Deschutes Steelhead
Well, it's been a good one! The weather has sure been a bonus this time around. The Deschutes did not experience the dramatic and rapid drop in water temps that we'd seen in the last few years. The lower river has been hovering somewhere around 48 degrees as of late. That's a pretty good number in late November, but it's bound to change in the relatively near future. If you're looking to get a last trip in, go sooner than later.
The bite has been pretty consistent when the conditions have been stable. It's pretty much a sink tip program at this time of year. Whether you get a hairwing down with a sinking leader or go to the Skagit and tip, you'll want to get the fly down a bit. This doesn't have to mean full-on dredging....just get it down a little. Could you still catch one on a floating line? Sure! This is especially true on warmer afternoons. Your best shot with this approach will be in shallower runs where fish don't have to move up quite so far to grab your bug. Either way, there is something really special about catching your last Deschutes fish of the season....or at least trying to. Best of luck to those who give it one more try!
Deschutes Trout
Trout anglers have been pretty happy out there lately. Similar to the steelhead, the trout don't love when the water is on the rise, but the fish has been solid with stable conditions. The current weather patterns just scream B.W.O.'s! They should be around mid-day most of the time for the foreseeable future. A two fly nymph rig with an olive nymph dropper will be a great way to prospect. Be ready to see emerging bugs sometime between noon and 2:00.
Beyond the bugs, this is a great time to grab your trout spey or single hand streamer rig. This window between fall and winter can provide some of the best streamer fishing of the year. When it's on, it's a silly amount of fun and often produces some sizable fish. Standard leeches and sculpins will work well. Don't be afraid to go big, either. Larger streamers definitely have their days.....especially with the biggest fish in the run.
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
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