Deschutes at Maupin - Start of Salmonflies?

BentMetal · 05-07-2007, 08:37 PM

Alright, last year I went the weekend after Memorial Day weekend, and did pretty well on the redsides tossing dry flies the whole two days I was there (mostly Clark's Stoneflies), but read reports where at that time the salmonfly hatch was winding down. This year, I am going the week before memorial day with a buddy of mine (I definitely plan to be away from that river for the three day weekend, we are going the Monday and Tuesday before).

So, that week of May 20th . . . will we be able to get the fish on the big bugs on top? Or are we a little bit early for the traditional start of the Salmonfly hatch? I realize that it depends on the weather and how warm it gets, but I don't fish the big D that much and don't have a feel at all for when we can really expect good fishing over there.

PittsburghD · 05-10-2007, 06:30 PM

Every year we do a popular stretch near Mecca. Last year it was too early and the suckers were still climbing up the grass. Fishing sucked. (Mostly due to the drowned Warm Springs guy). This year, I hope for better but won't know until I get there. Nothing like throwing monster 4lb nymphs into the water for $3 a pop and losing them on a stupid log.

--D

Pete · 05-10-2007, 06:49 PM

In my experience, once the bugs hit the surface, the fish are gorged. Nymphs are so much tastier and easier to get!

Slow and Low · 05-10-2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PittsburghD

Every year we do a popular stretch near Mecca. Last year it was too early and the suckers were still climbing up the grass. Fishing sucked. (Mostly due to the drowned Warm Springs guy). This year, I hope for better but won't know until I get there. Nothing like throwing monster 4lb nymphs into the water for $3 a pop and losing them on a stupid log.

--D

Fish heavier tippet. Also, you don't have to fish the big nymphs.

Two Fister · 05-10-2007, 07:58 PM

If the fish aren't keyed in on the adults in the section that you are fishing, head downstream. The hatch starts at the mouth and works it's way upstream. If Maupin isn't happening yet, head towards Macks or ride up from the mouth.
TF

mgdfly · 05-10-2007, 08:19 PM

Guided over there for over 20yrs,always Bugs out by Mem. Day, sometimes just starting, some years just about over. The best Dry Fly fishing is almost always on the tail-end of the hatch: the fish know what they are, and there are not many real ones around, so your fly looks pretty tasty! I agree with S&L, no need to use half-pound stone nymph, caught many times more fish on 8s&10s than 2s&4s.

MagicMaurice · 05-10-2007, 10:04 PM

thanx for the info

clacksteel · 05-12-2007, 05:43 PM

I just got back from the big D. There were plenty of the big bugs but the fish weren't keying in on them at all. I saw a few splashy rises but they looked like smolt. A lot of spawners of the redds so be careful out there!

Pete · 05-12-2007, 06:06 PM

Once the flys are out, the game is done. Hit it with big dries before the surface activity starts and the big fish will keep you busy - at least that's my 30 years of experience on the D.

threecreeks · 05-13-2007, 07:39 AM

I fished the middle just west of Bend last night and there definately are salmonflies out! The willows were chock full of them. So I can only imagine what Mecca and Maupin are like. We are colder and higher in elevation here.

Good Luck!

-T.C.

Whiskey Dick · 05-20-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threecreeks

I fished the middle just west of Bend last night and there definately are salmonflies out! The willows were chock full of them. So I can only imagine what Mecca and Maupin are like. We are colder and higher in elevation here.

Good Luck!

-T.C.

TC, the salmon fly hatch on the middle deschutes starts before the Lower Deschutes not a lot of people know that

. I have just got off two multi day floats from Troutcreek to Maupin and we did see the ocasional salmon fly but the fish are not hitting them yet. The salmon fly nymphs have not started moving out of the river but they will soon as they are all over the rocks in the river. I hear they are out below Maupin. good luck out there.

cphatts · 05-21-2007, 07:10 PM

I fished below Shears this past weekend and all I have to say is .....GAME ON!!

Slow and Low · 05-22-2007, 05:29 AM

I floated Macks to Heritage. Slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Planning on TC to Harpham next weekend. Hopefully fishing will pick up.

clarkman23 · 05-22-2007, 01:14 PM

Fished Maupin this past SUnday and there were a ton of bugs out (since it was raining they were all on the foliage)...caught a few on stone dries, more on sunken stones, and still more on a soft hackle...missed one of the larger rainbows I've seen there rising to PMDs in skinny water...

caught a few smolts, a number of smaller (8-12") redsides and three or four solid redsides in the 15-16" range...all in all a pretty good day. There are lots and lots of smolts out there so it pays to move if you're just catching them.

