are world-renowned, and though they aren’t the easiest fish in the world to catch, when you connect with one the experience is one you’ll never forget. The Deschutes is a fairly large river that is best approached with spey rods when swinging flies. If you haven’t spey cast before don’t worry, we can educate and coach you on the style throughout your trip and have you throwing darts in no time.

Here on the Deschutes our steelhead start to trickle in around the end of June and early July picking up with intensity as we get into August, September, October and even early November. For the majority of our steelhead season we use Scandi lines with small skaters and traditional steelhead flies swung close to the surface. The surface eats are what keep us up at night, but if conditions aren’t right for the Scandi lines then we will also use Skagit lines and sink tips to contend with whatever Mother Nature throws at us.

We can provide rods, flies, and tippet for the trip, but feel free to bring your own. All anglers will need to bring their own waders and boots, sun protection, and a valid Oregon fishing license. Make sure you purchase an Oregon fishing license online before you come to Maupin. There are no vendors in Maupin selling fishing licenses.

Steelhead Day Trip Schedule

Summer steelhead fishing the Deschutes is all about fishing first light and shade, which means we will be up early. Your guide will meet you at the Kaiser Park about an hour before sunrise to ensure you have ample time to make it to the launch point and have the boat loaded. We like to be sitting on our run ready to swing a fly as soon as the sun gives us enough light to see our shooting heads. It’s these early mornings, especially in the hotter summer days, that give you the best chance to encounter one of these amazing fish. If you need to rent waders or would like to stock up on flies and other gear you can pop into Deschutes Anger Fly Shop the day before your trip.

We will provide lunch and ice water for the trip, and will have cooler space for any drinks or snacks you’d like to bring yourself. Snacks, drinks, and adult beverages can be purchased at Maupin Market in town. After a long morning of chasing shade swinging flies we’ll find a good spot on the river to have lunch. You can always fish while we prepare lunch, or just relax on the riverbank. Let us know if you have any dietary restrictions prior to the trip and we will be happy to accommodate.

After lunch we head out to finish off the day swinging either Scandi lines with sinking poly leaders or Skagit lines with sink tips for the fish that aren’t willing to move as far to eat a fly in the afternoon sun.

By 4:30 p.m. we will be making our way to the take out to make you are back in Maupin around 5:30 p.m. ready make your way home or to a local restaurant, where you share all your fish stories to the local anglers.

If you take a look at our Pre-Trip Information page you will find everything you need to know about places to eat and stay in Maupin before and after your trip.

Let your guide know if you have an earlier time that you need to be off the water so they can account for that in float decision.

Please note that we use drift boats to cover water efficiently and access the left bank of the Lower Deschutes (which is not accessible to car traffic), but we legally cannot fish from the drift boats unless you have an Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit.

Steelhead Day Trips Rates- $650 per boat + cost of boaters pass, each boat can accommodate up to 2 anglers.