The Deschutes River

[Curly]

I wonder if they could be some steelies in there this time of year......

[jackelope]

I wonder if they could be some steelies in there this time of year......

now would be an oddball time of year to fish it for steel. not too many fish.

[Curly]

Well, I caught a steelhead on the John Day in February a few years ago, so I thought just maybe.......

[buckhorn2]

My Dad and I used to fish it a lot we would put in down by warm springs he used to guide there. I think it was in may or early june that we fished it was when the salmon flys came out but his favorite fly was a black ant with a red head anyway it sure is a nice river but I don;t know about this time of year.

[finfeatherfur]

Great spring trout fishery.  When I lived in Oregon it was an annual trip.  Depending on how far you want to travel.  Try the trout creek campground between warmsprings and Maupin.  There is a good trail along the river and plenty of good wading water.  good luck

[Aneoakleaf]

Thanks everyone for the great advise .
We left WA. Tuesday the 19th, about noon and headed for the Deschutes River. We drove to the lower hatchery and checked it out . We could see an old road accross the river  . The map showed it going to maupin. So the next stop was the Fly shop in Maupin....OMG it's the best fly shop we've ever been in!It's on Main street...can't remember the name but will find out when the VISA bill comes in   The young man there gave us a ton of information and we talked for about an hour. From there we went accros the river  and down stream on the road we had seen from the hatchery. It was paved part  of the way and quite fishable in many places. Also camp grounds here and there. We didn't fish. We didn't reach the end of the road before it got dark and so we would return the next day. Back in town we went to the cafe for dinner at 5:50...but they were closing! SERIOUSLY!!  They said we should go to the Rainbow Tavern to eat! So we did and found that every one who wanted dinner was there! The food, company and beer was great and we watched TV till 7:30. We decided we better find a room for the night so we crossed the river and went to the Imperal River CO. Motel. The motel sat on the river  . No one was there so you had to pick up the phone and order a room. Inside the room  there was NO TV, NO Phone...NO radio...but what a beautiful room with  king and single beds. They had a book rack with several clasic books on fishing and the deschutes river. Smokey had his cowboy ..Louie Lamar book to read so I picked out a book by Dave Hughes on the Deschutes.What a great writer! I read several passages of his adventures out load to Smokey , because of the way uses words made it a delight to read!  The next morning we drove up the NE side of the river . It was a rough road and there were several places to fish from the bank. The water seamed a little high and the river is intimidating . We never fished, mostly because they reccoment everyone ware a life preserver and we had left ours at home...   There were a few people fishing on the river for steelhead but said it was slow. After that we went back down stream and drove the road out to the end. There are a few camp grounds there along the way and good looking water. We learned that you can boat down the river but you can't fish from the boat. And like you guys said the best trout fishing is along the banks in the brushy areas. So they stand mid stream and cast towards the bank OR wade the shore line and cars up stream and they walk along the bank casting right along the bank.
After we drove back we wern't ready to go home yet so we went east ...ended up in Halfway, Ore for a couple days then came home on Saturday. We saw a ton of deer, elk , antelope and turkeys along the way. We'll go back to the Deschutes in the summer to fish....Here's some pictures I took along the way.! Annette

[carpsniperg2]

great pics the camp grounds at the mouth are very nice we camp there about once a year. kept up very nice and pretty good rates but for the best times you have to book like 6 months out to get a spot

[Aneoakleaf]

I didn't know you could book a spot. Who do you go threw?
From what I read it's a great trout fishery. Can't wait to go fish it.
They say they loose rafters every once in a while but have never lost a fisherman!

[carpsniperg2]

its threw oregon parks and rec the wife does it  it is the one down on the mouth i can't even remember the name of it  good trout and steelhead

[gramps]

The biggest stealhead I have caught in the lower Dechutes was 17 lbs.  Couple miles up from the mouth in Oct.
casting a tad-polly from the bank.   Great fun.