Deschutes River tips

[Deleted User]

This is a copy of my reply post on Bob's BB to a D-river plug Q. Thought it might be of some use to you fishers planning trips there too?
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I suggest trying both; fishing up the Deschutes and off the mouth out in the Columbia. The lower river will have some later arriving Deschutes fish as well as some upriver group B steelhead swimming up it a ways for a refreshing frolick before heading back out to the Columbia and on up to several rivers, such as the Clearwater River in Idaho. In the lower river try the ol' standard for plug success for Deschutes summer steelies; the regular size Tadpoly in the red with black dots pattern (with barbless siwash hooks). Back when I guided summers on the Deschutes in the 80's it was these Tadpolys that were most responsible for the 20 to 30 steelhead days when the bite was on. But most good color patterns and good plug brands work well there though. Of course those are among the best striking steelies in the world, so many things work well on them. They are just the best fly strikers around; even on top! And I bet you couldn't miss with any good spinners/spoons or good jig patterns for them with so many fish returning this year - as long as the water hasn't gotten too warm in the D yet [ www.firstcastjigs.com (http://www.firstcastjigs.com) has a new green butt skunk jig pattern that should work great there - and elsewhere ]. Also try the black and red color combo in a good 1/4 oz. jig under a float. Another deadly method up the river that isn't used much is to use a tuned K-11 Kwikfish in those colors, or any good proven color pattern, and attach them to about a 40" leader and put a small slinky weight at the other end of the leader, then do a combo of drifting/swinging/hovering in good holding water. Bam! ...

As for trolling off the mouth out in the Columbia for a combo of group B steelies and early fall 'nooks the plug I suggest is Wiggle Warts; tough to beat. They dive deeper and and make more attracting noise, and both steelies and 'nooks bite them well. The Red w/black tigerstripes, chrome/chartreuse, and the Michael Jackson (black w/silver glitter) are only a few of the productive colors. Try some trolled K-14's too. With the Columbia currently around 72 degrees, and possibly climbing, the fish will definitely seek cooler water at the mouths of tribs to hold for awhile. Good luck, and let us know how these things work out.

[FM2]

Thanks for the post RT, I am gathering info on how to fish that river. I have always been a coastal river fisher and want to learn the inland rivers more. Is there any drifts you can use a drift boat on near the mouth? I don't have a trolling motor for my DB so I would need to drift.

[Deleted User]

FM2,

I don't know of any new launches on the very lower river for a one day driftboat fishing trip. To float the lower river, I think that still requires the committment to launch up river at Mack's Canyon campground. It is accessed via a 17 mile long rough gravel road on the east side ot the river just a ways down from the Shear's Bridge/Falls area on Hwy 216 (access 216 to Shear's from Tygh Valley on Hwy 197). This is a long and rough river section that usually takes an overnight camping trip if you want to do much fishing. Have good rowing skills and lifejackets on. A good one day drifting/fishing alternative is to put in just below Train Wreck Rapids (which is just a short drive down that long gravel road from Shear's) and float down to the Mack's Canyon launch. That section is easier water to negotiate and should have lots of steelhead in there at this time - and some good sized native redside 'bows too. There are a few other launches in that section to shorten your float if you prefer. It's makes for a real nice day there, but you will have more anglers that drive in there to bankfish. The Mack's to Harris Canyon section is about the least crowded - that's where I used to take my guiding clients. But I expect it gets more pressure these days.

[Rubber Robin]

We fished the Deschutes from Thursday through last Sunday. We put in at Macks Canyon and floated down about half way. We camped right above "The Bed Springs Hole" which is about a mile upriver from Washout Rapids. Between 3 of us fishing, we caught 5 steelhead. 4 hatchery fish and 1 native. We caught all of our fish using the "Michael Jackson" tadpolly. We swear by them!!!! images/icons/grin.gif
The fishing was not as good as we had hoped but we will be back over there at the end of September for our annual "Guys Only" trip.
The river was running lower but all of the major rapids were negotiated without any trouble. (We have run it many times before)
This trip was fathers and sons. It was a great float. Mucho farting, belching, cussing, joke telling and over eating! Lots of swimming also. It was hot in the desert!

[Deleted User]

I fished the 'D' last week - Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and it was red hot for my dad and I. It certainly helped that prior to those days there were between 6,000 and 8,000 steelies over The Dalles Dam. Anyway, we hooked between 15 and 20 fish each, each day and we released some really nice wild fish. I had one fish nearly spool me running upstream which was pretty awesome - it turned out to be a nice 33 inch nate.

The one thing I do a little differently is use trebble hook flies in place of the factory hook on my #4 blue fox spinners. It's just a little something that I believe will cover the hook and attract more interest, especially as the spinner swings. Plus, it gives me something to do in the winter - tie flies! Especially this winter with all of the low water!

I also use a paint by Cabelas that I think works well to paint the body of a silver blue fox - it is a flouescent green which looks pretty good. I will also paint bodies black, or the blades black and go with a green body. Regardless of the color, all of my spinners have the trebble fly.

