Deschutes 2010 Trout Fishing Reports

[River Borne]

We wanted to Start a thread for Deschutes Trout Fishing Reports and Photos.
Feel free to post your trip reports and photos.

I look forward to seeing your posts!

Here are a few photos from this last week to get things started!

[LunkerFish]

Very nice Vail. I'm heading out this week for a couple of days andlook forward to adding a good repport.

[Slow and Low]

We found a a dozen or so of these pint sized rockets on the day float and landed about half. No big fish but enough solid action to keep it interesting. size 16 beadhead anythings worked pretty well. A couple whitefish as well as many finclipped steelhead

River is still up but plenty fishable. Saw one confirmed salmonfly all by it's lonesome. Trout Creek is still pouring in some off color, I'd be interested to know if this last storm added to it.

See you all out there.

[clarkman23]

from a few weeks ago...

this:


lead to this feisty buck:

[tumalt]

That bent rod gets my heart pumping! Nice pics

[Breck]

My wife, a few friends, & I did Warm Springs to Trout Creek Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. (April 30th-May 2nd). Smolts seemed to be the major catch for everyone, but all of us managed to land a few redsides too. My buddy, Thom, was Czech nymphing and did the best of all of us. I just posted a thread with pics from this trip with a couple of pics of a 23.5" redside that Thom landed. Czech 'em out!

[ifisherman]

I do not want to hijack this thread so sorry if this is out of line. I have not fished the Deschutes for trout much. What are some of the details to look for? Water level, cfs?? Reading the post just made me wonder about how everyone goes about watching the river to know when it is in or out of shape. Thanks.

[clarkman23]

Originally Posted by ifisherman

What are some of the details to look for? Water level, cfs?? Reading the post just made me wonder about how everyone goes about watching the river to know when it is in or out of shape. Thanks.

It'll fish as long as it's not chocolate...

[River Borne]

The big bugs are out all the way to Warm Springs! The hatch is at least a week early. This was predicted by area biologist as the new fish tower is affecting river temps. The river temperature is closer to historic temps. The fish are not keyed into the Stoneflies yet, but this won't be the case for long. If your not getting them on the big stuff, try nymphing little bead heads and micro mayflies.

[SandyEggs]

heading over to troutcreek in a couple hours! hope the fish are hungry!

[native steelie]

darn this gout. im going to miss this years hatch

[Travman]

Thanks to some great info I got on here, I made my first trip to the Deschutes today and had an awesome time. Saw some beautiful country, lots of big bugs, a few snakes and even a few fish on my line. Fished stonefly and prince nymphs 'til about noon then switched to stonefly dries and got a few more fish with the biggest going about 17".

[SandyEggs]

Man sooooo many stone and salmon hatches.... bugs everywhere... fish wernt taking anything but nymphs for us.. but I did get a FAT 18" bull trout.. I hope to get a pic up online to share..

[afishinmansfield]

looking good. Often times paradise is described as palms trees, cool drinks and a warm sandy beach. It's hard to beat sage brush, fish wet hands and a piece of cork in you hand. Can't wait to slap some of these down!!

[silverhead]

Camped and fished from Tuesday afternoon until Friday with a buddy from work. Used large stones for attractors and a variety of beadheads for droppers. We caught a lot of fish Tuesday and Wednesday and the bite dropped on Thursday. My fourth cast of the day on Thursday did net me a huge pig of a redside though but I have no pics because of a hand off fiasco. My buddy tailed the fish because it was approximately 25" and when he handed me the quite docile pig it decided to suddenly go ballistic and dropped between my legs catching the very large Stone lead hook in my thumb taking off at Mac 10 and when he got to the end of the dropper line he burried the hook clear into the main shaft in my thumb and snapped the 7' flouroflex dropper line in an instant. Pain and lots of blood followed, but it was such a beautiful fish it was worth it all. We managed to hook some fish on the front Stone flies Thursday evening and Friday morning so some fish are going for the hatch.

