Deschutes Offers Many Possibilities (pics)

[Riverkeeper]

Well, I know the Deschutes means STEELHEAD for many of you at this time of year, but this weekend a few friends and a bit of family made a semi-traditional flyfishing outing to the upper river in the lakes area. Our stated goal: BIG BROWNS. That never exactly materialized, but we had a great time. The river where we were fishing was absolutely choked with these cookie-cutter 18-20" kokanee on their spawning run.

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/012922243.jpg

They were very agressive toward small nymphs, and lots of fun on the 5 weight. Hooking 15 or 20 in a few hours of fishing was not too difficult. We saw some big browns in the deeper holes, but I was only able to manage an 8 incher, pretty as it was. Then on the eve of dark on our last night, my ole pa was lucky enough to chance into this beautiful 24" rainbow on a muddler minnow.

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/302922243.jpg

It looked much nicer than this when fresh out of the water, but tasted great right after this.

The deschutes is such a marvelous river, different landscapes and fishing opportunities at every bend in the river. I think I may start a fan club.

With this trip I hang up the trout gear for the year, pull out the hardware, and head for tidewater. Ok, maybe I make a trip or two to the mouth of the D. See you there.

[FallRiverGuy]

Sounds like a lot of fun. I was wondering if some fish had moved into the river to spawn. I want to take my daughter up to see the spawning kokanee. Time to have a look see.

Nice rainbow too.

[ripnlips]

Sounds like a great time. Where were you? What part of the river? These are some memories that will last a lifetime!!

[Riverkeeper]

What will last a lifetime is the tennis elbow I got from fighting so many kokanee :dance: . We were not too far above wickiup reservoir. This stretch closed to all fishing on 8/31.

Darian

[wade]

Riverkeeper,
Did you truly hook those Kokes in the mouth? I've watched them near Odell Lake at spawning. Its illegal to fish for them there. The only thing they seemed interested in doing was to keep their brethren out of their space. I can imagine them moving an item out of their area like a brooding bass would, but I can't believe they were feeding on nymphs. :whazzup:

Kevin

[Riverkeeper]

I definately foul hooked a few. I avoided fishing the shallow spawning beds. I found that the non-spawning fish would hold in deeper faster runs (where I figured the trout would be), and here the takes were all solid and in the mouth. I don't imagine it was a feeding response, but more like agression, same way a salmon or steelhead hits a lure. They were somewhat particular about what patterns they liked.