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Fly Fishing Central & Southeastern Oregon

My first fishing trip in central Oregon was with my father in 1933. At that time we lived in Milwaukie, Oregon, which is south of Portland. One day we visited a neighbor, who showed us some large rainbow trout he’d recently caught in the Deschutes River. The image is still vivid, even though this happened some 75 years ago when I was a boy of six. The following Sunday, Dad got me up at 3:00 a.m.. We jumped in the pickup and headed for Maupin, a small community on the banks of the Deschutes about 100 miles east of home. I followed Dad up and down the river that day. When he hooked a fish, he’d let me land it, or at least try to. We didn’t end up with the number or size of trout we’d seen at our neighbor’s, but it was a memorable day. It provided me with a lasting memory of Dad, and it was the day that started my continuing love for the Deschutes River and the central and southeast regions of Oregon.

Since that first experience on the Deschutes River, I’ve fished the high desert regions of Oregon hundreds of times. I’ve also had the good fortune to have fly fished from Argentina to Alaska, including the San Juan River in New Mexico; the Green River in Utah; the Wood in Idaho; and the Madison, Ruby, and Beaverhead in Montana. But, if the truth be known, central and southeast Oregon compares favorably with, and in many cases exceeds, the fly fishing I found in most other parts of the lower 48 states.

Fishing lakes and reservoirs is a whole different program than fishing streams. On streams, it’s relatively easy to read the water and determine the feeding lanes and holds. That’s not true with the still water of lakes. The surface is flat, without a lot of indicators to tell you where to fish. You have to look at the shoreline, identify submerged objects, study contour maps of the bottom, scan for surface activity, and observe where other people are fishing. You may need to keep moving and exploring until you find where the fish are active. This active spot can change from hour to hour.

To give you an example of what I’m talking about, I once had a banner day fishing Davis Lake. I fished the main lake, near the O’Dell Creek channel, with a small Adams pattern. Two days later I took my son Brad to this hot spot.

There were about eight other boats in the vicinity, which seemed to indicate that the fish were still working the area. We anchored and started fishing, while observing what kind of success other people were having. After about 45 minutes we hadn’t had a rise and had seen only one other fish being taken. I switched to a nymph with the same results: nothing. About this time, we noted several fish working the reed beds on the edge of the channel. We pulled anchor and headed toward the rising fish. We positioned the boat, anchored, switched to dry patterns, and started casting toward the reeds. The first cast produced a rise but no fish. That was the last fish we’d see coming to a dry pattern. We didn’t do any better with Montanas or Leeches either. We then moved well into the channel just before calling it a day.

On the way in, I put on a Prince nymph and cast toward the reeds. After several casts I hooked a nice fish. We anchored. Over the next hour we enjoyed catching and releasing a dozen rainbows ranging from 13 to 20 inches. This was just a case of observing, moving, changing patterns, and plain old fishermen’s luck.

The message I convey is simple. Don’t get too enamored with what happened yesterday or that morning, rather, concentrate on finding where the fish are when you’re on the water. There are times when you’ll need all your skill and luck to accomplish this. And here’s a word of advice: Always get information.

No matter where you’re going fly fishing, there is a right time to be there, a right technique, and a right fly pattern. Ask someone or check reputable literature (like this guide). Your best bet, in many cases, is to call a fly shop in the region. Several good ones are listed in the Resources section of this guide.

Permit me a word on words. Like the cover says, this is a “no nonsense” guide. I’ve tried to eliminate a lot of small talk, flowery adjectives, and unimportant folderol. This is an easy-to-read guide with essential and basic information. It will help you decide what water to visit and give you what you’ll need to know to have a good time fly fishing.

When you’re fishing central and southeast Oregon rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs (or any place, for that matter) please practice conservation. Catch and release is a good way to start, and consider these five guidelines that all conscientious fly fishers obey.

• Abide by the laws and fishing regulations.

• Respect property owners’ rights.

• Be considerate of others.

• Never crowd in on another fisher.

• Carry out your litter.

