Where are all the Deschutes steelhead reports

[jacksalmon]

There is an amazing difference between the interest shown on this website by those who fish salmon and tuna in the traditional ways to express the tiniest bit of info related to those fisheries and those who fly fish. For example, on the Salty Dogs, if a guy even sees a tuna he reports it and fifty guys congratulate him. On the Flyfishers site, we are apparently going thru great opportunities on the Deschutes for steelehead and there isn't much interest in reporting anything from the condition of the river to how its fishing.
Is that just the difference between those who ply saltwater with broomsticks and lead and those who ply freshwater with fur, feathers and whippy long rods? Why are there no reports here on the great Deschutes steelhead fishery? I am not being critical, I am just wondering why the difference in the interest in communicating on this website.
by the way, I engage in all kinds of fisheries, so I have no biases. I have just noticed an incredible difference in the amount of info available on this site about these different fisheries. also, any info on how things are going over there would be appreciated. Thanks.

[AndyK]

Is that just the difference between those who ply saltwater with broomsticks and lead and those who ply freshwater with fur, feathers and whippy long rods? Why are there no reports here on the great Deschutes steelhead fishery?
When reporting tuna in the ocean, there is lots of room for the limited number of boats that show up.

There are not enough rocks on the Deschutes for all the "potential" fishermen to stand on. When someone reports catching steelhead there, the number of fishermen increases exponentially!

In addition, I have shared information on where I have been catching fish in the past and the next time I go out, the river is crowded with gear fishermen who won’t give me room to even cast (or crowd me out of a hole I am already fishing).

I work hard at finding and catching steelhead and salmon. That means expending time and resources (such as fuel for my truck). I see no reason to share this information with someone who doesn’t want to put in similar efforts and then crowds me off the river.

[chromeseeker]

There is an amazing difference between the interest shown on this website by those who fish salmon and tuna in the traditional ways to express the tiniest bit of info related to those fisheries and those who fly fish. For example, on the Salty Dogs, if a guy even sees a tuna he reports it and fifty guys congratulate him. On the Flyfishers site, we are apparently going thru great opportunities on the Deschutes for steelehead and there isn't much interest in reporting anything from the condition of the river to how its fishing.
Is that just the difference between those who ply saltwater with broomsticks and lead and those who ply freshwater with fur, feathers and whippy long rods? Why are there no reports here on the great Deschutes steelhead fishery? I am not being critical, I am just wondering why the difference in the interest in communicating on this website.
by the way, I engage in all kinds of fisheries, so I have no biases. I have just noticed an incredible difference in the amount of info available on this site about these different fisheries. also, any info on how things are going over there would be appreciated. Thanks.

Probably a few reasons for this but here's my take:

1. Steelhead fly anglers (and gear steelie anglers for that matter) in general feel very protective of their fish/fishery and are reluctant to report success on any fishery, not just the big "D". Reason? Less fish and lots more anglers, especially this time of year where the river is crawling with fishers.

2. Fly fishers in general, but especially steelie fly fishers, have a bit of a superiority complex in the hierarchy of anglers. They won't admit it (well, I guess some will) but most feel that using gear/bait to catch steelhead is beneath them. This superiority complex causes them to have the attitude of:"I worked hard to catch this fish so go figure it out on your own." Gear anglers are like that too but not nearly as bad. In general, steelie fly anglers are a bit of a petchulant bunch which leads to their lack of sharing.

3. Fly fishing for and catching steelies on the "D" isn't rocket science in the first place and to be honest, there's not a heck of a lot in the way of technique/tactics to share. A person who's never picked up a fly rod in his/her life can hook fish on the "D" with an hour or so of casting lessons and a fly or two.

Before the flames start, I've been chasing steelies with the fly for over 20 years so my comments aren't out of left field. I don't post because I'm basically lazy when it comes to fishing reports and like I said, there's not much to discuss when it comes to catching fish this time of year on the "D". That and the fact that I've got other species of fish to keep me occupied at the moment. :wink:

CS

[AndyK]

In general, steelie fly anglers are a bit of a petchulant bunch which leads to their lack of sharing.

Did you mean "petulant" (as in grouchy)?

[chromeseeker]

Did you mean "petulant" (as in grouchy)?
Andy,

I much prefer your spelling! My mental dictionary isn't functioning well today. No, not necessarily grouchy, but maybe a bit peevish.

I have met a few grouchy fly anglers in my day as well but for the most part, however, we are not an overly grouchy bunch.

CS

[mcsquidly]

Andy,

I much prefer your spelling! My mental dictionary isn't functioning well today. No, not necessarily grouchy, but maybe a bit peevish.

I have met a few grouchy fly anglers in my day as well but for the most part, however, we are not an overly grouchy bunch.

CS

Andy K,

I think he meant petulant, as in sulky or a bit whiny. But I could be mistaken.

