Deshutes summer run

spinnermaker · 06-13-2002, 10:53 PM

I just want to now when I could get in to some fish at the mouth trooling plugs. I have only fish this about 2 times and that was in aug.

spinnermaker · 06-13-2002, 10:56 PM

I forgot the C in Deschutes. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

Bounty Hunter · 06-14-2002, 08:20 AM

I don't have an answer for you, but I have another related question: I heard that the fishing can be great under the falls (Sherar's) from the bank with bait for the summers. When does this happen? Are people catching fish there now or are these Springers? I overheard some girls talking about the people pulling 'huge fish' out of that area, but I didn't hear what time of year that was.

NWRedside · 06-14-2002, 09:14 AM

Late august and september can be great at the mouth for summers, I don't fish them out in the columbia, but walk up the lower river to fish them in the river.
As far as Sheers goes, those are springers right now, and the run is defiantly past its peak at this point as far as I know.

Mad Mikey · 06-14-2002, 01:38 PM

Watch the counts at The Dalles AND find out when the nets are in. There is typically an early shot of fish sometime in July and it is fast and furious then goes dead until maybe Mid-August and then gets more consistent. 2000-3000 a day over the dam for an extended period of time is good news, at times there will be over 10000 a day for a little bit.
If the Columbia gets real warm like it did last year the fish will lock up between the dams and seemingly disappear until it cools down.
If there is a good variance in temp between the Deschutes and Columbia, even 5 degreesF I would park the darn boat and walk up and chuck spinners because almost every fish going by that feels the cooler waters of the "D" will pull in there for a rest. Not uncommon for Idaho and WA fish to be caught many miles up, they even get some in the trap at Pelton. In my many years fishing there I've noticed the hatchery fish caught early in the season are roughly only half carrying Deschutes clips. Just for kicks I call up Steve Pribyl at The Dalles ODFW and write down the Deschutes clips for each season so I can see how many I catch are bound for somewhere else, adds a bit of fun to the day.
Last year was incredible, half the fish were wild, typical Deschutes fish, five pounders and even smaller but very HOT, especially on fly gear.
I couldn't tell you about Sherar's because that's not my preferred method of fishing but I do pay attention to the fish weir/trap and the daily totals of fish going by. Any fish that uses the little fish ladder to get over the Falls is tagged and judging from my ratio of tagged to untagged fish caught upstream from the falls I'd say only one in 6 or 7 fish actually use the ladder. So take the steelhead totals for the day and multiply it by that and I think you'll get a fair estimate of how many fish are upstream.
Anyhow, a long ramble. Just goes to show I'm licking my chops for that first viscious tug on my fly..........(not that one, the one with the hook.....

)

spinnermaker · 06-14-2002, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the info. NWRedside and Mad Mikey I have always fished the clackamas for summers. I will try out of my sled and then go up river.

Bounty Hunter · 06-14-2002, 03:32 PM

Yea, I second spinnermaker. Thank you for the input guys. I hope to take a couple trips out there this summer. Maybe I'll see you on the river!

highdesertdrifter · 06-14-2002, 03:51 PM

I will tell every one what i was told many years ago. the time to catch steelhead below sheers is when every one else is deer hunting. it has worked for me. good luck

Mad Mikey · 06-14-2002, 04:26 PM

<<I will tell every one what i was told many years ago. the time to catch steelhead below sheers is when every one else is deer hunting. it has worked for me. good luck >>

You got it! Deer season the river gets abandoned. I fish near Maupin a lot and have driven into City park to fill my water jugs and there will be up to five or more big bucks bedded down in the campsites, they are no fools for sure. Glad I gave up hunting deer, nasty things, rodents with hooves if you ask me.

spinnermaker · 06-14-2002, 05:41 PM

Bounty Hunter I well only be there a few times I spend a lot of my time on Nehalem Bay after Aug. after fall chinook but maybe we well run in to each other.