It is a special time of the year when 4/22 rolls around. Every year is filled with excitement and anticipation, like waiting for Santa on Christmas Vacation.
Monday marks the opening day of some important fishing waters. #1 for us is the Lower Deschutes on the Warm Springs, Mecca, Dry Creek, Trout Creek and South Jct areas. Yes, the Warm Springs to Trout Creek drift that is one of our most popular guide experiences is opening on April 22.
I think we will see some March Browns and Caddis hatches, have excellent Nymphing, especially with Stonefly nymphs and Soft Hackle PT’s and Perdigoins and Caddis Pupa…. It would not surprise me to see some BWO and the 1st PMD’s of the season mixed in to the hatches and of course, fish the cycle of the hatch with the nymphs, emergers and adults. Opening Day and Tuesday the 23rd look friggen’ great for weather, and that rarely is the case for opening day. Usually cold and blowy, this exceptional opening day will see warm and sunny.
Crane Prairie also opens on Monday for the 2024 season. I am doubtful the docks will be installed at the Deschutes Side/Crane Prairie Boating Site Ramp. Rock Creek and Quinn still have no access due to snow and the gates closed. Leeches and Chironomids will be the best. Balanced Leeches and Chironomids under the indicator are going to be the best. Stripping or wind drifting leech and damsels and callibaetis nymphs will be important techniques to consider using a hover or intermediate line.

Wickiup is also opening on Monday. It is 77% full and ought to be a good bet for the opening week and beyond.
South Twin fish are quite affected with Gill Lice and I am told ODFW is aware of it and plans to not stock it to see if they can get this under control. The fish that are there are ugly with the lice, but it isn’t hurting how they are biting or fighting. Worth the trip and try balanced leeches and damsel nymphs.
I don’t know what North Twin is doing, and if the fish were similarly affected with the lice? Has anyone here been to North Twin?
Saw from the air Lava was icing out fast this week but probably still 3/4 iced over. Also that part of the Century Drive is still blocked by the snow and the snow gate, although Deschutes County Road Crews reported good progress on the plowing already.
Hosmer is still weeks away from opening.

Three Creeks Lake is going to be a while. Typically it is mid-June for the average of our first visit. I think we might hit it a touch early this year though so keep watching the report here and we will let you know.
It is still iced up and the snow gate is locked.

What opens on the late opener (on May 22) is the Upper Metolius, the Deschutes from Benham Falls to the headwaters at Little Lava Lake, Whychus Creek and Tumalo Creek. You gotta wait another month and 2 days for those places.

The Metolius has been excellent nymph fishing this week, with a smattering of BWO and Cinygmula hatches. Warmer weather returns next week and I suspect the caddis will pop better when that happens.
In Late April and May before the Green Drakes really start there is a big mayfly in the Epeorus family that hatches and is often mistaken as a Drake. It is more tan than olive, and is a two-tailed mayfly as opposed to the drakes that are 3 tailed mayflies.
What has been best this week is tan caddis pupa, Olive or Brown Perdigons, 2 Bit Hookers, Micro Mayflies, Stonefly Nymphs and Soft Hackle PT’s.
There have been really good days on Bull Trout, more so on big streamers again. We have the best streamer collection we’ve ever had and also put together a Bull Trout Sandwich Pack for $19.95 with our 3 favorite BT streamers.

The Crooked is still high although they did drop it by about 50% to 660 cfs today. The reservoir is 100% full! Great news for the future of the river. I’d wait until it is 400 cfs or under. Maybe later this week but we promise to watch it and report on it as soon as we see it drop to a good, fishable level.

The Fall River is a wonderful option now, with a fresh stocking on the trophy trout. Afternoon hatches of BWO’s and a few March Browns, Midges and even some Caddis.
Perdigons, Eggs, Tungsten Zebra Midges and Tungsten Euro Streamers are working great for the guide team that has been busy out there lately.

The Middle Deschutes from the Tumalo State Park area down to Lake Billy Chinook is in great condition and seeing good BWO and March Brown hatches.
I am going to guess we will have salmon flies starting by Steelhead Falls by this time next week!
Great nymph and small streamer action to be had on of this water now.

Chickahominy is still fishing great.

Justesen Ranch Lakes are darn good! Let us or Amanda get you booked on one of their 7 ranch lakes. Leches, Chironomids, Damsels, Water Boatman and the beginning of Callibaetis hatches for the spring now. With a lot of the lakes still not at optimal time, or iced over or snowed in, Justesen is one hack of an option now for you.

Thanks to all of you for signing up for the August Phil Rowley Clinics. We have 4 spots left on August 6th for the clinic. Don’t let it slide away, this is the event of the summer to attend.

We have 2 spots left on the July 22-24 Women’s Only 3 Day Deschutes Camp Float! This was a huge success last season and we’ve got 4 of the 6 spots full for the trip, and would love to add YOU to the trip. Sorry guys, no dudes allowed.

By the way, our group last week in Belize landed 21 permit during the week, which was our best trip there ever. November 2-9 is the next hosted trip there, so let Jeff know if you want to join the fun.
Bonefishing and Tarpon fishing were good last week too.

See you on the water!

Jeff