Steelhead fishing on the Deschutes seems to have picked up a little bit. Currently, the Lower Deschutes is up about 1000 cfs than normal. This higher water and rain will put the fish on the move. Overcast days now will give us the opportunity to swing all day. Steelhead are spread out all throughout the Lower Deschutes system. This last week I fished Warm Springs and around Macks Canyon area. My buddy Jordan caught one nymphing at Mecca Flats and I caught one myself swinging near Macks Canyon. This just shows you can catch fish anywhere, as a few steelhead are still down low working their way up the D. The White River when I was down low, was spitting mud into the Deschutes making the water dirty and off color. If that is still the case, fish a higher profile fly on a sink tip. All methods can still be fished this time of year. Fish will still come up to skaters. Remember, with higher water, the fish will move closer to the bank. It is not necessary to bomb casts across the river. Steelhead will be in tight close to the bank. With all that said, GO FISH!
Trout are still rising all over the place on Blue Wing Olives. There still should be October Caddis flying around. Never a bad time to fish for redsides down on the Deschutes, especially since the majority are all chasing a fish of a thousand casts.
