I was just wondering if any of you have fished the Deschutes for steelhead? I have a week long training for work over in Prineville and I was thinking about taking my rods so I can do some fishing. I know that the Deschutes is usually best for Steelhead in September and October, but what I don't know is where to try and get down for some bank fishing. If you have any advice where I can go to possibly get into some steelhead Id love to know. Not expecting anyone to tell me their secret spot or anything like that, just wondering where I might be able to find some decent bank access from either roadside parking or some kind of park. It'd be nice to stay away from crows but probably wouldn't be too much of an issue since I would be fishing mid-week. Thanks for any help.

I have not fished the lower river but I do know that spinners work VERY well this time of year there!!

Greg, head to Deschutes state park a few miles east of the dalles, depending on what you prefer you can either ride a mountain bike up the east side of the river on the gravel road that follows the river (recommended) or hike along the river, you just can't cover as much water on foot. There is good water literally at the park and the whole way up the river, just give people there space, and cover alot of water, you have to locate fish they aren't always holding in the same spots so don't spend a ton of time in one drift. I fish spinners, R&B #4's have been the ticket color doesn't matter much, I just like to have some with brass blades and some with silver blades. It hasn't been red hot by any means but I've got a few very nice fish so far this season, fishing is good enough though that it's well worth the drive.

Good luck!

Ryank

I like you Chad have not done the lower river. Thanks ryank for the info. You don't hear much on the Deschutes. For a big river you would think there would be more information out on it. I need to plan a trip one day soon.

H

most of the steelhead action that i have heard or read about has been in the maupin area.

Does anyone know of any specific places to get down for bank access above Sherars falls, if there are any, like near the Maupin area that dew is talking about? I suppose I'll just do some exploring but I wont have much time each night by the time I make the drive. Driving all the way up to the park near the Columbia would be way too far. I am not even sure how many are actually above Sherars this time of year.

There is the Deschutes river access road that goes above and below sherars falls. I fished below sherars falls yesterday and didn't get a single hook up for 8 hrs of fishing, last week we hooked 11 between three of us there. I would recommend sticking to the lower river for a little while longer, there are fish near maupin, but not as many, and there are new chrome fish entering the lower river daily. Either way, if the lower river is out of the question, there are PLENTY of fish upriver by now, yesterday, for me, I was just in the wrong stretch of river at the wrong time, that is what I meant by covering ALOT of water though, if your driving the access road you can cover miles of water pretty easily. Here's the nicest one I've hooked this season.



Good luck, let us know how you do

Ryank

Nice steely!!

Yeah thats a real nice fish! Thanks for the info Ryan. Hopefully I can get into a couple. If I do I'll make sure to post some pics. Do you fish with a bobber and jig set up there?

He uses spinners!

Now's theirs a man who knows how to handle a fish for a picture. Well done and nice fish ryank.

H

Thanks guys! Greg, I don't use floats much over there, I've heard of guys using them and doing just as well as hardware. It gets pretty windy sometimes and that can make for tricky float fishing, also there are so many guys fly fishing I like to throw something that's not so "buggy" so the fish see something different, plus I love the spinner grab!

Ryank