If you are a dry fly purist who just wants to watch the nose of a Redband as it sips a size 18 caddis off of a foam line or really have a passion for swinging soft hackles with two handed rods, then the Sunset Float is a great option for you. Summer trout fishing can be very centered around the caddis hatches on the Lower Deschutes, and we like to take advantage of that time with our Sunset float launching later in the afternoon at 4 p.m. and fishing until the sun goes down. Anyone who has fished the Lower Deschutes consistently during the summer can tell you there is a very special time in the last couple hours of light in which trout seem to throw caution to the wind in pursuit of caddis emergers and adults. This trip can be a fantastic way to finish off a day after rafting with your family!

The sunset float is only available from the second week in June through the end of August due to hatch conditions and demand for full day trips outside of that time frame.

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.

Sunset Half Day Trip Schedule

Your guide will meet you at the Kaiser Park in Maupin at 3:30 p.m. and after parking your vehicle and ensuring that you have all the gear you need we will head to our launch. Once on the water we usually start with dry dropper and wait for shade, at which time we cut off the dropper and embrace eagerness of the trout to eat dry flies. If trout spey is your preference then we will start with streamers and switch to small size 16 soft hackles once the caddis emergence really starts to take off.

A meal is not supplied on these trips, but we will provide 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. If you are in need of some rental waders, flies or other gear you can stop by Deschutes Angler Fly Shop before your trip which is right next door to the park where we will pick you up.

Our float will continue until just before sundown, at which point the guide will row you to the takeout and get you back to Maupin to either rest up or enjoy the surprisingly active nightlife in our town of just a few hundred people.

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.

Sunset Half Day Rates- $400 per boat + cost of boaters pass, each boat can accommodate up to two anglers