STEELHEAD PEP TALK

ARE THE FISH COUNTS LOW?  WE HAVEN'T REALLY NOTICED. 

Written by Deschutes Angler Guide Steve Light

The thriving metropolis of Maupin has quieted down and the smell of Fall in the high desert is in the air. Shadows are growing longer and the days are getting shorter. There couldn't be a better time to get out and pursue some summer chrome.

No Excuses

My grandmother used to say..."The best way to catch a steelhead is to be fishing for one". Sure, Granny cracked a ton of Steelhead on the "Twinkie" back in the day, but with today's returning steelhead numbers it takes better than average skills and concrete mental fortitude in order to persevere. The river conditions are very good at the moment and yes...there are plenty of fish to be caught. We are out daily and averaging a fish per angler per day. Some days much better. Regardless, the wild fish numbers are very strong, 53% of the total run to date, now that's fantastic. Who doesn't want to hook a wild Deschutes River Steelhead? Who I ask??

No Whiners 

Now is your time to explore the river. With very little pressure, broaden your horizons and check out some new water. Find some new "favorite spots". Prepare for changing river conditions or when the river gets slammed - you won't have spend the morning driving about wandering, "is that a good spot?". We hear it all of the time..."the river's busy". Nope, turns out the only spot that you know...everyone else knows as well. If "Moss Pool" and "Wind Knot" are all you have in your quiver of spots, good luck! Better leave camp early. There's no mystery to locating steelhead water on the Deschutes. No, you don't have to stalk one of our guide boats to figure out where to fish. Yes, every pullout on the road has potential. Knowing the spot to pull off at o'dark-thirty is one thing. Knowing where the rock is in the run where they like to haunt is understandably another. This takes some time. While others are catching up on some Zzzz's during the day, you are out carving up some new water. 

No Mercy

Mix up your strategy a bit while you venture out of your comfort zone. Not all runs are created the same. When exploring a new run for the first time inspect where the entry and exit trails are from the road. It gives you a basic understanding of where others tread before you. Now you know where to get in and get out... safely. Step quickly through the run looking for that ooooh sooooo sweet spot. You'll find it. It's that point in the run where suddenly you pay attention and "feel" the fly dig in and hunt. That's the spot! Remember, a change in water flow will influence how you will fish through a run. Think about summer flows versus fall/winter flows and how it will change the swing depth as well as the speed of presentation. Could this be good sink tip water? Floating only? Skater water? Where is the sun in relation to the fish? Lots and lots of unanswered questions.

Now What?

Go find some answers!