[Chrom3]

Camped at Wapanitia, drove up to the locked gate everyday. We had 6 redsides between 3 people in 4 days and a few ugly sucker fish. We fished Norm Woods(?) I think that is what they called it. Dry on the top from about 12pm-whenever we where done. In the morning time till about 11am, we fished the woods with an gold bead red bodied nymph dropped about 30 inches, using norm woods as an indicator. Bugs EVERYWHERE, it was my first! It will not be my last , Lots of people saying they where catching lots of fish, we did not. But where happy with what we got. We stayed from Thursday the 13th- Sunday16th.


Mitch

[clarkman23]

ah yes, the one that got away...the thing I love most about those is that they are usually absolute hawgs

I'll probably head out at some point this week to see what all the fuss is about. I usually try to stay away on the weekends this time of year since I'm not one who likes fishing with huge crowds that this hatch attracts but then again, it sure is fun watching those fish smash a huge dry fly that you just slapped down with such force that at any other time of the year would send the fish scurrying for cover.



just a side note, if you're throwing large stone nymphs and catching large darker fish, you're most likely pulling spawners off their redds. Please, leave them alone as they are the future of this fantastic fishery.
/end mini rant

[SandyEggs]

Most of our catches this weekend were one gold ribbed hairs ear nymphs or black stonefly nymphs... we catch and released over 30 fish between 4 of us in 2 days..

[PTS]

The big bug hatch is at least a week early. Probably due to the warmer surface water being released from the dam with the tower in place. I had a few awesome days last week but just had to keep quiet in the hope of keeping crowds down for awhile. In fact, I fished one morning and didn't see another person until noon. Don't know if I can stand to go back with people everywhere.

Clarkman makes a great point regarding redds. Sadly, I almost always see people casting to the spawners and even worse, wading on the redds. Perhaps that is a factor on what I observe every year, way fewer fish on the spawning gravel. I have fished the D since 1985. Not that many years ago I counted well over 100 fish on the redds below Lewellyns. Every year there are fewer and this year there was one. Two other areas I looked at had none.

[cphatts]

I skipped the spey clave this weekend (been there...done that enough times) and hit the lower river. The catching was not what I could consider hot when it came to the big bugs, but there was enough activity to keep it interesting....plus it felt great to be fishing dub T style in the warm weather with no shirt, shorts, and throwing big flies....sweet summertime



A word of warning about ticks. I picked two off me on Saturday and my buddy plucked off a total of six! In the past decade of fishing the D I have only had a couple on me, but this weekend was crazy. I'm not sure if we stumbled into an area where there was a nest or concentration, but I have never seen it that bad before.

When the fish weren't cooperating on top we were able to dredge some up on the old Czech rig. Just like most years during the salmonfly hatch....it pays to keep an open mind. Big bugs are not the only fare on the menu....it also pays to offer some caddis, PMDs, and even midges.




It felt great to be back working on my short game after steelhead fishing the last 6 months. Finessing fish under the alders, watching the water explode feet from my rod tip, hearing the backing melt off my reel.... trout fishing is UNDER rated!!

[SandyEggs]

My bull I pulled out just long enough for the pic before it ran off and continued to feed like a mad man!

[clarkman23]

Originally Posted by cphatts

we were able to dredge some up on the old Czech rig.

one of my favorite ways of fishing the Deschutes (second to the back eddies)...it's just much more enjoyable than watching an indicator...for me anyway.

[clarkman23]

from today:



some of the local wildlife:

[DT]

Originally Posted by SandyEggs

My bull I pulled out just long enough for the pic before it ran off and continued to feed like a mad man!

Pikeminnow?

[SandyEggs]

Spawning color Bull Trout was the conclusion of everyone there and at the fly fishing shop(based on picture and details of the fish and lack of fight), some of which have fished the Deschutes for 20+ years and I haven't heard of a Pike this far down from the lakes.. but it could be.. It sure looked like a char and based on spotting I am 99% sure it is a Bull Trout, it's fins wernt nearly as yellow looking in person, but I am not closed to the option of it being a Pike if someone knows better, I would honestly like to hear it.

I wish we would have got a better picture of it, but I HATE taking any fish I am releasing out of the water for more then a couple seconds.

