Bend Fishing Reports (April 2024)

Heading into fall and steelhead season looks like it will remain open! Reports that are trickling in from the Lower River are very positive and optimistic for a decent or at least average season. So good news. Trending back toward average or even fishable is a plus. We just got back from the Owyhee and dove right into to our upper river trout trips and have not had a chance to chase steel just yet but can’t wait. In fact, with a token day off circled on the calendar, some steelheading for us is on the docket! Can’t wait. It is not often we get to hold cork ourselves and fish so, I guess we “have to” go see how the run is shaping up and do some “research”. Stay tuned. Looking forward to sharing some grip and grins. We have some spots open for steel in the fall, and if you missed a season, this could be the time to get that fix. Fall trout fishing can be really good. Combo trout and steelhead and camping in the canyon and you have a winner of a trip. Shoot, fall trout fishing and not even targeting steelhead normally sees some incidental chrome bonus. Or we can just strictly focus on steelhead and swing away. Choose your weapon and fish of choice. That is the beauty of the Deschutes. Steelhead tactics remain unchanged… classic swing. Dry lines in the low light with your go to confidence flies (GB Skunks, Purple Peril.. you know). Sink tips for sun on the water or shade up and nap before evening swing shade sessions. You can nymph more trouty type steelhead riffles and lies too or mid-day. That is the beauty with steelhead, doesn’t change much and not a super scientific match the hatch game. Reading water and where the prime lies are, having fish actually around and being there when they are in a grabby making poor life decisions mood have more to do with it than the magic fly. Yes, it takes years to learn the fine nuances of how and where they are, that separates the steelhead Jedis that consistently catch fish and the steelheaders that get more casting practice than fighting fish. Trout- look for tail end of caddis activity, an uptick in BWOs, possible Mahogany duns, and October caddis. Normally October caddis we don’t focus on a ton, but if you see a monster rise under a tree (think salmon fly take), that is a fish keyed on October Caddis and they are normally soft pitch to get to eat a big dry. Fall is a mix of dry/drop, a little more indicator fishing with at least one big stone type nymph in the mix (random steelhead producer) and looking for fish on dries when you see hatches develop.

Packed up and ready to Head out to the Owyhee. We are excited to be headed east to this cool canyon brown trout playground. On the docket is throwing hoppers, beetles and other “junk” along the banks to tempt that big old alligator mouthed brown out of his liar. Seeing that-inch-wide snout poke up, the hopper disappears and the frothing eruption in skinny water on the hook set is so much fun. If they aren’t playing that game, we have options. Like early morning Trico action, then on to PMD’s and caddis later in the day. Mix in searching with a dry -drop rig or stripping streamers and you pretty much cover all the bases and ways to trout fish. Good times. A few slots open, so if you need a summertime trout fix, we might be able to help you out. We will be over there and love taking advantage of all the time and opportunity we can to have fun with this fishery. We have mixed service at “camp” (a really neat bed and breakfast… roughing it), but we will check in when we can, and happy to help figure a way out to get you on the Owyhee. Expectations are high for another great late summer season over there. In the meantime, the heat wave that has been blasting us, might have made it miserable to go mow the lawn (why aren’t you fishing anyways?), has made the caddis go bonkers on the Deschutes. Dry fly and head hunting Redsides under the trees with all the caddis has been fantastic. Which is perfect… super-hot out and you get to go wet wade and dry fly fish?!! Can’t think of a better way to spend a ho summer day. Speaking of the Deschutes, more good news, steelhead numbers are above the 5-year average over Bonneville. ODFW has opened steelhead up for now and will re-evaluate in September. So, we are tracking in the right direction. Fall trips on the “D” for trout can be fantastic, the nymphing can be on fire and dry fly opportunities are present as well. Fall camp trips fill up quick. For more information or to discuss the steelhead opps, give a call. So far, the summer has been great, little pressure and good, consistent caddis action.

Packed up and ready to Head out to the Owyhee. We are excited to be headed east to this cool canyon brown trout playground. On the docket is throwing hoppers, beetles and other “junk” along the banks to tempt that big old alligator mouthed brown out of his liar. Seeing that-inch-wide snout poke up, the hopper disappears and the frothing eruption in skinny water on the hook set is so much fun. If they aren’t playing that game, we have options. Like early morning Trico action, then on to PMD’s and caddis later in the day. Mix in searching with a dry -drop rig or stripping streamers and you pretty much cover all the bases and ways to trout fish. Good times. A few slots open, so if you need a summertime trout fix, we might be able to help you out. We will be over there and love taking advantage of all the time and opportunity we can to have fun with this fishery. We have mixed service at “camp” (a really neat bed and breakfast… roughing it), but we will check in when we can, and happy to help figure a way out to get you on the Owyhee. Expectations are high for another great late summer season over there. In the meantime, the heat wave that has been blasting us, might have made it miserable to go mow the lawn (why aren’t you fishing anyways?), has made the caddis go bonkers on the Deschutes. Dry fly and head hunting Redsides under the trees with all the caddis has been fantastic. Which is perfect… super-hot out and you get to go wet wade and dry fly fish?!! Can’t think of a better way to spend a ho summer day. Speaking of the Deschutes, more good news, steelhead numbers are above the 5-year average over Bonneville. ODFW has opened steelhead up for now and will re-evaluate in September. So, we are tracking in the right direction. Fall trips on the “D” for trout can be fantastic, the nymphing can be on fire and dry fly opportunities are present as well. Fall camp trips fill up quick. For more information or to discuss the steelhead opps, give a call. So far, the summer has been great, little pressure and good, consistent caddis action.