We’ve been having excellent days on the Lower Deschutes, with good numbers of high quality fish readily showing their willingness to take a well presented fly. Most of the action has been subsurface, but there are still good numbers of Caddis adults around, and like many rivers in the area October Caddis are showing in good numbers. Dedicated dry fly anglers can bring fish to the surface with a small Caddis pattern throughout the day, but expect dry fly action to be sporadic at best. An indicator rig with a Stonefly or October Caddis Pupa followed by a smaller pupa pattern or Mayfly nymph is a good go-to on most days. Always fish the drift all the way through the swing when fishing pupa patterns, big fish tend to key in on the emerging October Caddis, and a swung fly is often the ticket for initiating a strike. Otherwise, achieving a proper dead drift is essential to producing fish consistently throughout the day. There are plenty of fish in the Lower D and they are absolutely willing to eat, but they can be tough to reach and pretty selective so take a proactive approach to reading water and placing accurate mends.
Not much has changed on the Steelhead front. Numbers throughout the Columbia basin have been pretty dismal this year but at this point the fish that have moved into the Deschutes are pretty well spread throughout the system. Fish on the day stretch are still relatively rare, but they are around and those who are putting in their time on the water are finding fish here and there. Fish have been pretty grabby towards a swung fly, so grab the Spey rod and get after it!
Suggested Dries: A/C Caddis #16-18, X Caddis #16-18, Henry’s Fork Caddis #16-18, Tan or Black Elk Hair Caddis #16-18, Purple Haze #16-18, Parachute Adams #16-18, Tilt Wing PMD or Mahogany #16-18, Sparkle Dun BWO #18
Suggested Nymphs: Black or Brown Jimmy Legs #8-12, Lex’s Improved Golden Stone #10-12, Jigged Tungsten Hare’s Ear #14-16, Jigged CDC PT #14-16, Copper Microstone #14-16, Hare’s Ear or Olive Anato-May #14-16, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #14-16, Deep October Pupa #10-12, Sparkle Pupa #16-18, Two Bit Hooker #16-20, Black or Purple Juju Baetis #16-20