ATLAS › PACIFIC & AK-HI › OREGON
Deschutes River
Famous for its native 'redside' rainbow trout and summer steelhead on dry flies and swung flies.
Depth & Structure
Lower 100 miles from Pelton Dam to Columbia in a deep rimrock canyon 900-2,600 feet deep, average gradient 13 ft per mile; fast clear canyon water with riffles, runs and shoreline holding water where stoneflies hatch
Best Lures
Swung flies for summer steelhead on floating lines, small wets, skaters and sink-tips when sun is high; for redside trout, large salmonfly/golden stonefly dries in late May-early June, plus caddis, mayfly and stonefly nymphs and attractor dries
Best Baits
artificials only (regs) for most of lower river - bait allowed only in a short stretch below Sherars Falls per overview
Gear to Bring
Single-hand fly rods 5-6 weight for trout, two-hand spey/switch rods for steelhead swinging, floating lines early season with sink-tips in fall/high sun, wading and drift/raft access in canyon
Local Tips
['Salmonfly hatch late May-early June is peak trout time; steelhead start at mouth in July, spread upriver, peak near Maupin mid-September-October', 'Glacial runoff from White River can cloud lower Deschutes; only fin-clipped steelhead may be kept']
Related Water
Fish photos: rainbow trout — Wikimedia Commons · steelhead — Wikimedia Commons
Fishing regulations, seasons and limits change — always check the current rules for this water before you fish. Spot pins are approximate area markers, not launch or access coordinates.