LOWER DESCHUTES REPORT - 9/4/26

The Lower Deschutes is slowly beginning to make the transition into September.  The river has been relatively quiet following the steelhead closure, making this a good time to focus on your trout rigs for redsides and rainbows.

Caddis remain an important part of the hatch mix, with tan and smaller dark caddis worth having available into the evening. PMDs and other smaller mayflies remain part of the mix, while cooler and cloudier weather windows should begin to bring more variety to the surface. Evening remains a good window to watch for fish looking up, particularly around riffle edges and softer current.

Subsurface fishing remains the most consistent approach with stonefly nymphs, caddis pupa, PMD nymphs, Perdigons, Hare's Ears, and smaller attractor patterns all worth having in the rotation. The steelhead closure has now been extended through December 31 on the Deschutes and (just to note) the John Day also closed to steelhead fishing September 1 due to continued concerns over wild summer steelhead returns.

Recommended Flies

Tan X-Caddis (#14-16)
Black X-Caddis (#16-18)
PMD Sparkle Dun (#16-18)
Purple Haze (#16-18)
Black Pat's Rubber Legs (#6-8)
Tan Caddis Pupa (#16)
Jigged Hare's Ear (#14-16)
Violet-Tail Jig (#16-18)
Brown Perdigon (#16-18)
Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail (#16-18)