The Lower Deschutes trout fishing is good

Deschutes River- Lower - Maupin, OR


by The Fly Fishers Place
9-7-2024
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The Lower Deschutes trout fishing is good, some days are way better than others but let me say this, you need to look for fish in more places than out in the 2 to 4 foot deep runs. Those redsides go to feed in some really shallow zones in the fall, so look for them closer to the banks and also the shallow riffles. They may come up to dries there too, but a small lightly weighted nymph in your arsenal is good. Years ago my friend Matt Klee showed me fish laying in under 10 inches of water in shallow, slower riffles that would eat Purple Haze and X Caddis really well. I was getting blanked fishing the deep run at the bottom of the island and he is pounding fish on dries in super shallow water. Same thing with my friend Dean-0 at Mecca Island once. He’s pounding them in a shallow riffle on little PT’s fished straight upstream in less than a foot of water and me….nothing because I didn’t adapt to the season. Fish are not always in the same places and it is our job as anglers to figure that out. Of course there are days, or times of the day fish just are off the dang bite too. But I digress a bit on the Deschutes report but that is part of it too. Plenty of great caddis hatch days ahead with #16 Tan, #18 Black and #12-14 Grey Caddis important throughout the day. Don’t forget to try a Dead Bug Caddis in the eddies as the clean up crew trout love them. 
It’s close to October Caddis Pupa time. be ready for that. 
Steelhead numbers are super. Drew from the shop got one nymphing on the Warm Springs to Trout Creek Drift on Labor Day. That’s the 1st I’ve heard of on the Upper Float so far, but will be the 1st of many. 
My friend Jesse got 2 near Maupin yesterday including one on a Skater! he’s the Steelheadiest dude I know, and lives and breathes anadromous fish.




More Reports

The Fly Fishers Place Reports
for Saturday, September 7th

Metolius River: The Masking Hatch!
McKenzie River: Easier Floating and More Fish Being Stocked
Fall River: The Fall River is fishing quite well
Crooked River: The Crooked River is a blast

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Metolius River

9-1-2024
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