Fishing Reports

Cascade Lakes fishing report 5/22/18

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Crane Prairie has been good in the Deschutes Channel and at Rock Creek. It has been very good with Black Leeches and Callibaetis Nymphs, with game on Chironomids, Dragon Fly Nymphs, Damsel Nymphs and possible Flying Ants.

East Lake so far has been experiencing a turn over and the lake is cold at the surface. The fish that are hugging the banks are spawning so I’d recommend giving those fish a break for a couple of weeks and let them do their thing. The thing is, the spawn is likely 90% or more unsuccessful, but the fish are stressed, skinny and weak during this time, and by leaving them alone they will be healthier and better fish in a few weeks with a great survival record when not being fished over.
It’s not all bad, certainly (non spawner) fish are being caught near the Hot Springs Ramp on Leeches and Chironomids.

Wickiup has been productive in the Deschutes Channel from Gull Point up to Sheeps Bridge. There have been some really good days on terrestrials. Callibaetis are starting up pretty good too.
In some of the coves up there, a bobber with a chironomid and balance leech is really good, or stripping buggers and rufus patterns is another good bet. I’d go with the Intermediate line usually, but be ready with a type 3 if the fish are deeper in the channels or side coves.

Lava Lake has been fishing well, maybe the best of all the lakes the last week to 10 days. It’s been best with leeches and brown chironomids and callibaetis nymphs.

Hosmer started off strong right after the gate opened but it appears it had a turnover last week and is a little off now. I’d guess by the weekend it will be clear and good to go with the settling of turnover combined with this great warm weather we are seeing.

3 Creeks was still frozen as of last week.

Lower Deschutes Fishing Report 5/22/18

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Salmonflies and Goldenstones are in peak activity and should be great to good for at least another 10-12 days.
There are some Yellow Sally’s mixed in with the big bugs too, and one thing we’ve found is the fish that have seen a lot of big flies float over their head often will come up confidently and sip the Sally right off the top!

PMD, PED, Caddis are all important now too. And never forget the Purple Haze on the Lower D!

Crooked River fishing report 5/22/18

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We are still seeing a lot of Mother’s Day Caddis and the fish are still loving them.
Mixed in with the caddis are BWO’s, Midges and a few PMD’s.
So with all these hatches there has been a lot of dry fly action, but nymph fishing is still the most productive for most of the day. With all the caddis hatching the caddis pupa patterns have been rocking it. Other nymphs we’ve had great luck with lately are micro mayflies, zebra midges, scuds, 2 bit hookers, and soft hackles.

Metolius River fishing report 5/22/18

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Still not too many Green Drakes out, and what has been out is mostly below Bridge 99 so far. Usually around Memorial Day they get a stronger foothold so we are getting closer and closer.
What has been good is PMD’s, small Brown Caddis and Ants.
Hatches have been good from about 1 to 4, and again in the evening with PMD’s, BWO’s early, then Caddis and finally Rusty Spinners at dusk.

As usual the nymph fishing is good to very good with Stonefly’s, Frenchies, Zebra Midges, Caddis Pupa, Stealth PT, CDC Hares Ear and Depth Charge CDC Lightning Bugs and PT’s (these are killer little flies with 2 tungsten beads in the thorax!).

Finally, today marks the opening of the upper river from the Headwaters to Allingham Bridge, so the entire Fly Fishing Only stretch is open.

Lower Deschutes fishing report 5/11/18

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Salmonflies are working their way up the river and are hatching strong in the Maupin area. We are seeing a few bugs in the Warm Springs to Trout Creek drift where we do our day trips but very few so far. It’ll be mid next week probably before they are really up in that stretch.

Our guides continue to work the nymphs, including Pat’s Rubber Legs and Cheeseburgers. Our guide Adam Ross has been rocking it with Black Zebra Midges and Frenchie’s.

It’s been a bit cold and windy most of the week, so we didn’t see much in the way of any hatch. This time of year we ought to run into the last of the March Browns, the first PMD’s, some BWO’s and an array of caddis hatches. It just didn’t happen where we were, but maybe next week’s warmer weather will spur all of that to happen and go epic.

Cascade Lake report 5/11/18

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East Lake is open and I heard good reports yesterday from Day 1 with fish working the shorelines and shoals.  Leeches, PT’s, Chironomids and look for those tricky little March Flies on the surface again now. You may recall last spring the fish were on them hot and heavy.

Crane is getting better mostly in the Deschutes Channel with leeches and damsel nymphs and the beginnings of some callibaetis action. For sure the nymphs, but prepare to hit the hatch with the nice weather coming this week.

Lava is fishing well near the boat ramp and resort side and down the west sand shoal with leeches and chironomids.

We hear Hosmer is open as of yesterday but can’t confirm that nor have we had any reports yet.

Crooked River fishing report 5/11/18

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Our guides have had good days on the Crooked this week, mostly on Mother’s Day Caddis pupa and a Black Elk Hair Caddis. Most days the hatch is very strong and you will see a LOT of caddis in the air. Good times!
Midges, BWO’s and Scuds are certainly on the menu. We’ve been smacking fish Euro nymphing with Micro May’s, 2 Bit Hookers and Frenchies plus Zebra’s and Ray Charles.

Metolius River fishing report 5/11/18

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It’s been a fun week on the Metolius with a lot of hatches and some consistent nymphing action.
There are salmonflies on the Met now. It’s not a ton, but some fish are looking up for them and you’ll find the majority from Canyon Creek to Candle Creek with a smattering of the big guys up to the Allingham boundary.

PMD’s have taken off, and if you are keeping a sharp eye out you’ll begin to see a Green Drake or 2 between 2 and 5 around Bridge 99. The “hatch” of Drakes is still 2 or 3 weeks out to be consistent but the early hatchers are coming off here and there.
BWO hatches seem to have shifted their time frame to later afternoon and evening.
Rusty Spinners at dusk are going better which is a great sign that summer is about here!
Caddis continue to be good with Pupa patterns fished as nymphs working the best, but we are starting to get some fish up on the surface to Iris, CDC, Parachute and X Caddis patterns.

Nymphing has been best most of the days, with stonefly nymphs and small mayfly or caddis pupas as droppers. Zebra Midges have continued to fish well all winter and spring. It’s funny we never really fished Zebra’s much until a year or two ago, and now it’s such a staple for us on the Metolius.

Bull Trout fishing is so-so to OK. Gotta find ’em and they are spread out but I have a friend who is getting some nice ones on streamers every week recently.

Lower Deschutes fishing report 4/26/18

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Our guides have been having excellent fishing in the Warm Springs to Trout Creek section. No hatch to speak of, and nothing on the surface but great nymphing on Stonefly Nymphs and Lightning Bugs.
We’ve also been doing great on light colored Euro Jigs, Sparkle Pupas, Halls CDC Hares Ear, Flashback PT, Worms and Sparkle Prince’s.

I’d guess the Salmonfly hatch will be in full swing by next weekend in the Maupin area and by Mother’s Day in the Trout Creek area. Cool weather coming over the weekend and warmer again in the forecast for next week.