I would agree that many a steelheaders are a bit sulky and a bit whiny. And they have good reason to be this way, as the runs of wild free rising fish are in the tank and rivers are over crowed. If all I had to fish was the D I would be beyond petulant for sure! In fact its gotten soo bad that rumor has it that some predominant Deschutes guides are buying people off by paying them to vacate the good campsites and fly water so that there "johns" can camp and fish,(I know this to be true).

Fortunately not all rivers are cramped. Given the right time and place, and if you have your finger on the pulse, you can find sweet steely fishing for wild fish in an uncrowded environ. While these venues are sweet indeed they are also very short lived and you must really be in tune with the watershed. Chrome seeker and I have a few of these venues and they are sweet, some are local........and we are happy with just these.

[jacksalmon]

I like the explanation that flyfishers have to be more protective of where they fish, so they don't report. In the ocean, there is room for everyone and sometimes, a nearby boat can save your life, so it pays to have more around. That isn't true for flyfishing. I know how I feel when I float the Deschutes for steelhead or trout, if I even see anyone, I am unhappy. So, I guess that is the answer, but it sures makes a major difference in available info.

[Patrick Kollodge]

any info on how things are going over there would be appreciated. Thanks.

I made it back home to Maupin this evening in time to swing a fly in a favorite spot for an hour, then it got too dark to see. I did not hook anything. The other day I did. Usually, no always, there are steelhead near Maupin this time of year. You could come here, fish for them and post a report.

[Wild Chrome]

Why are there no reports here on the great Deschutes steelhead fishery?

The Deschutes was blown out below WR for most of the last week and much of the last month or more. Most experienced Deschutes anglers have their own sources separate from internet message boards to update this info. Try googling "deschutesangler" and check for a fishing report. You'll also find a link to White River flows, which is strongly related to the lower part of the river blowing out. When WR blows the D out, fly anglers are more affected b/c flies are more entirely visual to the fish than hardware or plugs, etc, and harder to see on top of it. Plus, some fly anglers only fish flies on or near the surface and if the water's dirty, the fish cannot see them. The fishing has been excellent this year at times, but White River's been more active than usual too (and later). There's lots of good water above WR, but the fish don't usually make a big push over Shears and upriver until about now and if WR's blown, it gets really crowded really fast up there.

Oh, almost forgot about the marauding bands: There are also marauding bands of rogue gear-anglers sipping carmel latte's and eating scones in coffee shops all over the northwest. They have their laptops constantly scanning the fly-boards for real-time steelhead locations (because they know that's where the real action is) and when one is revealed, they immediately email or text their brethren, sending the signal to don camo waders and grab their Ugly Sticks en route to the revealed location. Guess it works better for them than getting up at 4 am, waking everyone else in the campground slamming doors and starting their truck at 4:30, and getting to their favorite 3-6 foot deep current seem in the dark, before anyone else. :)

[Steelie Mike]

1/1 on saturday between Bed Springs and Heritage with a small nook and 1/2 with steelhead on sunday one of which came on a floater near the same location. Clarity appx 3.5 feet and I like it that way. Fish were very close to shore and walked onto several. Saw very poor boating by several jets maneuvering around rafts and toons. I also saw a few gentlemen who powered down in the same spot to let people by.

I catch a few salmon every year and would much rather catch a steelhead. The guys who know me know where I fish and the ones I trust get the real skinny of what is going on. Fly fishing for steelhead is more about the process and learning then catching fish and my wimpy spey rods still see several dozen steelhead and salmon to the bank every year.

Like said over and over the more people out there the more crowded it gets. If I am casting 100 feet and someone walks downstream of me 50 feet away then you get the issue. If someone walks a 100 feet below me and does not move while you are working down a run it is the same issue. Why make public what is going on when you constantly have to deal with people not knowing etiquette? It gets old letting people know what and how you are fishing every time I am out on the water. The more people out there, the more you have to deal with these type issues and get discouraged going out. We have a limited resource in a limited amount of space and the people who earn their knowledge deserve the success they have on the river.

I wish you luck on your Fall salmon and steelhead season.

[chromeseeker]

1/1 on saturday between Bed Springs and Heritage with a small nook and 1/2 with steelhead on sunday one of which came on a floater near the same location. Clarity appx 3.5 feet and I like it that way. Fish were very close to shore and walked onto several. Saw very poor boating by several jets maneuvering around rafts and toons. I also saw a few gentlemen who powered down in the same spot to let people by.

I catch a few salmon every year and would much rather catch a steelhead. The guys who know me know where I fish and the ones I trust get the real skinny of what is going on. Fly fishing for steelhead is more about the process and learning then catching fish and my wimpy spey rods still see several dozen steelhead and salmon to the bank every year.

