Deschutes steelhead

esidestlhd · 07-10-2001, 09:08 AM

Went twice this last week and fished about 4 hours or so for one hatchery fish. Caught it on a spinner. Normally fish with a spoon but the low water this year has lead to more spinner fishing. Hoping for a good year as I have taken more fish so far this year as compared to last. Have not heard of much happening off of the mouth yet, but I went out there once last week and managed on walleye.

bait boy · 07-10-2001, 09:55 AM

Hey, welcome glad to hear a report from out that way. I've never fished on the deschutes but sounds like for the time you put in you did relatively well.

NEUTRON · 07-10-2001, 09:56 AM

Good post and welcome, counts are starting to pick up over the damns!!! Keep us updated on your success.

07-10-2001, 08:44 PM

The Deschutes has been good to me so far. I went Yesterday with my father-in-law and we hooked 11 fish and got 8 to the bank. It was a great day! Six wild fish and two keepers for the BBQ.

The only down side to the day were the ticks - gross! I pulled three off of me!

I'll be back on the river Thursday. I'll put a big 'IFish' sign on the back of my waders and bike for easy id.

Rip Some Lips!

AngleThis · 07-10-2001, 11:11 PM

Ever try to get those wiley Deschutes steelies on a fly rod?..that's the ticket!

Michael J. · 07-11-2001, 09:21 AM

I don't expect you guys to give away your honey holes - but I'm going camping with my girlfriend at the 1st BLM site approx. 3.5 miles in on the lower Deschutes. I've never caught a summer steelhead and don't know if I should go higher or lower - so any insight would be appreciated.

I most likely will be swinging flies - but should I set my girlfriend up to throw spinners, spoons, drift jigs?

Anyway, like I said we'll be at that first campsite with our mountain bikes Friday and Sat. - so please stop by and say 'hello' if you're in the area (Michael and Sarah). Thanks, MJ

07-11-2001, 10:21 AM

Your chances of catching fish are really good at that spot. There shouldn't be too much pressure there on Friday, either.

I fish almost strictly #4 Blue Fox spinners. I use silver blades with blue or chartruese bodies, and in the middle of the day I use silver blades with painted black bodies.

With the river as low as it is right now, I've almost had to 're-learn' the holes.

Good luck to you! I'll be on the river tomorrow, and if I'm fortunate enough to get permission and blessing from my lovely wife, I may see you on the river Friday as well!

Evan0505 · 07-11-2001, 04:20 PM

How high up in the river are people catching steelies?? I was up above maupin this last weekend, and was trout fishing with a big stonefly nymph.... Hooked something huge that fought a lot like a steelie... coulda been a big trout though

Hottamale1 · 07-12-2001, 07:03 AM

Hello,

It's good to hear that the Steelies are now present in the Lower "D".

After swinging a fly through in the early AM, I pull out a Green Bodied Blue Fox with the BLACK blade.....Works really well. OR...toss copper or brass colored Tadpollies and let them swing through in the current. Bagley's Crawfish also work well, but they have a tenedency to dive deeper because of the Bigger Lip!

Give it a try.

Scott www.hottamaleoutdoorshow.com

willierower · 07-12-2001, 02:16 PM

Whats the D going to be like for driftboating this year? I havent had the chance to float it yet. Are the low flows going to make it tougher this year? Or will it be a little easier?

07-14-2001, 01:22 PM

Michael, did you have any success? I went up on Friday and saw someone fishing the wagonblast area and assumed it was you. I Rode up 4 1/2 miles and hit it pretty hard.

I'm glad to know that someone else is enjoying the mighty Deschutes!

Dave

Pete · 07-14-2001, 01:38 PM

Flow today (7/14) at Moody is 4280 ... that's not very low. The average for 96 years for this date is 4774 cfs.

In general, lower flow means the rocks which cause rapids are more exposed. That means the rapids are likely to be rougher, more dangerous and with greater drops than normal.

It's wise for you to be concerned, but unless the levels drop quite a bit more, you shouldn't find much trouble.

SteelieSteve · 07-15-2001, 08:38 PM

Fished the lower river today for a few hours. Wind was bad, gusts to 15-20 mph. I can't beleive how low the Columbia is below Bonneville!!!!!! I hooked none while my gf caught a 4 lb. carp. But the guy across the river hooked 3 and landed 2 which he released. Sounds like good fishing on the other side. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] . Anyway there are some fish in the river and yesterday the count at Bonneville was close to 5000. I was there today. 7/15.

Michael J. · 07-16-2001, 07:04 AM

Hey Everyone, Well I hit the D pretty hard this weekend. I camped just below Colorado Rapids - about 200 yards below the outhouse. My fly rod that I ordered never made it by thursday - so I ended up throwing spinners. I fished primarily between Rattlesnake and Colorado rapids. I started fishing off some ledges into deeper water - I've never caught a summer steelie - so now that I think about it - it may not have been a good spot selection - I still don't really know how to read good steelhead water. Eventually, I moved below rattlesnake into some shallower riffled water and hooked into a nice 16 inch redside. All in all it was a great weekend - the weather was cool - I saw a ton of wildlife (beavers, racoons) - was woken up each night to the sound of coyotes.
Still haven't caught my first summer - but I'll keep trying - I know they're in there. I think i need a guide - can anyone recommend a good Deschutes guide? I don't what the protocol is for posting guides services on this BBS - but you can always e-mail me directly (Michael.Jordan@Nike.com) - thanks. MJ

P.S. I'd love to hear some good steelie stories - some of my best fishing is done on this bulletin board.