Deschutes?

[Pete]

Anyone fish the D over the M-Day weekend? Did you see the big bugs? How far upstream has the hatch progressed? (The insect hatch, not the neoprene hatch.)

[BuKuBass]

Fished the D last Friday about 10 miles above Billy Chinook. Both the Salmon fly and the Willow (golden stone) fly were out. Only cot a couple of...DOZEN! A 16"er jumped 7 or 8 times. A good time was had by all.

[ZaQ]

Fished it Sunday with fair success. Average size fish, I am still waiting for the big one........
Lots of stoneflies near Maupin.

[Pete]

I always like to fish above the hatch, where the nymphs are most active. A little cloudy and a little cool, but the river level is good ... I'm looking forward to tangling with a fish or two. It's been almost 20 years since I fished it every day for 6 months. The river is starting to draw me again. Report coming.

[garyk]

Yesterday a Bend friend reported that a week ago there was few scattered clusters of Pteronarcys at S. Junction. They had a surprisingly poor day. Sure seems like the daily average has greatly declined from what it was in the 80's and early 90's.

[garyk]

Late breaking news just in....

Friends in Bend are calling in sick tomorrow and heading to the D, a sure sign that the bite is on.

[drbfish]

I fished Saturday around the locked gate. there are some salmon/stones out but I never saw one taken. There were also caddis from micro to huge and same with mayflies, micro to big green drakes. Fishing was OK but not great.

As far as the average being down from th 80's and 90's I cant say I have only been fishing there (monthly atleast) since 1997. Most of the time I average about 4 fish 14 inches or over plus a few in the 12 inch range. Sure I have had better days (and worse) but I would guess that is an average for 12 months a year. Is that down?

[Pete]

This just in. Fished Warm Springs to Trout Creek; 8 AM to 4:30 PM .... I have never seen so many adult P. Californica in my 25 years of fishing the D. Me thinks I should have been there a week ago. I tried 4 paterns of dries, 3 patterns of nymphs. I tried caddis and mayflies. I tried attractors. I got one fish. I talked to about a dozen other anglers, none had any. I witnessed no fish hooked. I tried pinching the wings of the bugs and pitching them in the river to see if someone would hit them ... no takes. Adults fluttering in the surface film all day long ... not a take! I think the fish are totally gorged and just aren't interested. My advice is to be on the water at first light or forget it. But then, a day when I only saw 6 or 8 other boats on the D is a good day and the sun was warm, the wind was light and the Nookta roses are in bloom!

[Patrick Kollodge]

I have had the good fortune to fish every day since May 12. My job puts me on the river between Warm Springs and Maupin several days a week. I live across the road from the river in Maupin, so I can literally walk out my door and cast a fly. I have been fishing the Deschutes since 1987 and I think this is the best I have ever seen it. Each evening for the past two weeks, from about 7:00 p.m. 'til 8:30 or 9:00 I have hooked an average of a half dozen trout in the 12"-17" class plus one incredible fish (caught near Stangland Island, below Mecca Flat) that was 18 1/2". I have yet to use a nymph during this hatch. I think the trick has been to find seams that the big fish move into as light fades, and present the fly in moving water that does not permit the fish to study it for a long time before making a decision to attack. As darkness approaches I am taking large trout in skinny water. I have been using a very low profile Clark's Stone. The wing is dark calf tail and extends beyond the bend of a #6 4X long hook. I don't know what the deal is. I'm not that much better a fisherman than in years past, but the trout have been cooperating this year like never before. I have been using a fast action 7' 4wt that allows me to get under trees and fish feeding lies that, presumably, fewer people are reaching. My tippets are 4X or even 3X, so I keep the battles short and sweet. It is on right now, from Warm Springs to Macks Canyon.

[garyk]

A friend just reported that Thursday was dead at S.Juction. Matches up with Pete's report above. Maybe we should check those solunar tables - what gives? Dark moon, moderate weather, why such a dead day - did the river level bounce up?

Sorry drbfish, half a dozen for day's work kinda su*ks. Same old story unfortunately - you should have been here last decade.

Glad to hear Patrick's slamming 'em, that's more like it. Even using the right fly - Clark's Stone; accept no substitute (well, perhaps a true-tie Norm Wood Special).

Let's see how the weekend goes!

[Illusions]

Anybody fishing near the mouth? I will be in that neck of the woods next week and am wondering if I should bring my rod.