Spring time Owyhee did not disappoint. The lighting in the canyon is unreal. What looks like lots of brown/red dirt and rocks blah just glow and changes with the soft spring light. Seeing green up and spring time hit the high desert is awesome. Oh yeah the fishing is super fun too! Skwalas are winding down. Still might find fish keyed or looking. A big dry/drop rig is always a great searching rig and with the Skwalas fresh on the brain a great combo now. As the hatch really dies off there is till good mayfly hatches/nymphing and streamer chucking to be had. As it moves into warmer weather PMDs and caddis will start to show. We will be back to guide over there in August for hoppers/PMD/Caddis/ Tricos. Some availability. The main thing to track this summer for that fishery will be water levels. Winter was mild, snow pack through out the west is not great. Saving grace for the Owyhee it is a tailwater. Even low it could keep temps down a little bit. Fish could move up river to find some thermo relieve. We shall see.
We are a couple weeks away from the Deschutes opening up from Pelton to the Warm Springs boundary. Early season historically nymphs well. Pick your poison Euro or more traditional indicator rig. Having some sort of stone fly in the mix on your set up is wise. Stone and salmon fly nymphs will get active and start working toward the banks soon and have fish keyed in and looking. Spring time Redsides are amazing, Fat, healthy, hard fighting. Just gorgeous and at their prime.
With this unseasonably warm weather things might kick off a little early for the big bugs. Historically it is early May to the end of May. in the meantime, spring also brings BWO, March Browns and some micro caddis. So there is some day to day potential for mid day dry fly besides just staring at indicators. If you start seeing mayflies/hatch look for soft stuff below riffles or th eddies for sippers. Good old Adams in appropriate sizes normally work. A lightly weighted on unweighted pheasant tail drop can be a good addition as well.
We have a few slots open at the very start of the season, and again, this can be a great time. Might not be prime time big bug dry fly, but overall go catch fish can be great. It is a little before the main crowds show up as well. We are pretty much booked solid for May and main hatch. To fish the Salmon fly hatch standard Chubies, Norms, Clarks along the banks and under the tress. We do have some slots for summer time awesome weather caddis action in June/ July, August. Great time for a river trip. It is a great time to visit Central Oregon and put together a great trip. Lots of mountain biking, music, great breweries and food! Plenty to do before and after a river trip for everyone!
We do John Day trips, and bassin’ over there is fun for all ages and abilities. Water level/ lack of snow pack will be more on the radar for getting boats down it than how it will fish. Low and warm just kegs bass up in deeper spots and they keep hitting poppers or subsurface fly presentations.
We are looking forward to another season. If you have any questions or we can help plan a trip and advise with local fisheries than feel free to reach out. 541-771-2288 or email. Check back for more reports and you can follow us on Instagram for updates as well. Hope to see you on the water.
Tight Lines,
Cory Godell
Deschutes River Anglers