Picture of a Spawning color Bull Trout http://www.moldychum.com/storage/nor...=1248803328407

[Travman]

Originally Posted by SandyEggs

Spawning color Bull Trout was the conclusion of everyone there and at the fly fishing shop(based on picture and details of the fish and lack of fight), some of which have fished the Deschutes for 20+ years and I haven't heard of a Pike this far down from the lakes.. but it could be.. It sure looked like a char and based on spotting I am 99% sure it is a Bull Trout, it's fins wernt nearly as yellow looking in person, but I am not closed to the option of it being a Pike if someone knows better, I would honestly like to hear it.

I wish we would have got a better picture of it, but I HATE taking any fish I am releasing out of the water for more then a couple seconds.

Picture of a Spawning color Bull Trout http://www.moldychum.com/storage/nor...=1248803328407

I vote pikeminnow as well. The mouth doesn't look like that of a trout.

[Jerkymaker]

Originally Posted by DT

Pikeminnow?

I would say Bull Trout or Dolly Varden as we always have called them, probably incorrectly. Have fished the Deschutes since 1970 or so. Bull trout were a rare catch up to about the late 80's but since then seem to be gradually increasing. We seem to catch one about every other outing now.
Last year my brother caught one 23" with a radio tracker installed with about a 10" mono type of antenna trailing past its tail. I did some research and found that Warm Springs with possibly ODFW were doing research on these fish. They can be fairly drab looking and have very fine scales with extra sheen to them. Subdued fighters compared to Redsides.

River report:

Fished up there around Maupin on the 16th and 17th. Salmon flies were out heavy along with many other bugs. Clouds of them. Lots of thunder and lightening those two days. Fishing was average for me. Pressure seemed about average with lots of out of state license plates. River was a bit high and color was off. Probably normal for this time of year. Smolts can be entertaining at times, they bite and fight hard. No snakes but a banner year for poison oak. Stopped in the mountains on the way home and found some Morels.
I Love Oregon!
JerkyMaker

[SandyEggs]

I can't find any info on Pike's being in the river as far up as trout creek, only mention of them in the lakes behind the dams and mouths of the Deschutes...

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by DT

Pikeminnow?

I was wondering if anyone else noticed. Those things are all over the river clear into the Columbia. We swing them up all the time. They will also take dry flies and just about anything else.

[DT]

Originally Posted by Slow and Low

I was wondering if anyone else noticed. Those things are all over the river clear into the Columbia. We swing them up all the time. They will also take dry flies and just about anything else.

Yeah, I've hooked a few of them up as high as Mecca. Some of them quite large. It's an exciting few seconds until you see what pulling on the end of the line. Had the same thing happen with those big 'ol suckers nymphing, too.

Any water temps for the Warm Springs to Trout creek area?

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by DesChutesDrifter

Any water temps for the Warm Springs to Trout creek area?

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/cu...p_key=basin_cd

There is a drop down for temps. Currently 12.8 C, 55 F.

[jacksalmon]

Originally Posted by SandyEggs

I can't find any info on Pike's being in the river as far up as trout creek, only mention of them in the lakes behind the dams and mouths of the Deschutes...

I have caught plenty of them near Trout Creek on Adult Salmonfly imitations when I have run into a pile of them and just want some action. One after another.

[sms]

Originally Posted by SandyEggs

I can't find any info on Pike's being in the river as far up as trout creek, only mention of them in the lakes behind the dams and mouths of the Deschutes...

Sandy -

I think you are referring to a Pike:


Everyone else is referring to a Pikeminnow(*********):


Whether it is or not, I have no clue..

[PTS]

Look at the mouth on the picture. That's what makes me think it's a pike minnow. I have caught them at mecca along with bull trout.

[SandyEggs]

hmm.. could be.. We will chalk it up as a Bull Minnow and call it good.. I don't wanna litter up this report. I honestly dont care which it was, it was still a great weekend of fishing!

Do these storms slow or stop the hatch???

[Stickswinger]

What I don't like about your pict of the potential bull is that there are no white borders along the pectoral fins. Bull trout, which are not trout but char, are like brookies and have white lining along their lower fins and I can't see that from here. But then again, maybe it is just a poor photo too. Cool either way.

