[amalott]

hey guys, im from oregon originally and grew up on the deschutes, but im new to the world of spey fishing. im planning my 1st trip to the lower deschutes at the end of july and wondering if anyone has any good tips that they dont mind offering. i will be biking from the mouth in and camping for a couple days(steelheading). i think i know most of the basics, but any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.

cheers!
andy

 

[TomB]

if you grew up on the lower deschutes you should be good to go...fish lie in the same places whether you're fishing a single hander or spey.

 

[Big Tuna]

Generally speaking, look for water that is about walking speed and 3-5 feet deep. Inside bends are a great place to start. Be sure to swing the the current seam where it breaks from the main current. In warmer weather, steelhead like more oxygenated water, so fishing more riffley heads can be productive. I've not fished the Deschutes much, but July seems a little early. Maybe someone w/ more experience will chime in.

 

[Panhandle]

Ya, I'm confused? If you grew up the D why are you asking us? A spey rod doesn't suddenly change where the fish are, though somtimes it seems like it does.

 

[Tyler B]

I don't know Adam? Mabye he was just trying the good old "HUMBLE" approach, try humoring him with a nice response? Eh?

 

[Panhandle]

Tyler, have you been drinking when the sun is out?

 

[amalott]

sorry, i forgot to say that i have not fished the LOWER d. i always fished higher up for trout. i didnt really discover steelhead until i moved away from central oregon. i was really just wondering if anyone had fished it and wouldnt mind sharing some techniques with a guy new to spey fishing. all of the steelheading i have done to this point has been done under an indicator.

 

[floatinghat]

Take the above advise, cast at an angle downstream and swing your fly. Cover the water and don't have a casting contest with yourself. When the sun is high fishing light tip can help. don't fish if the water temps are above 67 degrees.

 

[fredaevans]

Just a few thoughts. Before the sun's full on the water a full floater and a purple fly of some sort a bit below the surface. Once the suns full on, shift to a deeply sunk fly off a sink tip. One other thing (as you're new to the Lower river) is get a copy of BLM's 'mile by mile' river map. You can get a (simi) water proof one for ten bucks ... or turn your printer on and get same on line.

The maps cover all of the camping areas, what's there (fresh water is few and far between) in the way of camping, bathrooms (all clean as can be), shade, etc. The really good thing (above the ton of info) is these map sheets are done to scale so 'river mile 5' really is at river mile 5.

As for fly choices, many will do, but the 'go to colour' will be purple. You don't need really long leaders off a 2-hander, 9 foot is quite enough. The only other 'toss up' is the amount of silt that the White River is putting into the D; this can make fishing 'interesting.'

Fred

 

[floatinghat]

Fred, we need to disagree here when the sun is off the water fish a dry or skater. The D fish are very surface focused, if you miss a fish then fish the film or slightly subsurface presentation to clean up (if you didn't barb it). Purple while it is a productive color, I would not say it is the "go to colour". Hell the GB skunk has most likely caught more fish on the D than anything else, but there are FT, MC, KS.... the list goes on. I have done very well with sparse and drab.

I would also for an easy leader formula match my leader at least the length of the rod when fishing dry line (long belly).

The White can add some color but only in extreme heat does it (IMO) effect the fishing. It may effect some fishermen but the fish don't care much. I believe the touch of color can contribute to the "comfort level" of the fish and they are easier to catch. But when it really goes out it can be ugly.

 

[fredaevans]

You may well be right my Friend, as (I think I did anyway!) my experience(s) fishing this river are pretty limited ... to what I've used, and what worked. And I would add that you're very right about the Green Butted Skunk being a productive fly for many. Personally, no joy for me .. which means absolutely nothing in the greater scale of things. But loved you're comment about using skaters, et. al. Any pattern recommendations? Have boxes full of the things, which see little use here on the Rogue** (save for very late Fall and really low flow conditions).

There's NOTHING IN THE WORLD like taking a Steelhead on a full floater; only recommendation I make is 'take a pee before you start, or you will in your pants.' Amazing, simply amazing.

*A full on floater/skater can be a killer way to fish the deeper runs on the North Umpqua. Find a 'Player' and he'll keep coming back until he's got the thing ... to his surprise .. buried in his jaw.

 

[floatinghat]

Fred, For fishing shorter presentations I like Bombers or Moose Turds, for longer presentations I like the good old Muddler (even in purple :0). I think you should break out the box on the Rogue and just look for the right water to fish them. Hell the 1/2#ers should kill them !!

 

[fredaevans]

Ah ... the 1/2 pounders. These can offer fishing like nothing else (in numbers). Only problem with them is the lack of public access save for the lower River (Goldbeach). Only other foot access (for all practical purposes) is at Agnes and darned little of it there. As for the fish themselves very few actually pass over Ranie Falls (about 20-35 RM's below Grants Pass. From Rainie Falls it's a one-way boat trip down through the 'Wild and Scenic' section of the river. If you launch at Agnes it's a motor boat show to get back up stream .... or another veeeerrrrrry long trip.

Maybe that's why there's so darned many of them ... nobodies bugging them?