There are less than three weeks left to fish the Upper Deschutes. The fishing has been good recently with a decent amount of brookies in the system. The weather is looking cold and rainy up there this week so make sure to bring some extra layers and a waterproof jacket. I’d expect some really great blue wing olive hatches during the rainy days. Pale morning duns will likely be more common before and after the rain moves through. Caddis likely won’t be super significant but they can work well as a searching pattern. Terrestrials probably won’t see much attention but they still work great as indicators. Midges and small mayfly nymphs are the top cold weather flies during cooler weather, size 16 - 18 or smaller. Any mayfly nymph pattern that looks like a baetis or a PMD has potential. Euro-style jigged flies are also good. Small streamers are a really good idea for targeting the bigger brook trout, white, natural, and black are good colors. It is likely that a snowy La Nina winter is on its way which is good news for water levels next spring. 

 

Suggested Dries: X-Stimulator #12, Black or Tan Elk Hair Caddis #14-18, Black or Tan Foam Caddis #14-18, Purple Haze #14-18, Tilt Wing PMD #14-18, Parachute PMD #14-18, Black Stimulator #14-16, Parachute Adams #14-18, CDC Flying Ant #14-16, Black or Cinnamon Foam Ant #14-16, Hackle Stacker Baetis #16-20, Parachute Baetis #16-20.

Suggested Nymphs: Red, Black or Green Copper John #14-18, Red or Black Lightning Bug #14-18, Red or Black Two Bit Hooker #16-20, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #14-18, FB Pheasant Tail #14-18, Juju Baetis #18 - 20, Split Back PMD #18, Micro Mayfly #16-20, Pearl or Red Rainbow Warrior #16-20