Deschutes (Warm Springs)

Navigator · 06-01-2003, 09:43 PM

The Big D' was stingy today. Only got three dinks and lost another. Missed one humonguous take on a golden stone (hit while I was picking up

) and broke off another nice fish

. Beautiful day - not very crowded. Salmon flies and stoneflies in the grass and brush - a few being taken. Pretty dead between 1-4 pm. I got my fish, hits on pheasant tails, prince, elk hair caddis and golden stone.

blackdog · 06-02-2003, 06:19 AM

Well, I launched out of Warm Springs Saturday about 10:30 and the hatch was on big time!!! The driftboat hatch that is!! I haven't done the weekend thing in a few years during the stonefly time, and what a zoo. We worked hard to find some water to fish and finally got a few takers, mainly on smaller pheasant tails. Around 1:00 PM, after seeing a few risers, decided to give the dry stone a try. Am I ever glad we did!! Second cast resulted in a 17" hog, followed over the next hour and a half by around 30 more risers, with about half hooked and probably ten of those landed. Fish landed averaged around 16", including two that were over 18" :shocked: :grin: The pattern that was working was a big bullet head stone. By about 2:30 that action quit then it was back to working hard for any takers, dries or nymphs. Didn't last until dark, so not sure if there was a good evening bite or not.

drbfish · 06-02-2003, 08:52 AM

Trying to avoid the crowd I fished below maupin on saturday. Fishing was not that good but not bad either. My first fish of the day was about 14" but he was sooo fat. He had a beer gut! Last fish of the day was an 18 inch on a dry! LOVE that! All in all about 6 -8 trout plus a few white fish. Plus, broke off two, one of which was a monster, took line like a steelhead. Most nymphs seemed to work. No stone hatch down there, no mayfly hatch but OK caddis hatch. Had to leave at 5 so I missed the eavning hatch.

Pete · 06-03-2003, 06:05 PM

I did a bank trip down from Mecca today. Walked past a bunch of water down to Ogden's Crossing, thinking I'd fish my way back to where I parked. I picked up to very healthy fish just above the crossing on stonefly nymphs. Wanted to fish in front of the house, but two hee-haws claimed that stretch and didn't move for over 2 hours. Picked up another good fish on a dry golden stone below the house, then started moving back upstream. Got a really nice fish just below the second island above the crossing ... first cast to the hole, funny how often that's the case ... then a guide dropped in on the island and let his clients loose. The oversize client with the cane rod and Jimmy Houston sun glasses proceeded to wade to right where I was casting! I invited him to stand next to me if he wanted to fish my water, but he must have been deaf as he didn't answer. I ceded the hole to him and asked the guide if he provided instruction in etiquette as part of his service. He apologized profusely, but the joy was off my day and the temperature was soaring, so I headed upstream.

Keep in mind, this is Tuesday. In 4 hours I counted 47 driftboats, 4 rafts and 16 catarafts. There were people everywhere. My plan to fish my way back to my car was thwarted.

Tip of the day: the stonefly hatch is dropping off and the fish are slurping ovipositing bugs ... the big flies are working!

lost_sailor · 06-04-2003, 08:23 AM

"hee-haws" ? :smile: Are they related to The Louds? That's who usually fishes next to me. Well, they don't have to be that close, you can hear them all the way up the canyon.

I'm heading up tonight to fish and bake all day Thursday, I'll provide a detailed report.

garyk · 06-04-2003, 11:09 PM

That is truly a STUNNING number of boats for that stretch.

Looking forward to your report Lost_Sailor, I had been thinking about fishing WarmSprings on Sunday but.... maybe I'll try to learn how to catch a steelhead out on the Columbia instead.

I do have firm plans though for the Metolius and Deschutes for the 20th-23rd, and will dutifully file a report.

You guys already know this, but there can be pretty good dry salmonfly action after the hatch is 95% over, and the crowds thin correspondingly.

PittsburghD · 06-05-2003, 06:08 AM

Hee Haws, Louds and Chatty's. Love the chatty's! "Hey whadya get that one on?" "Is that a 5 weight?" "Did you get 'em in the seam?" "I hit one there last week too?" Have you ever done one of those pontoon things?"

AAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ka blam!

----D :shocked:

lost_sailor · 06-06-2003, 09:56 PM

Everything was great except the fish-catching. Salmon flies, golden stones, black caddis, brown caddis, tiny caddis, PMDs and other mayflies.

Got a campsite - with a tree! Amazing. Great star show. No flat bike tires. Got buzzed by a rattlesnake - actually the first time - amazing how fast you can reverse !

Cold beer, good cigar, great star show.

Fish per hour ZERO, fish per day ZERO, fish hooked ZERO, fish lost ZERO. Very little activity on the surface.

Navigator · 06-08-2003, 09:15 PM

Unfortunately for you lost-sailor, that sounds like my kind of outing. Great fishing, poor catching. Get 'em next time.

Buccaneer · 06-09-2003, 09:35 AM

My buddy Jeff & I did our annual trip from Tuesday to Saturday (3rd-7th) camping below Mecca. Finally a trip without gale force winds! It was hot but nice and cool for sleeping. The fishing was good for us, especially Jeff. He put on a dry fly clinic, catching many large redsides including one slighlty over 20 inches. The fly of choice (for the trout) was a large stimulator Jeff ties. The rattle snakes were out in force. One camper got struck in his wading boot but it was a small snake and didn't get through the boot. We ate like kings with springer for two dinners, steak, french toast, campers breakfast (eggs, sausage) etc. There may be a lot of boaters and campers, but we really enjoy meeting and talking to all. All in all, a really good trip this year.