[FM2]

Great info, Is there shuttle service available for these drifts ?

[Deleted User]

There are shuttle services. Check with the store in Maupin. Also FM2, are you aware that you cannot fish from a boat on the Deschutes River? You have to fish from the bank or a wading position, not touching the boat. You mentioned wanting to fish the lower river. A good way to do that is ride a mountain bike up the lower end of the river - best on the east side as I recall - to many good holes on up for several miles. Your legs and butt are your limiting factor. This is a good alternative to boating; especially to learn the river, both for scouting the biggest rapids in the lower river and for trying fishing methods. ...

Hey Dave, I used to make spinners copying the green butt skunk fly colors and patterns that really worked well there - and elsewhere - and plugs too. I still make a couple up once in a while images/icons/smile.gif . I need to try the fly on a spinner thing for steelies - Mark does the same with success on the Wilson. I've had some success wrapping a little bait on the hookshank of spinners/spoons/plugs where bait is legal - unlike the 'D'. Geez, can you imagine how many fish you could catch on that river if boat backtrolling Hot N Tot divers and sandshrimp/crawfish tails were legal?!? 50 fish days easy! So I'm glad it's not. (Just dreaming a little images/icons/wink.gif ).

RT

[Carver_OR]

I alway's carry a black felt tip pen and black out a few Tad Polly's and spinners. Most of the time the black hardware was the best producer for us.
Getting older, wading cleats and a wading staff is a must for me. I take a old ski pole and knock the lower end off and tie a line to attach to my wader belt at arms length. A staff has saved me from getting wet more times than I can count. The "D" is one of the hardest rivers to wade. Cast once, step down river one step until you've covered the hole...You never know where a summer will be!
It's not a light line river. I use at least 12 pound and up to 15 pound line. Check your line often for nicks and your hook points. In my opion these fish really don't care that much about line size. They swim into gill nets don't they? I use the heavest line and the largest hooks that I can get away with.
As RT stated the fish in the "D" are biters.

Pat

[FM2]

Thanks RT, I was aware of not fishing from a boat but I appreciate the reminder. The mountain bike approach sounds like a great idea. I apologize for asking so many questions but I do like to be prepared. Is there trails to ride or is there a dirt road and do I need to worry about any private property that might not be posted ?

When do you get any sleep ?

[Deleted User]

FM2,
The 'trail' on the eastside is really a rode that sits above the river. No need to worry about private property - the trail goes up for I believe 20 miles, although I've never riden up further than 7; that's all my butt could take, plus you'll find that you're riding like a madman to get to a place to fish! You're on a mission! (no pun intended) Be sure you are taking lots and lots of water because it's easy to get dehydrated on the ride.

RT
Nowadays I stick to the same pattern on most of my treble flies, and most look like a green butted skunk - black body with green krystal flash, red tail mixed with pecock hurl, and black hackle. Grizz hackle is good stuff, too. Just personal preference.

Are you saying that you've doctored up plug hooks with flies? I've thought about that but never heard of anyone doing it. Nothing like a juicy sandshrimp tail on the belly hook, but without bait a fly might add more attraction. Hmm....

The last few weeks with all of the fish coming over The Dalles I've fished the Deschutes a little differently. I've simply found a good spot at the head of a rifle or rapids and simply stayed put. At certain times in the morning and early evening the fish have been on the move so if the fish are moving, there is no need for you to move - let them come to you! I know it isn't a really purist method like cast and step, but when there are huge numbers of fish, the best method is to just find a good spot and hang tight for a while.

This has been a great summer for me on the Deschutes. I've made around 12 - 15 trips and caught fish every time. The first trip for me was June 22, and the last trip was last Thursday. I say last trip because I'm back to work now..... It was a bit slow last Thursday with the hot weather and lower dam counts, but from the middle of July through last Tuesday I had double digit hookups each day. Simply amazing. The Deschutes for me is my favorite fishing.

I say my last trip because my 'vacation' is now over. I'm one of those guys who has a month and a half off in the summer - not three like most people think. I teach and coach so I'm booked for a while. Now I'll just check in here and see how everyone else is doing on the water!

Tight lines!
Dave

[Deleted User]

Dave, you have my sincerest condolences for the end of your vacation and having to go back to work. images/icons/wink.gif jk .. You had a nice season over there! I haven't fished the D in long time due to my bum ankle - that's a tough river on it. As was mentioned, it is one of the harder wading rivers with such large and slippery boulders. I will get there again one of these summers; probably in the next 3 weeks or next season - I miss that great fishing river! ... As for the fly on a plug, no. I meant a small piece of sandshrimp tail or crawfish tail on the hook shank. But not on the D of course, with the bait ban. Before the bait ban back when I in high school we would go over there and catch live grasshoppers and put them on a hook for easy steelhead catches. Fun. The lures are so good these days and those D fish bite so well it doesn't matter about bait anyway - and that helps protect the strong wild run which is the most important thing. Thanks. - RT