Middle Deschutes

[FallRiverGuy]

I had the opportunity to drift the Deschutes from the Warm Springs bridge to Trout creek Sunday with my barber, along with the 100 other boats. The Salmon fly hatch is in full swing with lots of big trout gulping down these big bugs. It was somewhat of a fast drift for us, but we picked up 10 fish ranging is size form 12 to 17. Big Stimulator patterns were the most productive fly, but a dark caddis caught some fish too. The day ended well with last fish of the day being a fat 14-inch fish I caught with my 4 wt. Lots of Mayflies hatching and some Golden Stones too.

[Tanner]

Sounds like you had a good time. I was down your way this weekend. Friday I fished the Deschutes between LaPine State Park and SunRiver. Fishing was slow, but I did manage to catch a 22 inch and two 14 inch browns. Caught some smaller ones to, but let them go.
Orange Bead Head Buggers were the ticket.
Saturday I fished the Deschutes between Wickiup and Crane Prairie. Absolutely gorgeous water. I hooked a few really nice browns on dry flys and caught a bunch of smaller Brookies and Rainbows on nymphs.

[FallRiverGuy]

Ya Tanner,

It was a great trip and the weather was good. I did not get too cold from the leaky wadders. images/icons/grin.gif It has been several years since I have fished that section of the river and I had forgotten how strong those fish are. We had fun just watching the salmon flies getting sucked down that would land on the water and drift under a tree.

How long did that drift from the park to SunRiver take? I think that part of the river has not really come into shape yet. The water was very very low all winter. It has only been about a month since it shot up. It still seems to be running a bit off color too.

I have yet to try it, but have been told that the river above Craine can be a lot of fun with high floating flies like a Royal Wulf.

[Tanner]

It was an ALL day float. If you put in at LaPine and take out at big river, it will take you about 8 hours (That is if you fish it hard). If you do it, do not ignore some of the back waters and side channels. Actually, the water looked really good with about 5 - 6 feet of visibility.

I have fished the river above Crane a couple of times. Lots of small rainbows a few small browns and some brookies. The section I fished Saturday was below Crane and above Wickiup. There is a bridge on Century Drive that crosses the river right past the Crane Prairie turn off. There is a parking area and a handicap dock at the bridge. I started there and worked my way down and then back up. The biggest brown I hooked (and lost) was on a size 6 Dave's Hopper. I got one good look at him and estimated him at around 17 inches.

[ 06-11-2001: Message edited by: Tanner ]

[Hottamale1]

FallRiverGuy,

Check out my latest post called Fishing on Indian Land...You might like it.

Scott