Upper Deschutes next year

[salembassin]

I am already thinking about a fly fishing trip to the upper deschutes above Sunriver next summer. Can anyone point me in the direction of some good river access, doesnt have to be specific. I hear that the brookies are numerous and willing to take drys. Thanks for any info.

[B.L.smooth]

most of the brookie fishing will be on the far upper reaches of the river between Crane Prairie and lava lake. They are plentiful, but don't expect any HUGE fish. Most are in the 6 to 12 inches you'd expect to find in a river that small, but occasionally a bigger brookie will migrate up the river out of crane. I belive the state record brookie (someone correct me if I'm wrong) came out of this stretch of river.

Fish the shade with smaller humpies or a caddis pattern and you'll be rewarded, but check the regs as it doens't open till later in the spring. Bring your bug repellent however, cause the skeeters will be ferocious. Easy road access to most of the river along the cascade lakes highway.

Below wickiup, the river is appreciably bigger and slower, and you'll find more browns/bows.

[flyin chrome]

Originally Posted by carlsalvo

most of the brookie fishing will be on the far upper reaches of the river between Crane Prairie and lava lake. They are plentiful, but don't expect any HUGE fish. Most are in the 6 to 12 inches you'd expect to find in a river that small, but occasionally a bigger brookie will migrate up the river out of crane. I belive the state record brookie (someone correct me if I'm wrong) came out of this stretch of river.

Fish the shade with smaller humpies or a caddis pattern and you'll be rewarded, but check the regs as it doens't open till later in the spring. Bring your bug repellent however, cause the skeeters will be ferocious. Easy road access to most of the river along the cascade lakes highway.

Below wickiup, the river is appreciably bigger and slower, and you'll find more browns/bows.

That is right on! Good luck

[surfnfish]

Originally Posted by carlsalvo

most of the brookie fishing will be on the far upper reaches of the river between Crane Prairie and lava lake. They are plentiful, but don't expect any HUGE fish. Most are in the 6 to 12 inches you'd expect to find in a river that small, but occasionally a bigger brookie will migrate up the river out of crane. I belive the state record brookie (someone correct me if I'm wrong) came out of this stretch of river.

Fish the shade with smaller humpies or a caddis pattern and you'll be rewarded, but check the regs as it doens't open till later in the spring. Bring your bug repellent however, cause the skeeters will be ferocious. Easy road access to most of the river along the cascade lakes highway.

Below wickiup, the river is appreciably bigger and slower, and you'll find more browns/bows.

True words. There are also some nice fish that can be found where the Deschutes enters Wickiup into a broad , shallow channel before it becomes the lake.

There are some nice fish below Wickiup, however they are far and few apart, as the Deschutes from there all the way down to Bend itself just isn't the fishery it used to be. Some nice browns and bows here and there, few in number these days (until 2 years ago, I had a house a hundred yards from the Deschutes 6 miles upstream of Sunriver).

Keep Fall River in mind, which can provide some both challenging and fun opportunities as well. Hit the section upriver of the hatchery in the evening and you can be pleasantly surprised. And downstream, there are some really nice fish to be had, very spooky in the gin clear water. And the pool below the waterfall donwstream can really turn on once in a while.

[kill2hunt]

maybe it has been just the few times i have hiked or more like trudged and crawled the river between the lakes i have caught some really dandy brooks, fished the logs and tangles with a krystal bugger in brown and caught some good fish! but then again i love brookies and think any one is a good one! there isnt any better fish in oergon in my opinion!

[flynbird]

I guided the Upper D for years and can tell you if you fish a dry you will catch small fish. Go with larger nymphs in the deep holes (I like a #8 wet hackle prince w/ a #10 Robo PT). If you aren't familiar with the location of the deep holes try below the 40 bridge for starters. I prefer to try these holes just as the sun is hitting the water. Use a cautious approach, like crawling, seriously. These fish see alot of folks and the big ones aren't dumb. Keep a low profile and just have your rod tip over the water keeping your body 6-8 feet away from the hole. Start short line nymphing and keep at it, the good ones take several good drifts to fool. Once the sun is high go with the bugger in the trees idea the feela above mentioned. I love to do this. But bring alot of buggers cause you WILL loss alot. If you have a float tube try Blue Pool, about a mile below Little Lava. Also a good Brookie on the Upper is 18" or better. My best is almost 24". Ditto on the bug spray. The best shop to go to for info and flies is the Sunriver Fly Shop.

[halfhitch]

Cow Camp!!