TIME TO PUT ON YOUR BIG BOY/GIRL WADERS

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.

CRAZY EARLY STEELHEAD FISHING

Beautiful crazy Steelhead on the Deschutes

Early Season Steelheading Can Be Spectacular on the Deschutes

By Guide Evan Unti

There is only one reason to hit the river ahead of the main run and that is simply hooking into a "crazy fish." A "crazy fish" is one that has no set agenda during the fight and makes you question your fish fighting abilities and the integrity of your equipment. If you have ever been fortunate enough to run into a fish of this nature than you know that the addiction grows with each encounter. Most of these "crazy fish" I have run into I have not landed because at no point in the fight did I ever feel I had control, I was at the mercy of the fish.

Yesterday I ran into one of these fish and to date, it was the best one I have encountered on any river. The take was like that of a mid-september hatchery fish, light like a blade of grass brushing along the fly. Initially I thought that is was just some debris but I let the loop slide through my fingers since I hadn't had a touch in awhile. The line came tight to the reel and just stopped. Literally nothing happened like hanging up on a rock. I decided to jerk up on the road because I was now thoroughly convinced I had snagged up. In the blink of an eye, as I raised the rod tip, my line took off into the backing. "Holy &$#@." I am looking down stream trying to decipher where the hell this fish was. Out of the corner of my eye I see some splashing on the far side of the river. I turn my head just in time to see this leviathon jump 5 feet out of the water. It took a second before I realized that this was my fish. I panic and start reeling like a mad dog trying to catch up to the fish. Within seconds it begins launching out of the water a hundred yards downstream of me. "What the hell is this fish doing" I think as line starts peeling off the reel again. At this poing my fly line must have looked like Zorro's signature Z in the water. I didn't know if I should reel or just hang tight. Finally I start cranking again and low and behold the fish is now way up river and still on the others side and begins cartwheeling back down stream yet again. I know this fish is big and I so badly want to see it up close, so I start putting the wood to it in a feeble attempt to gain control and in one last F-you it bombs out of the water and I see the fly shoot out of its mouth and come hurling back at me. A string of curse words promptly follow, echoing off the canyon walls.

Once I regained composure I noticed how badly my hands were shaking. "Man that was awesome" I scream. That fish was impressive and the reason that year after year I pursue these amazing creatures to just experience that shaking in the hands that lets me know I still love this sport. If you haven't hooked a "crazy fish" start scheduling some early season time and be ready for the shakes.