MACKS TO THE MOUTH ONE DAY FLOAT
Written By Deschutes Angler Guide Alex Gonsiewski
Marathon Steelhead Fishing
23.9 miles, 16 hours and the BEST steelhead water on the Deschutes River. This trip is not for everyone. However, for hard core anglers itching for snow belly chromers in late July and early August, these 24 miles are the place to be in Oregon. You will fish a lot of water. These are not trips with four hour afternoon naps. You might rest for an hour around lunch time, but in no time the Spey rod will be back in your hands and the line will be zinging out over the river. Full sun? No problem! There are dozens of spots on the lower river were fish love to smack wet flies under the hot summer sun.
If you have never seen the Wild and Scenic lower canyon of the Deschutes River, you owe it to yourself to do this trip. The geology of the lower canyon is amazing. The past 65 million years rock formations are unveiled during the float like so many layers of a cake. The wildlife is abundant. It is not uncommon to see Big Horn Sheep, Kingfishers, Mule Deer, Mink, and multiple species of Raptors. Throw in 5 class III and several more class II rapids, and the float alone is worth the price of admission.
Hot Weather Hot Fish
There is nowhere that I rather be at this time of year. The weather is hot and the fish are even hotter. The steelhead in the lower river in August and early September are hot, rip-snorting silver bullets. Need to check your windblown hair? Use the side of one of these fish to check out your reflection. These steelhead are fresh from the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean and are looking to kick your ass. To make it even sweeter the fish are often in pods and finding one often means find more.
Logistics
Your day will start about an hour before first light, meeting your guide either at the fly shop or at your hotel. Together we will enjoy the teeth-jarring drive down the access road to Macks Canyon. You will fish hard taking all day and take off the river at Heritage Landing just before dark. On our way back to Maupin, we will stop by Big Jim's for dinner - it's my favorite burger joint in The Dalles. Or, if you headed back to Portland and you want to save some time, you can pay to have your vehicle shuttled to Heritage Landing. From there you are 95 miles from Portland on I-84.
If you are new to Spey casting, come spend a day with us learning the basics of the cast the day before the float. You want to have your A game for this trip. Afternoon wind is common and being able to cast in the wind is going to allow you to maximize your fishing time and chances at fish. If you are interested in booking a day trip Macks to the Mouth give us a call at Deschutes Angler Fly Shop. These trips are limited to late July and August and they fill up quickly.
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