Deschutes calm water?

K-Mac · 07-10-2003, 08:58 AM

I'm heading out over to Bend next weekend with the family. I thought I'd bring my 10ft pontoon along and escape for a few hours and do some fly fishing on the Deschutes. Anybody know of some good short floats around town in the slow water?
How about the fly fishing at the River House?
Thank you anyone who replys?

blackdog · 07-10-2003, 09:43 AM

Just north of the Riverhouse, or downstream, along OB Reilly Road, there is a park (Sawyer) which has some access and has produced a fish or two in the past. This NOT calm, pontoon water however. Another place that can be good is just out of town, headed towards Bachelor at Meadow Camp. It's down a gravel road to the left right before you get to Widgi Creek golf course. Park as far upstream as you can and fish the riffles and pockets below the falls. This can be real productive for smaller fish. Also, there are some lunker browns in there, as witnessed a few years ago when a 5+ pound brown grabbed onto a small rainbow that I had on and wouldn't let go. This time of year, small elk hair caddis in the evening should do the trick.

FallRiverGuy · 07-10-2003, 04:07 PM

I have had luck just up from the Old Mill shopping area. The water is slow enough for a pontoon boat. I have found fish right next to the bank on the current side taking BWOs. As Blackdog said, nothing too big. The area gets some traffic from people ecsaping the heat mid-day.

boo · 07-10-2003, 09:42 PM

Meadow Camp is a good bet for someone unfamiliar with the waters and lookng for some classi trout water. At the top of the lot is a great riffle section you can float out to and work from the gravel bar....don't float down below the lowest "take out" of the campground, though. I used to have a place about a mile down from that section and the water picks up into some whitewater you definately don't want to do in any craft unless it's a swift water kayak. Below Benham falls there is some great water aswell, if you're up for a 1/2 mile to a mile hike.
Tight Lines

K-Mac · 07-10-2003, 09:51 PM

Thanks you guys for all your advice. It's great!
At Meadow Camp, can you float out from the put in site and take out at the same place or is there a take out farther down in the camp area?
Thanks again.

K-Mac · 07-10-2003, 11:17 PM

Thanks for the help Blackdog. I think I'll try the Meadow Camp area.

[ 07-10-2003, 01:10 PM: Message edited by: K-Mac ]

boo · 07-12-2003, 06:26 AM

Meadow Camp is kinda strung out along the river for 3/4 of a mile or so....the gravel road runs into the river and then heads up river, parallel to it, until you get to a turnaround.

There's also a float above Meadow Camp I used to do....its at the put in below Benham Falls and goes to the put in above Big Eddy....I forgot the names of these so don't go on my advice....stop by at the Patient Angler on Colorado Street in Bend and ask Pete or Chris for better details.....they're both a wealth of info on the local waters.