The Upper Deschutes has continued to fish well, with the upper stretches (Little Lava to Crane Prairie) providing excellent opportunity to escape the heat with surface action from hungry, aggressive Brookies and Rainbows. Stimulator and attractor patterns are the best way to coax these fish to the surface through most of the day. Should they appear to be hunkered down and not looking up, a larger dry with a small dropper is the perfect rig to get soft, accurate presentations while still maintaining the possibility of getting a fish on the surface. The water temps below Crane Prairie are very warm, and potentially lethal to fish who are already feeling the stress of high summer temperatures and low flows. With all of the other options in the area, its best to give those fish a break for now.
Suggested Dries: Black Stimulator #14-16, Adams Trude #14-16, Elk Hair Caddis #14-18, Purple Haze #14-18, Parachute Adams #14-18, Black Flying Ant #16, Cinnamon Flying Ant #16, Peacock Chubby Chernobyl #14-16, Royal Wulff #16-18, Purple Parawulff #16-18
Suggested Nymphs: Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail #14-18, Red Two Bit Hooker #16-20, Black Rainbow Warrior #16-20, Hare’s Ear #14-18, Copper or Red Copper John #14-18