A Hosmer Lake brook trout. Photo by Dante Willerton.

Some Oregon Basics

In the central and southeast regions of Oregon, there are hundreds of lakes and reservoirs and miles and miles of rivers and creeks. I’ve not included all of these waters in this guide, but rather selected those that I’ve fished with success and that are readily accessible to the public. I’ve also included comments on eight private (fee-fishing) lakes, but only because Jeff and I feel they’re worth the price of admission. Here are some basics you should scan and know before deciding what water to go fly fish.

Game Fish

Rainbow, brown, cutthroat, brook, steelhead, and bull trout are found throughout central Oregon. Other species include kokanee salmon, bass, and a variety of panfish.

Catch & Release

Many Oregon waters have limited-kill regulations. Responsible anglers practice catch and release and are careful handling fish.

Weather

High desert weather can be warm and ideal or very, very cold and windy. Weather in the Cascade Mountains can change quickly from comfortable to rainy, windy, or snowy. Be prepared for extreme weather in this region at any time of year. Always take, at least, a windbreaker or extra coat, hat, sunglasses, water, extra dry clothing, sunscreen, and a map.

Hazards & Safety

Use a wading staff in rivers like the Deschutes and other big streams that have fast currents and rocky bottoms. Don’t drink the water unless you’ve purified it. Unfortunately, giardia is fairly common. Use caution with fires when camping. There are fire restrictions in many camping areas. Packing a cell phone is a good idea. Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

Rods

An all-around rod for this region is a 9-foot 5 weight. You can fish most waters in this guidebook with this size and weight. For small creeks try an 8-foot 3 weight rod. Float tubers prefer 9½ to 10-foot rods.

Reels

Palm, click, or disk drags work fine for most central Oregon fly waters. About 75 yards of backing is adequate for most species of trout. You’ll need more for steelhead.

Lines & Leaders

You can use a floating line for almost all streams and still waters in our region. Occasionally, a sink tip or sinking line is an advantage. Some lakes and reservoirs fish better with a type-2 fast sinking and an intermediate sinking line. Leaders should be stout for sinking lines, 2X to 4X. For dry fly fishing and nymphing, 9- to 12- foot leaders, 4X to 6X, are about right.

Flies

The types of flies are listed here, but the sizes have been excluded. Depending on conditions, hatch sizes can vary greatly. Consult a local fly shop for the current sizes.

Wading Gear

I suggest using felt-soled wading boots, breathable waders, and a wading staff for almost every water in the region. A wading staff and cleats are helpful and recommended while fly fishing in the Deschutes. Wet-wading is possible during the summer months, especially in the eastern part of the state. Float tubers need breathable chest-high waders and warm clothes. Mountain waters are cold.

A healthy rainbow from the Middle Deschutes. Photo by Eric Dunne.

A beautiful wild Metolius River rainbow trout. Photo by John Judy.

Guides

If you are new to the sport, or to Oregon, a day outing with a qualified guide will help you learn the ropes. Check with the fly shops in the Resources section of this guidebook for waters that permit guided fly fishing.

Private Fly Fishing Waters

Paying for a day or two at a private water can be rewarding. If you are a fly fishing novice, private waters offer a great way to hone your skills. The private waters listed toward the back of this guidebook can offer excellent fishing in remote or isolated locations. They are a good value and are worth your consideration.

Trash

Leaving an area cleaner than you found it is the responsibility of all fly fishers.

Ratings

Each river, stream, lake, and reservoir in the main section of this guide has been rated on a scale from 1 to 10. A 10 water is one that offers the best possible fly fishing experience Oregon has to offer. A 1 would be fishable but not much else.

These ratings are based on my experiences of fly fishing these waters over a number of years. Thus, my rating may not necessarily coincide with the experience you have on your particular day of fly fishing, or even your combined experience. These ratings are best used to get a general idea of a particular fly fishing destination and as a means of comparing our opinions. But enough of the obvious stuff. Here’s hoping you hook that fish you’ve always dreamed of on one of the waters in this guide.