Is there anything biting in these spring/summer months on the Deschutes in Thurston County?

I know there's cutthroat in there, and I'd like a place nearby to practice my cast.


What flies do they hit this time of year?

My best luck this time of year was nymphing with a two fly rig. Bead head golden stone #10 or 12, and a pheasant tail on point. I used a strike indicator.

I haven't been there for a looooong time. The last time I fished it was about 2002, I remember it clearly. I gut-hooked a gorgeous 18" cutt on a golden stone. I tried everything to revive it, but it died. I was actually downstream of the place I released it and found it floating dead right later. What a bummer. It was an awesome fish, to be sure.

Thanks.

I'd fish a dry and dropper. Something like a parachute adams (16) with a little #18 pheasant tail dropper. The fish arent generally very big but it can be a lot of fun.

I pretty much had to Google that entire post, such is my inexperience with Fly Fishing.

That said, I did find it very informative, thank you.

Now looking at my cheat-sheet: What type of Dropper knot do you recommend?


Hook eye, Bend of Hook, or blood knot?

let me know when you want to give it a shot and maybe i can sneak away from work for an afternoon down there and we can give it a go.

With a dry fly that small you wont be able to run a dropper from the eye of the hook. In fact i dont think i have ever fished one that way unless i was fishing 2 nymphs, and the top one was a big stone or something.
I like to fish my dropper off the bend of the hook. I usually use a turl knot to attach it but lots of people just use an improved clinch knot.
With flies that size i'd probably run 5x tippet but you may even have to go smaller. The fish shouldnt be leader shy so go with as big as you can get away with.
I have heard the river changed a lot with the high water last year and now has some more big pools and deeper water. can't wait to get out and see what it looks like.

I'll PM you if I ever manage a free weekend.

I know a few decent access spots upriver S of Tumwater.

You'll cringe when you see my cast.

sounds good. I'll always up for playin hooky during the week as well

Irie,

I was thinking about giving it a try this weekend, since most rivers are blown with snowmelt. The Deschutes has a pretty low elevation headwater, but it came up from 306 on Thursday to 364 on Friday morning. The gage is not recording since then, so I don't know if it's still rising. 350 cfs is about the limit for good fishing conditions. If it levels off or drops, I might give it a go Sunday.

I've got a "little D" hatch chart around here somewhere. BWOs and another species are usually the dominant hatch around now I think. Parachute Adams usually works. I read a report from a guy who fished it earlier this past week, and he caught fish with small nymphs.

Sg

I think in a few days the rivers will be back in shape.

i fish the deschutes a lot, however my favorite flies for that stream are of the mepps and vibrax variety.

pioneer park ain't a bad place to start at(remember that it's closed until the 1st below henderson), though i used to really love fishing about 1/4 mile upstream of there before the gate at the trailhead had about 15 "no tresspassing" signs plastered on it. i'll have to bushwhack in on the other side this summer, for sure.

another decent access that's open now is stedman rd. just before it dead ends at waldrick rd. there's a gravel parking area right next to the chehalis western trail and some nice water up and downstream. i mainly fish it in the summer though, i have no idea how far you can wade with the river up the way it is(it's usually 150 or less when i fish it).

some really beautiful water off vail loop rd., there's a trail to the river just(parking area just after you cross over it), but that's some serious jethro country out there, and every time i've walked out to that spot, i see all kinds of cougar sign and the hair stands up on the back of my neck. never stayed long enough to fish it.

there's some big searuns in there in the fall, or so i'm told. usually too occupied with salmon and steelhead but i always tell myself i'm gonna try it.

I know of another access near the Steadman/Waldrick area, but that too backs up against Banjoland.

When I get back from Idaho i'll give it a shot.

Flows on the D are prime for fishing now. I know I should give it a try, but can't seem to find the time.

Irie, you're new Cabela's 5 wt should be just the ticket for all around trout fishing, the D and most anywhere you get the chance.

Sg

the D should be nice now, I live on the west side of oly these days but used to live right on Munn lk. across the road. try hiking the pasture on the upstream right hand side from pioneer park, walk up past the crossover of the power-lines, called the "rainbow run". some of the best water, not many if any ppl and very close to the city.
give me a call or drop me a message and i'd be happy to go rip some lips with you.

next on tap: deschutes highlands homes develpoements on both sides of the valley up from pioneer park. with all the houses (300 or so) there are gonna be a lot of kids, kids usually fish bait (because of dumbass parents or they havent been "enlightened' to artificials), that water is artificails only, last time i checked, i didnt know too many kids under 18 that had an "educated bait hand"....anyone seeing a problem for cutties in the raindob run over the next 5 or 6 years till all of those houses are full??? can we do anything about this? bring it up at the next CCA meeting?

The Deschutes looks really nice right now........more water than usual with a little color in it. I was checking it out last weekend when I was down at Pioneer Park. Should have brought the rod........how many times do I have to make that mistake before I learn?

I think the D has been a little too low for good fishing the past couple weeks. It was nice from about 300 cfs down to 100, but at 45 cfs or whatever it is this week, I think the fish deserve a break. Not much water left for those little buggers to make their living in. Come the fall rains with more water and the influx of sea runs, and it will offer great trout fishing even into the winter I'm told.

OTS, yes, housing developments and their many children are usually hard on fish. With the kids, it's a temporary thing. The developments are permanent.

Sg

Have these latest rains made any difference?

It really didn't rain too much out this way. A couple hard showers, but they didn't last very long.