Like said over and over the more people out there the more crowded it gets. If I am casting 100 feet and someone walks downstream of me 50 feet away then you get the issue. If someone walks a 100 feet below me and does not move while you are working down a run it is the same issue. Why make public what is going on when you constantly have to deal with people not knowing etiquette? It gets old letting people know what and how you are fishing every time I am out on the water. The more people out there, the more you have to deal with these type issues and get discouraged going out. We have a limited resource in a limited amount of space and the people who earn their knowledge deserve the success they have on the river.

I wish you luck on your Fall salmon and steelhead season.

Mike,

I can hear the frustration in your voice, brother.

Your concerns are why I have been mostly chasing other species this summer in miles and miles of water where fishing pressure is nonexistent and where you may not run into another similar angler all day long. This has freed me from the burden of feeling the need to chase and catch steelies in crowded and pressured conditions. It's like a breath of fresh air! And the fish I'm hooking are aggressive (most of the time!) and pull harder pound for pound than steelies--at least the steelies in the lower 48.

I still love fishing the spey for steelies and always will but I'm just more discriminating on when I go now for the reasons you have mentioned, now that I have other species to chase.

But I think you pretty much summed up one of the major reasons why more D steelie reports aren't posted. Dealing with other anglers with poor etiquette is a pain and you just don't feel like reporting after a day of wandering around with the masses cursing at their bad river manners, even if you do hook up.

I hear 'ya.

CS

[jacksalmon]

The Deschutes was blown out below WR for most of the last week and much of the last month or more. Most experienced Deschutes anglers have their own sources separate from internet message boards to update this info. Try googling "deschutesangler" and check for a fishing report. You'll also find a link to White River flows, which is strongly related to the lower part of the river blowing out. When WR blows the D out, fly anglers are more affected b/c flies are more entirely visual to the fish than hardware or plugs, etc, and harder to see on top of it. Plus, some fly anglers only fish flies on or near the surface and if the water's dirty, the fish cannot see them. The fishing has been excellent this year at times, but White River's been more active than usual too (and later). There's lots of good water above WR, but the fish don't usually make a big push over Shears and upriver until about now and if WR's blown, it gets really crowded really fast up there.

Oh, almost forgot about the marauding bands: There are also marauding bands of rogue gear-anglers sipping carmel latte's and eating scones in coffee shops all over the northwest. They have their laptops constantly scanning the fly-boards for real-time steelhead locations (because they know that's where the real action is) and when one is revealed, they immediately email or text their brethren, sending the signal to don camo waders and grab their Ugly Sticks en route to the revealed location. Guess it works better for them than getting up at 4 am, waking everyone else in the campground slamming doors and starting their truck at 4:30, and getting to their favorite 3-6 foot deep current seem in the dark, before anyone else. :)


I have never seen a link on the Deschutes Angler website to any gauge on the White River. I didn't even know there was one on the White. When I looked at the USGS site for Real Time Oregon Streamflows, I didn't find any reference to a gauge on the White. Is there one? Can it be found on the Deschutes Angler Website? If so, where? If on their website, why isn't it on the USGS site? Who maintains the gauge?

[Wild Chrome]

I have never seen a link on the Deschutes Angler website to any gauge on the White River. I didn't even know there was one on the White. When I looked at the USGS site for Real Time Oregon Streamflows, I didn't find any reference to a gauge on the White. Is there one? Can it be found on the Deschutes Angler Website? If so, where? If on their website, why isn't it on the USGS site? Who maintains the gauge?


It's near the top of the fishing reports page.

But here, I'll make it easy for you. Third one down. If you click on the cfs number, you'll get the 7 day chart.
http://www.wkcc.org/levels/?D=z31

[cphatts]

I think your answer is twofold:

1) Most fly anglers who are serious about fishing for steelhead don't rely on reports during prime times of the year (such as the Deschutes in September) or any time of year for that matter. If its September....there are fish in the river. There is no need to wait around for a red hot report. Some days will be great.....some days won't....thats steelhead fishing. There is no secret to it. I took a buddy out last weekend who hasn't caught a steelhead in 7 years and never cast a spey rod and he banged 3 fish in one morning on a floating lines. On the flip side, the entire day before we only put one on the bank between the two of us. Some days you hit pods of fish .....some days you don't. Some days the barometer is in on your side and the fish are happy....some days they are not.

2) As echoed above, this river is already as crowded as all get out. While it is certainly no secret.....boasting with killer reports only adds to the masses. Yes, the Deschutes is a big river but it is within easy striking distance from 2 million people and is also a popular destination for anglers from around the globe. Couple this popularity with the fact that steelhead mostly only hold in certain sections of water and you have a collision course of wide eyed crazed anglers on your hands. Some people will swear that internet reports on waters that are already popular do not draw crowds....... but I beg to differ. I've chased steelhead on the D with fly rod for the last 10 years and while it is always a crowded river, it becomes more crowded and less ethical when the dam counts and internet chatter are on the rise.

