Deschutes River Report – October 2016

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The fishing report has improved a bit for us on Oregon’s favorite high desert river.  Steelhead counts are low in the entire Columbia River basin but there are still plenty of fish to be caught.  Steelhead are spread throughout the lower 100 miles- big area yes!  Water conditions are consistently fishable above White river this time of year.  As freezing levels drop and Mt.Hood gets new snow the White River tributary becomes less of a problem.  Here we swing flies with floating lines or sink tips to aggressive hard fighting steelhead.  Some years are better than others and this one we really have had to work for results.
Dave has fished with us on our four day float trip for over 10 years and this year with steelhead counts low he was somewhat wavering on wether to go or not.  Finally with cajoling from the rest of his group he decided not to miss this annual pilgrimage down the legendary Deschutes river.  On this float we cover over 40 miles of wild and scenic river canyon and see wild horses, bighorn sheep, mule deer, eagles, otter and other wild things including native redband rainbow trout and of course steelhead.  The status quo this year has been cover lots and lots of prime water-put in your time and eventually find steelhead.  Those fish we have been finding have been on average big, unyeilding amazing steelhead.
For Dave’s trip the water was up making wading more difficult but also helping to push steelhead to the edges out of mid-river hidey holes where the current was now too strong.  This worked in our favor and instead of a drudgingly slow trip Dave was expecting we had suprisingly great action!  Dave’s last morning on the river for example he was thoroughly spanked by two amazing red hot fish which won the battle which Dave finally vindicated by landing an excellent wild fish right in front of the recording GOPRO camera.
I guess the moral of the story is steelhead fishing is well – fishing; plus searching and casting and waiting.  It’s a process that we find some days are good and some days are better- catching fish is the bonus and time on the water with friends, campfires and fresh air are healing life giving experiences.
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Water Levels on the Deschutes are around 5000 cfs at Madras.  This is typical of fall levels and can actually help the fishing by pushing steelhead to the edges.  This means don’t overlook edge water.  On recent trips more than one fish has been caught with just 10′ of line out the end of the rod tip!
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Water temperatures are hovering around 52.5 degrees and on the slow drop.  Temps usually dive this time of year as winter weather starts to set in.  This year we have seen relatively mild temperatures and that is reflected in the water temps too.
The report on the weather has been perfect if you are a duck or a steelhead angler!  Lot’s of overcast skies have been the added plus for this fall – it makes wrapping up a wet camp not that much fun (THANKS again Marty!)
On the trout side of things the overcast skies have prompted Blue Winged olive hatches- the report is sometimes really good ones and trout have been sipping these tasty morsels in the sudsy eddy lines.  Mid-day hatches are typical on cloudy days.  October caddis have been plentiful and the occasional splash too small to be a steelhead but a serious disturbance on the surface indicates that some of the bigger trout in the river recognize this food source.
Wishing you the best of luck with your time on the water!
Rob Crandall
Water Time Outfitters
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