Heading out again probably on Thursday and Friday...should be good for stones...

~Randy

PittsburghD · 05-22-2007, 07:27 PM

I'm a gettin' itchy. Two more days for me. I am priaying for a much better year than last. 8 guys, four days. 23rd Annual Camping Trip with the boys! Well capming has changed since then. Cabin and beds with kicthens. But we still call it The Campout. I will be watching this thread like a hawk as I get close to D-Day on Friday morning. Thanks for all the heads up. Keep it coming.

--D

PittsburghD · 05-23-2007, 06:19 PM

Well I got another report from a friend on his way back to Portland from Bend. Had him pop by the water around Mecca and tell me what was in the air etc... His answer....

...Pollen, some dust and a little air. That's it. No bugs anywhere.

Yikes! I'm hoping they were all waiting for tomorrow and the next day and he just was there on a particularly bad day for them. Not a bug to be seen or shaken from the grasses on the bank.

--D

blueback17 · 05-23-2007, 07:05 PM

I spent this past weekend (Friday through Monday) with some of my high school students whitewater rafting on the Deschutes. We camped in City Park in Maupin. We rafted from Harpham Flats to Beaver Tail. I did not do any fishing, but I can confirm that the salmon flies are hatching. The fishermen that we spoke with as we floated by all said the fishing was pretty slow. I did see some fish rising at different times, but they seemed pretty small to my eye. Just thought I would share my observations....

Blueback17

PittsburghD · 05-23-2007, 08:24 PM

Thanks for taking them time to chime BBack.

--D

clarkman23 · 05-23-2007, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgdfly

The best Dry Fly fishing is almost always on the tail-end of the hatch: the fish know what they are, and there are not many real ones around, so your fly looks pretty tasty!

Shhhhh...don't tell anyone...

seriously though, there are other hatches during the Stonefly bonanza that you might consider paying attention to.

~Randy

Slow and Low · 05-24-2007, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueback17

I spent this past weekend (Friday through Monday) with some of my high school students whitewater rafting on the Deschutes. We camped in City Park in Maupin. We rafted from Harpham Flats to Beaver Tail. I did not do any fishing, but I can confirm that the salmon flies are hatching. The fishermen that we spoke with as we floated by all said the fishing was pretty slow. I did see some fish rising at different times, but they seemed pretty small to my eye. Just thought I would share my observations....

Blueback17

BB how was that sherars falls? Harpham to Beavertail?

BentMetal · 05-24-2007, 07:40 PM

Well, a follow up report . . . I fished from 11:30 Tuesday and to 3:30 Wednesday. I am no deschutes expert, as this was my third trip or so (and only second time fishing during Salmonfly time), and Tuesday we fished upstream of the locked gate. Very slow for us (1 redside and whitefish for me, nothing for my friend), and only heard of a couple people who caught just a couple fish. We mostly tried nymphing, as there were very few rises, and very few big bugs on the water, (but lots, lots are in the grasses). I am sort of like a kid with a magnifying glass when it comes to those big bugs where I pick them off the bushes and throw them in the water . . . of all the times that I did that on both Tuesday and Wednesday, the only times I seen a fish take the bug was a smolt or very small redside.

Tired of walking, we drove down to Sherars falls on Wednesday morn, and started fishing just upstream of there . . . again not much to show, a 14 inch redside, and an eight inch fish with parr marks (not bright like a smolt, which I caught two of I believe). We fished several spots between sherars and Maupin with not much to show, and never really seeing any big rises (bigger than 10inches, that is), be it on goldens or some other type of hatch. I have never been downstream of Sherars' falls, and might have been better off trying down there. Otherwise, I will have to get better at nymphing in the river, or picking spots to fish with nymphs.

I only seen two adult salmonflies all weekend . . . golden stones were everywhere. The adults were all mating bigtime Tuesday and Wednesday, and if I heard the guy in one of the flyshops correctly, the fish won't key in on the adults until they start flying enmasse over the water laying their eggs (when they become most available to the fish) . . . that doesn't appear to have happened yet, but might be pretty close to happening.

blueback17 · 05-27-2007, 10:03 AM

I guess I forgot to mention that we pulled off of the river at Sandy Beach, loaded up the boats, and DROVE around Sherars Falls....:smile:....that could have been a rough ride, and a lot of lawsuits.....:smile:

So, I am not sure about the salmon flies in the direct vicinity of the falls, but I am sure above and below...:smile:

Thanks for keeping me on my toes.

Blueback17

12244 · 05-27-2007, 09:54 PM

I went today, way to windy.
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=154282