I for one prefer a "normal" year out there.......

[wapiteaser]

The river is clear all the way through and fishing is good. Fish waters that normally don't get fished and find your own secret little spot. It will stay a secret until one of the guides sees you with a fish on and then it becomes there spot. Pressure is high, but lots of water to fish. Don't be afraid to fish during the middle of the day as the fish are moving all day long right now. Dark brown and black nymphs are hooking a lot of fish right now. Tight lines everyone

[jacksalmon]

It's near the top of the fishing reports page.

But here, I'll make it easy for you. Third one down. If you click on the cfs number, you'll get the 7 day chart.
http://www.wkcc.org/levels/?D=z31

Thanks so much for locating the info on the DA website as well as the link to the site with the seven day report. I really appreciate it. It looks like the White flow was highest in early Sept when people were saying it was messing up the D. Guess it is down somewhat now, so the D should be clearer, which is what someone said just above this reply. Thanks again for your help.

[mrett]

As a World Class Fishery the "D" is always good Trout fishing. Period-It's up to you to learn the river. Lots of guides and flyshops will teach you the ropes. "D" Canyon has great Entomology classes etc.

As for Steelies.... It's the season... Sept,Oct, Nov..
Game On !!
Lots of resources to learn... Lots of wisdom in the previous posts..

There may be a few cranky ol spey casters out there ( they got up early) but in most cases show a little interest and ask a few questions( not where did you fish) and you will gain some knowledge.

Or go against the grain, watch where the guides fish,seek the fringe water, lots of steelhead in other than classic spey drifts..

Have fun !! It's about learning, the journey, catching fish will come.
Some make it out to be rocket science....
Get good at catching trout.... You'll find the Steelfish

These guys are good because the practice......

[12244]

Great report Wapiteaser, thank you.

The river is clear all the way through and fishing is good. Fish waters that normally don't get fished and find your own secret little spot. It will stay a secret until one of the guides sees you with a fish on and then it becomes there spot. Pressure is high, but lots of water to fish. Don't be afraid to fish during the middle of the day as the fish are moving all day long right now. Dark brown and black nymphs are hooking a lot of fish right now. Tight lines everyone

[Hunt-man]

Just got back. White River was clouding things up during the hot days up near Beavertail / Max. Very hot / very dry / very bright. Fishing was slow for me, only caught one wild one. Good fish though. Lots of people down below Freebridge. I met a big rock at the bottom of Rattlesnake, that was close one.... Water moving way faster than I could row.

[Slow and Low]

Just got back. White River was clouding things up during the hot days up near Beavertail / Max. Very hot / very dry / very bright. Fishing was slow for me, only caught one wild one. Good fish though. Lots of people down below Freebridge. I met a big rock at the bottom of Rattlesnake, that was close one.... Water moving way faster than I could row.

Thanks.

slide in behind the first rock river left and move into the wave train and you should be nowhere near that rock. Glad you made it.

[surfnfish]

The D, like many other rivers, has also been significantly impacted by the huge trend towards spey rods, which has really changed the amount of flyfishers any one run can support.

Prior to the spey onslaught, with the average flyfisher working 30' to 50' feet of line, more folks could work a section of river without crowding each other.

These days, with spey rods line out on the swing has more then doubled, requiring more space downstream between anglers...so a honey run that used to be able to support four or five anglers can now barely support two spey casters...

[chromeseeker]

The D, like many other rivers, has also been significantly impacted by the huge trend towards spey rods, which has really changed the amount of flyfishers any one run can support.

Prior to the spey onslaught, with the average flyfisher working 30' to 50' feet of line, more folks could work a section of river without crowding each other.

These days, with spey rods line out on the swing has more then doubled, requiring more space downstream between anglers...so a honey run that used to be able to support four or five anglers can now barely support two spey casters...

Good observation. But the ironic thing is, you still basically only need to cast 30-50' to hook fish on the D! Most spey anglers get the long rod and feel they have to bomb 90-100 foot casts. Then some old-school, hardcore bamboo angler fishing a double taper and casting 30' comes in behind them and proceeds to lay waste and pick up all the fish they cast over. I've seen it happen!

CS

[surfnfish]

Good observation. But the ironic thing is, you still basically only need to cast 30-50' to hook fish on the D! Most spey anglers get the long rod and feel they have to bomb 90-100 foot casts. Then some old-school, hardcore bamboo angler fishing a double taper and casting 30' comes in behind them and proceeds to lay waste and pick up all the fish they cast over. I've seen it happen!

CS


True dat!!! :D

[Slow and Low]

58 degrees, 3 feet of vis. you could have had your pick at wagonblast....scratchy fishing this weekend for whatever reason.