[srogers]

Regardless, that is a sweet muscle shirt

[SandyEggs]

I was waiting for a comment hahah

hey they were $5 buck on the bargin bin and it beats a tan line half way down my arm

[Whiskey Dick]

A couple of quick reports, I floated TC to Harpham on the 13th-15th. the river was in great shape, the weather was nice and warm. The first two days it was a nymphs and pmds. we did well on Salmon flies on the last day below Two Springs Ranch down to Harpham. I did the same float this week 18th-20th and it was a different river as the flow had been upped to 4800cfs and the weather was a lot colder. I threw salmon flies every day and caught fish but you had to work for them. Good company, good single malt and good Cubans made them both good trips.

[jacksalmon]

Originally Posted by Whiskey Dick

A couple of quick reports, I floated TC to Harpham on the 13th-15th. the river was in great shape, the weather was nice and warm. The first two days it was a nymphs and pmds. we did well on Salmon flies on the last day below Two Springs Ranch down to Harpham. I did the same float this week 18th-20th and it was a different river as the flow had been upped to 4800cfs and the weather was a lot colder. I threw salmon flies every day and caught fish but you had to work for them. Good company, good single malt and good Cubans made them both good trips.

Were there salmon flies on the trees and sage all the way down from TC? Probably not too many flying around in this weather.

[native steelie]

Originally Posted by SandyEggs

ive caught quite a few northern pike, and quite a few bulls out of the deschutes mostly below pelton. this is a northern for sure. bulltrouts whole face are dark colors. the fins dont match the profile. sorry

[Travman]

Originally Posted by native steelie

ive caught quite a few northern pike, and quite a few bulls out of the deschutes mostly below pelton. this is a northern for sure. bulltrouts whole face are dark colors. the fins dont match the profile. sorry

Do you mean pikeminnows (*********)? I wasn't aware of any northern pike in that area, but I am relatively new here.

[Wild Chrome]

It's a pikeminnow (*********). Not a northern pike. Huge difference.

[SandyEggs]

I catch fat pikeminnows! WATCH OUT!

[Whiskey Dick]

Originally Posted by jacksalmon

Were there salmon flies on the trees and sage all the way down from TC? Probably not too many flying around in this weather.

Yes, we saw Salmon flies from TC to Harpham. The better fishing with salmon flies was from WhiteHorse down river.

[freediver111]

Did anyone else find the fishing a little slow this weekend?
I caught a few, but all nymphing for me. There were tons of the salmonfly's/stonefly's on the bushes, but the fish weren't keyed in on them yet.
A few guys told me they did ok with big dry's on the surface, but most fish were taking nymphs.
I was fishing around Mecca.
How did everyone else do this weekend?

[clarkman23]

Originally Posted by freediver111

Did anyone else find the fishing a little slow this weekend?
I caught a few, but all nymphing for me. There were tons of the salmonfly's/stonefly's on the bushes, but the fish weren't keyed in on them yet.
A few guys told me they did ok with big dry's on the surface, but most fish were taking nymphs.
I was fishing around Mecca.
How did everyone else do this weekend?

slow for me as well...didn't pick any up nymphing, but did manage to coax a few out on top...here's the report:

fished Mecca today and in a word: S-L-O-W.

I was stuck at one fish to hand until about an hour or so before I left...luckily, that last hour or so made up for it. It was cold and rainy most of the day...

I did, however, find a few fishing partners:


here's a shot that shows the real color of those big bugs...more black than salmon...


One of the few fish I managed to scrounge up, he also had a bait hook embedded deep in his throat > :


the Clark's Stone was the money pattern at the end of the day...too bad I only had two of them (lost them both).

[Slow and Low]

TC to HF Fri-Sun. Weather was crazy first rain then wind then wind then more wind. Did very well on BWO, NWS, and nyphing the standard beadheads. The boulderstrewn, chest deep, rip-rap banks were the ticket, runs and corners were not. I didnt see a fish over 15" and saw many full grown lookers around 8-12". I thought I was on the Crooked at one point after catching several small "redsides" in a row. It's good to see some small trout in big numbers, they have been scarce the last few years.
I think the 4800 cfs, off color and downright nasty conditions have really put the brakes on the salmonfly hatch, there really aren't that many big bugs around. There is a steady streem of BWO, PDS, Midges and Caddis flying around. No worries though as it heats back up it should be back to chucking big stuff. Only a fraction of the fish I saw were gorged so they should be starved.

