Fly Fishing the Deschutes River. John Hazel

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      Deschutes River (Central Oregon)

       Location: This fly-fishing mecca in Central Oregon is less than a 2-hour drive from either Portland or Bend. Maupin, the only community on the Lower Deschutes River, is located 90 miles north of Bend and roughly 100 miles southeast of Portland.

      The Deschutes snakes its way 250 miles northward through the heart of central Oregon. For the first 150 miles, it is a growing spring creek that flows through the cities of Bend, Redmond, and Madras. Only when it flows out of the Pelton regulating dam is the famous blue-ribbon fishery born. Fed throughout its journey by hundreds of springs that boil from the edges of the desert, it is essentially the largest spring creek in Oregon and one of the most steadily flowing rivers in the world, fluctuating less than 2 feet on average from winter to summer.

      For more than 80 years, the law on the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes (from Pelton Dam to the Columbia River) has prohibited fishing from any floating device. This is just one of the unique aspects of the Deschutes that sets it apart from most other tailwaters in the West. This unusual regulation has given thousands of native trout sanctuary water, and has arguably maintained the quality of the fishing experience despite increasing pressure.

      The river is spectacular to float, with many roadless miles and riverside camping spots all along the way. No boat? No problem! The lower Deschutes offers 40 miles of road access (mostly gravel) as well as 32 miles of foot and biking trails that parallel the east bank of the river. In terms of access, this is a friendly river to fish and, with few exceptions, including a border with the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and some pockets of private property, you may fish the river nearly anywhere you like.

      Trout

      While Deschutes River access may be friendly, most first-time anglers are somewhat intimidated by the sheer breadth, depth, and turbulence of this big brawling river. At first glance, there are seemingly few places to wade, and fewer places for a backcast thanks to the alder trees and tall sedge grasses lining both banks. Deep, whirling backeddies and fast,

      boulder-strewn pocket water make it difficult to control the fly presentation, and simply navigating the steep rocky banks to get to the river’s edge can feel like a dance with death. Upon closer inspection, anglers will find navigable paths to the river, will see the gentle and easy foam lines

      Amy Hazel guiding big-trout pocket water. John Hazel

      that meander adjacent to the turbulent whitewater, and will observe trout noses periodically poking through those foam lines to gulp flies. Once the angler has honed in on this productive trout habitat, it will become quite apparent that the lower Deschutes River is one of the finest dry-fly rivers in America.

      The upper 50 miles of the Lower Deschutes River, from Warm Springs to Sherar’s Falls (10 miles downstream of Maupin), is considered the premier trout habitat. The river has an estimated population of 2,500 native rainbow trout per mile. Commonly referred to as redsides, these thick-bodied, powerful trout take advantage of the river’s fertile bounty, gorging themselves throughout the year on stoneflies, caddisflies, mayflies, midges, and a smattering of terrestrial insects.

      The hatches are strongest from April through October, which roughly coincides with the open season for trout on the 40 miles of river that forms the border with the Warm

      Amy Hazel casting the Spey in early morning light. John Hazel