Mouth to Pelton Dam

Steelhead fishing has been off to a great start on the lower Deschutes. Some anglers are having very successful day or multi-day trips between Buckhollow and Heritage. If you catch a wild steelhead, practice good catch-and-release practices by keeping the fish in the water and removing the hook quickly. Fall Chinook retention opened on the Deschutes on August 1, and anglers have already been catching bright salmon at the Sherars Falls fishery.

Reports of good dry fly action in the evenings lately on the lower Deschutes between Maupin and Warm Springs. Nymphing has been consistent as well throughout the lower river. Reports of good trout fishing between Pine Tree and Macks Canyon over the weekend

The Deschutes River from lower end of Moody Rapids downstream to the I-84 west bound bridge is all angling starting July 15 – September 15. This closure is a part of the Deschutes River thermal sanctuary that extends out into the Columbia River.

The Deschutes Steelhead Framework establishes metrics used to manage the summer steelhead fishery on the Deschutes River based on run strength and conservation needs. Strong returns of wild fish over Bonneville from July 1 to-date (August 11) have surpassed management metrics in the framework, meaning the Deschutes steelhead fishery will remain open by permanent rule.

Benham Falls to Little Lava Lake 

This section includes the popular brown trout fishery below Wickiup Reservoir and brook trout fishery between Crane Prairie and Little Lava Lake. Anglers report excellent fishing for mountain whitefish, brook trout and redband trout from Crane Prairie to the headwaters. Pale Morning Dun and Caddis are primary summer hatches with dry fly opportunities most afternoons. Anglers should also stock up with ant and micro-hopper patterns. Fishing between Wickiup Dam and Pringle Falls has been productive for large brown trout. A reminder to anglers that the Deschutes Arm of Wickiup above Gull Point will close on September 1 to protect spawning kokanee in the Sheeps Bridge Area.