I think the general angling public is missing a few things when it comes to successful stonefly fishing on the Deschutes River. More than 75% (very conservative) of the anglers entering the shop in the last two weeks said the same thing...."Yep, the big bugs are everywhere but the fish aren't keyed on them." This is where I give them the "Really?" look. "I just guided two beginners in to a pile of rainbows on adult stone imitations yesterday. From my account, they were doing back flips to eat them." Why such a disparity in the two fishing reports? Sure, having a guide for the day on your shoulder accounts for some success as well as choosing the right fly. But, it's where my clients fished that produced eager rainbows all day long. I don't have a secret key or fly, for that matter, that unlocks the gate to the best spots. These are all of the spots that you looked at from the road and said " that looks rugged" or you said, "seriously". I row past lots of anglers fishing in good water....for the Caddis hatch. Those spots are easy to get to, no Poison Sumac, no ticks, no rattle snakes, no risk of sudden swim attacks. If it was easy for you it was easy for the other 700 anglers as well. We say this over and over to beaten down anglers...."Jungle Water". If you want them you got to go get them! How you ask? It's not done with a 9 foot 5X leader unless your goal is to support the fly tying industry. It gets done with a 7 1/2 foot 3X leader. This is required in order to turn over a size 6 dry fly under an Alder branch just 2 feet off of the surface. If you are fishing in the "right" places, you will be sending your fly into the trees, grass, blackberries, Sumac, rose bushes,...it never ends. Rrrrrrrrrip here comes your 3X and your fly back for another round. "But I'm not seeing fish feeding on the surface". So? Don't wait to see fish feeding to encourage fishing on the surface. These are giant insects that even the fattest trout may only eat three or four of in a day. Be one of those that gets eaten. The worst violation is sending in a "scout". We all either have done it or watched a buddy do it. You know, grab a salmon fly off of the bank and send it on its way so that a wary trout may give up their position. Should you
not send your fly instead? Seems pretty damn obvious.
What fly is working? They all will work given the conditions you're fishing the fly in. Believe me, the fish will decide for you. This is where the shop is invaluable. Don't run out of ammo! Go to the river with a good selection and practice rotating a few around in the line-up. This hatch demands aggressive fishing techniques from top to bottom, so leave your "lead boots" at home. If a fish didn't eat the first pass through, maybe the second with a little twitch, it's definitely not eating the twelfth pass through. KEEP MOVING! Have a plan. Prospect with intention. Six casts and three or four steps up river. Move the length of your leader and work the fly from the bank out. Devour the water like you mean it. Another popular question is, "When should I fish a dropper? I'm a fan of droppers when my intention is to imitate an emerger or a cripple in the surface film that might be difficult to see or needs the aid of a large dry as an indicator fly. However, the conditions must allow for another fly to turn over without hanging up in the trees or the bank. It's not a "well, if the fish didn't eat the big bug then maybe they'll eat the dropper." Here's my theory, eat the big bug, don't eat the big bug....I'm fishing the big bug. It's only a few weeks out of the year so get after it! Amy's analogy says it all. It goes something like this. " You went all of the way to Jackson Hole (the Deschutes River) and you awoke to find 30 inches of fresh powder (Stone Fly hatch). Your buddies brag at the end of the day boasting 20,000 vertical feet (dozens of trout) on polished groomers (nymphing) and you only got 12,000 (10 trout) of the most epic powder (dry fly fishing) of the season. You remember every turn like it was your last (explosive takes). Your buddies recall epic high speed crashes (20 minutes on the bank untangling two flies, four split shot, and a strike indicator). How do you want to remember it?
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