Sunriver advice

[Pepe' da Pack Mule]

I will be in Sunriver for the week of 4th of July. The wives are going to let me and my buddy break away for a day and do some fishing. We both have pontoon boats and either can flyfish or bait cast. We are novices when it comes to the pontoons so do not know if the Deschutes would be a good option to float without experience. Any advice of where and how would be greatly appreciated for July.

[Occidental]

If you don't mind flat water I'd suggest Hosmer or Davis Lake.

[northrivergrn]

Fall River has always been good to me in the summer!!!

[Mtnbd]

There are some easy floats down the Deschutes if you have the time. My parents have a place at Sunriver so I'm there all the time. It's all flat water from LaPine State Park until Benham East Trail Head. You access Benham East Trail Head from the road to Lava Lands Visitor Center off of Hwy 97 just south of Bend. Don't float past Benham East Trail Head. There is a extremely dangerous water fall (Benham Falls) just past Benham East Trail Head. There's a foot bridge across the river at the take out so it's easy to know you better take out.

I've never caught many fish through there but the scenery is nice and the water is refreshing. I like to float from the Sunriver take out (Benham Butte) to East Benham Falls Trail Head. You access the Benham Butte by driving to the far north end of Sunriver (I think it's North Cascade) and turning down the dirt road with the open gate. Keep your eyes open for the junction to the left that takes you down to the take out. There's other dirt roads in the area so you got to look for the most traveled junction. I think it's Rd 600 to Rd 9702. The Sunriver marina should be able to tell you how to get there. The shortest float would probably be from Spring River Road (Mt Batchelor cut-off) to the Marina. Some of the stretches with fishing would take all day and more.

Have fun with your research and enjoy your time at Sunriver. Like Occidental and Northrivergrn have suggested there are loads of good places to fish near Sunriver. I’ve never done well in the Deschutes, but the float is nice. If you decide to fly fish Davis LK, bring bass poppers. I hear there’s a growing population of large bass in there.