It’s that time of the year again where the salmon flies starting showing up on the Deschutes. The good folks at Fly Fisher’s Place in Sisters relayed that the fish are really keying on salmon flies in Maupin. While there are bugs on the banks up near Warm Springs, the fishing hasn’t gotten red hot just quite yet.
At Fly and Field in Bend, the report is that the salmon fly hatch is in full swing. And John at the Deschutes Angler assured us that the hatch is going full-tilt boogy! John said the temps on the D are a bit cooler than usual, which should prolong the hatch for at least another 6-7 weeks.
John said bugs are showing up in Warm Springs, but are mostly staying tight to the bushes with the cooler weather. Once the mercury starts to rise a bit, the action should really pick up!
Idylwilde’s Chubby Chernobyl is the hot fly once again so load up now. We fished the Deschutes this time last year and the fly was in such short demand that guys on the river were buying them at $5-10 a piece from other anglers! Load up now and you’ll be in good shape for this epic hatch!
Call the shop for details, guided trip info: 541-342-7005.
I was just in Maupin for a few days. The goldens are thick in the grass…as are fly fishers, though slighlty less likely to be mating despite having a Chubby. 😉
Fishing was pretty good on dries but not on nymphs. For me, jungle fishing under bushes and in the shade made a difference.
Cheers, Stevie
I was at Mecca today. Lots of salmonflies and goldens — in the grass and brush. It’s cool and windy. There is mating, but no aerial ovipositing. Until it gets warm for a stretch, that protein won’t get airborne and to the fish. Did okay with Kaufmanns, but had zero action on dries. Give it another few days.
Just got off a 3 day stint from Warm Springs to Trout Creek and the reports are pretty close to accurate. We did have a lot of takes under overhanging limbs and along steeper rocky banks lined with grass tufts but there are about 20% of the normal amount of bugs inhabiting the brush. The caddis and mayflies fished well but I kept the stony dry on all day, despite some rain and gusty conditions. I watched a fish inhale 7 big bugs in 1 minute but others are just slapping so I know its getting close. My buddy Brian says he caught a 14″ bull on a dry in our camp water! See you all out there…I’m in a red fiberglass FishRite boat