Another Steelhead season is wrapping up for us on the Deschutes. Although the season has been terrific we have definitely seen a slow down in the number of fish being caught… The high light of the season was a 30 count, caught on a two-day trip between 4 guys. Pretty awesome.
Mid month we had winds on the river that did not stop. From early in the morning (before the sun was up), until late at night. This can create some of the most challenging conditions to a flyfisherman on the deschutes. As you cast the fly with the target dead on, and the wind pushes your fly 25 feet up river or in your face. You realize that there is some truth to what has been said about the deschutes “Its Pure Hell, With a River Running Through It Full of Fish!” As frustrating as it can be, the Deschutes River is Oregon’s finest.
Another quick note about the Deschutes that we noticed this year is the number of fisherman on the water. We fish the Deschutes upper and lower for nearly 4 months straight, and have done so for over 25 years. This year will go down as having the most pressure from other flyfisherman ever. Even before sun light the fisherman were lining the banks. There was more times than not, we would be boating into a fishing hole and a flashlight would go on. A signal to us to move on, this spot is taken. I think next year we will not write about the Deschutes, but maybe a small river in Idaho in hopes that people will move on! 
We still have a opened slot on the Upper Deschutes, OCT 3rd-5th (with a possible 4-day if requested). This trip is a fall float for trout and steelhead, on the upper section, from trout creek to Maupin. This trip has always been special not only because of the terrific fishing, but also because of the climate on the river. Fall colors will be out and we usually do not see another boat for the full 3 day trip. The Deschutes River in the fall, Book today!
