Lower Deschutes

[Illusions]

Has anybody fished the mouth of the Deschutes lately? Any suggestions on what to use this time of year? Trout or Steelhead? Thanks..

[Mad Mikey]

Don't mess with the mouth for trout, also a little early for steelhead. Go to the Maupin area, South Junction or Trout Cr or Warm Springs.
Might still get fish to look at adult salmon flies but that's gonna be over soon.
Nymph during the day, possibly toss a caddis under some trees, they ought to be small, black or brown #18 or #16 work for me. If it is overcast you should get a 1PM PMD hatch, any mayfly hatch you can cover with a Parachute Adams(#12 to #18). Also might want to have a few Green Drake patterns kicking around, never know when or where that'll happen(should start around lunchtime if it does). Last year we had over two weeks of consistent GD's between Trout Creek and Whitehorse, a real blast. Down lower that hatch has caught me with my pants down a few times so I always have a few in the box.
Last hour of light you ought to camp next to a little gravel or rock bar that is still fairly close to the main current but has a foot or two of fishable stuff near it and fish a caddis(dry) with an emerger behind it. Keep pounding that spot, start low and work to the top, give it a rest and do it again. You'll probably catch more fish in that hour than you did all day!

cheers,

Mike

[Illusions]

Thanks Mike!!

[local_hooker]

I usually start fishing for steelhead in the mouth about July 1. I work the lower 3 miles or so, with #4 copper blue fox vibrax spinner, and pink and white firstcast jigs.

Don't bother trying to be there at O'dark thirty in the morning. All of my fish have been in the afternoon in bright daylight.

I have not gone after them with a fly rod, I only own a 3, 5, and 6 wt. I have not got authorization from the warden to buy an 8 or9 wt. yet. I have seen lots of guys hanging 'em on flies though.

good luck

keep us posted

LH

[cully]

just got back from the Madras area on the Deschutes and it was nothing short of my best fishing ever. Salmonfly, Stimulators and yellow stoneflies. The stoneflies seem to be very abundent still.