I posted a couple shots on here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/RiverBor...TYxLGTrODs4gE#

[Cliff]

Whats with the keg on the back of the drifter?

[River Borne]

Warm Springs-Trout Creek 5/24


The river fished well for us today. Started off a little slow, missed a couple at the first few stops. First fish to hand was this beautiful 18" fish, fishing heated up through the day. The cloud cover that came in the afternoon actually made the fishing better. All fish caught were on Stonefly drys, back eddies were full of smolts rising to spent pmds, dead caddis, etc..Focus on rocky bank water below overhanging trees and throw the big stuff! What a kick! Saw a lone Green Drake also, I am hoping to see some good Drake hatches here in near future. Make sure to have a few Drake patterns in your box just in case you encounter this elusive hatch.
Tight lines,

[LunkerFish]

Originally Posted by Slow and Low

I posted a couple shots on here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/RiverBor...TYxLGTrODs4gE#

Some great shots that are well framed, good composition, and better then the typical hero shots, but have to say I love Photo #9 Sam. Almost brought tears to my eyes.

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by Cliff

Whats with the keg on the back of the drifter?

Burn pan.

[DH Drifter]

I floated WS to TC on the 24th through the 25th. First day was better, but not outstanding. Fish would take the salmon flys, but I didn't see or hear a lot of surface activity. I caught a couple but it wasn't spectacular...but that is more me than the fishing I am sure.

Today, fishing was slow and I got caught in an awesome desert rain storm...rained harder than I can remember. Still...nice to be out. I will let the more knowledgeable folks talk about if the salmon fly hatch is almost over, but I think it is winding down as it sounds like the bugs have been out in WS for over a week. Again, saw lots flying middle of river today, but very few fish taking them.

DH

[Slow and Low]

DH Drifter.

Bugs flying to the middle of the river is good. Typically that is a sign of the end, big bugs will come to the surface for some time after. Should be excellent from now through the first week of June...my guess.

Thanks for the report.

[clarkman23]

honestly, I don't think that these fish ever really "get full"...sometimes the lack of success can be due to folks flogging away at the same water over and over or not wading through the jungle water (part of my problem last weekend due to a messed up sciatic nerve--couldn't move around as much as I would have liked) to get to those fish that have been largely untouched. I've caught many fish that not only have their bellies completely distended, but have bits of salmonflies sticking out of their mouth. Hell, sometimes it pays to throw something different (there are a bunch of other bugs hatching out there right now) and that'll pick up a few fish for you. Bottom line is that these fish are gluttons, especially after spawning...you just have to sometimes slow down and think about which water is easiest to get to...then fish someplace else.

[PharmFisher]

Attachment 28253Attachment 28254

The "D" hatch yesterday for me was fantastic. Had success with goldens and caddis as well. First time fishing the "hatch" and caught 15 fish three of which were 18". It lived up to its name.

[king flosser]

be there between 11-12 and you might get a dry bite.........fished it hard all other times and sucked.....water around mecca has been completely pummeled by boats and bankies....tribal side is a must!!!!mecca campground was full as of fri night 5/28.... thanks to the bend newspaper!!!

[MikeT]

Originally Posted by king flosser

mecca campground was full as of fri night 5/28.... thanks to the bend newspaper!!!

The Bulletin caused Mecca to fill up on Friday before Memorial Day weekend? Bummer, another secret spot revealed......

[clarkman23]

fished it hard all other times and sucked.....water around mecca has been completely pummeled by boats and bankies....tribal side is a must!!!!mecca campground was full as of fri night 5/28.... thanks to the bend newspaper!!!

two words: JUNGLE WATER.

if you hit water that you don't see others flogging away on, you'll definitely have success on the surface. It also helps if that water is difficult to get to...

just last weekend, I fished most of the day hitting my favorite spots (also happened to be pretty much everyone's favorite spots) and it wasn't until I really started working over the hard-to-reach water that I really started having success. There are tons of fish out there that are looking up folks, it's not that difficult...you just have to put in a little more effort than following the standard path.

and no, it's not "thanks to the Bend Newspaper"...I'm pretty sure that this time of year might, just might, have something to do with the crowds you're seeing out there. Yeah, Mecca is certainly a secret...