Deschutes River A Blue Ribbon Trout Fishery
Deschutes Fishing Guides and Northwest River Outfitters have been guiding fly anglers on the Deschutes since 1966. We are a second generation owner operated outfitting company.
Why The Deschutes River
If you’re a fly angler and you love trout and summer run steelhead fishing, then you need to experience the Deschutes river with Northwest river outfitters. If you book a 2, 3 or 4-day trip you will encounter every trout fishing scenario you can imagine, from long casts across multiple currant lines to a short bow and arrow under over hanging alders. Riffles, eddies, grassy banks, tree lined banks the Deschutes has it all. If you have ever caught a steelhead while swinging a dry line in fast currant then you know there is nothing like the tug!
The Deschutes is a large tail water river flowing through high desert country from Pelton dam 101 miles to its mouth at the Columbia river. We offer our trout fly fishing trips May, June and July at this time you can expect water flow releases to be 5,500 to 4,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). Our trips begin approximately 9 miles below Pelton dam at trout creek and end 35 miles down stream at the small town of Maupin.
We fish steelhead the month of August. Starting at the mouth of the Deschutes at Heritage landing and jet boating up stream 4 to 25 miles. The Deschutes is one of the few Oregon rivers where fishing from a floating device is not aloud. All fishing must be done from shore or by wading the brushy shore lines. This is a major draw for the avid angler. Wading puts you one on one with the fish.
Deschutes Trout fishing Season
We begin our trout fly fishing season in May and offer trout trips thru July. The Deschutes has 3 major hatches that we Target. The Salmon fly and golden stone hatch which happens in May and early June. A verity of mayfly’s hatching all year and caddis hatching June thru October. The Salmon fly and stone fly are the most popular hatches, casting a large #6 or #8 dry stone pattern up under over hanging tree limbs waiting in anticipation for the surface to erupt the Deschutes trout take the large flies very aggressively. My favorite is the caddis hatche June and July same fish a longer more delicate cast along a grassy bank, foam line or back eddie. Gentle presentation slow drift and an ever so shubtle dimple on the surface lift your rod fish on.
Deschutes Redside Trout:
The trout in the Deschutes are rainbows and cut bows. The cut bows are nicknamed Redsides due to the large crissum red stripe down there side. They are a beautiful trout. Because the Deschutes is a large powerful river so are the trout that live in it.
Our Deschutes Guides:
All of our deschutes guides are independently licensed subcontractors trained in First-Aid, CPR and AED Approved. All of our deschutes guides have many years experience fishing and boating the Deschutes and numerous other Oregon, Washington and California rivers. We all have a true love, great understanding and appreciation for fly fishing and the outdoors. We truly believe that we have the best crew on the Deschutes River.
Deschutes Boats:
A McKenzie river drift boat will be your transportation down the river. These boats are safe comfortable and easy to get in and out of. We recommend 2 anglers per boat and 1 guide however since all fishing is done from shore we can accommodate 3 anglers per boat if you prefer.
An average day on the Deschutes
Nearly all of the Deschutes shore line is fishable. Camps and lunch sites are located on good fishable water. Coffee is ready at 6:am breakfast at 8:am. We try to hit the river by 9:am by now its starting to warm up an the insects begin to fly. We break for lunch about 1:pm lunch is usually an hour to hour and a half depending on the group. Depending on the preference of the anglers we can arrive at camp around 7:pm or fish to dark about 9:30pm. Many anglers enjoy going to camp to relax, enjoy the accommodations, swap stories and enjoy the beauty of the Deschutes canyon. Others come to the Deschutes to fish and fishing late can often be rewarding. It is your trip and we are here to make it the best for you.
Our Deschutes Camps:
Since there are no lodges along the Deschutes we prepare a deluxe camp. We have a large cargo raft that hauls all the camping gear. While the anglers are fishing the camp crew is busy setting up the evenings camp. When we arrive camp is complete. We use large spacious tents, cots, lounge chairs you name it everything except the kitchen sink.
Our Deschutes Meals:
Being a second generation outfitter and outfitting myself for 35 years I know that nothing in nature is a guarantee. For this reason we take great pride in our camps and all our meals. Breakfast and dinner are prepared at camp. All food is fresh and prepared in front of you by the guide crew. We do have a set menu but we are happy to take requests or make substitutions.
Our Deschutes Shore Lunches:
Lunches are no exception, after the mornings fish the guide crew will prepare a nice shore lunch. Our lunches are set out deli style fresh hand sliced meats all the best sandwich makings. A large verity of home made salads, home made jams, jellies, cakes and cookies. You wont go hungry now back to fishing.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR DESCHUTES TROUT TRIPS
August Deschutes Steelhead Trips
Deschutes river steelhead are world renowned fly biters. Our Deschutes river guided steelhead trips are offered as one or multi day steelhead fishing adventure.
One-day trips:
we meet early at daylight at Heritage landing ready to fish. We will travel up river in a 24-foot jet sled making many stops along the way to fish. The Deschutes is one of a very few Oregon rivers where fishing from a floating device is not allowed. Fishing is only half the fun the trip up river is as scenically rewarding as it is exhilarating racing up thru class 2 and 3 white water. Our day trip begins at daylight and end at 3pm back at Heritage landing where we began.
Multi day trips:
Deschutes river steelhead are world renounced for being great fly biters. If your goal is to target steelhead on a fly I recommend a multi day trip. These trips simply give the angler more time fishing the prime-time shade hours. The multi day trips are offered as 1,2 or 3-night trips, all these trips begin at Heritage landing at 2pm and return to Heritage at 11am again maximizing shade opportunity. We will travel up river in a 24-foot jet sled to our base camp, from camp we will travel up and down river taking advantage of shade and targeting the best fishing opportunities. In August anglers will have about 4 hours of prime shade in each morning and evening fishing session. Shade is a key factor in catching a steelhead on a swung dry line and that is the ultimate in steelhead fly fishing. After the morning session of fishing we will return to camp for breakfast about 10am. After breakfast anglers can relax enjoy camp and the scenic beauty the Deschutes canyon has to offer or put the sink tips on and go fishing. Dinner is served at 4:30 we will have shade and be fishing by 5 anglers will fish till dark returning to camp for a snack and a great night’s rest. We wake up early to coffee, fruit and pastries. Our goal is to be fishing at first light.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR AUGUST DESCHUTES STEELHEAD TRIPS
ABOUT US
We are a second generation Deschutes River Fishing Outfitter. We offer trips throughout Oregon and have outfitted Deschutes fishing trips since 1966. We guide on the Deschutes from May-Aug and one thing that makes us unique on the Deschutes River we don’t stop there. From the Deschutes we head to other rivers in Oregon. Many of the outfitters today do this part time or when their other full time job will allow, we are proud to be one of the last owner operated, FULL TIME Outfitter on the Deschutes River.
We hope to see you soon on one or both of these trips of a lifetime.
Your Hosts: Craig & Tina Hughson
888-767-3144