The Lower Deschutes for trout was very good for our guides last week, and I saw on my friend Chesters instagram he was also having good dry fly action in the evenings to dark, mostly on caddis, including the small micro caddis that are common this time of year. During the day Gavin Jr had what he called an “epic day” on red 2 bits and olive jig leeches.
Stonefly nymphs in black #8, golden #8-10 and peacock #6-12, caddis pupa in tan #16 and olive #16 and charcoal #18, zebra midges #20, brown perdigons #12-18, split case pmd #16-18, squirrel leech #12, purple haze #14-18, spent caddis, x caddis, fin fetcher caddis, iris caddis and weiss’s caddis are solid choices in a #16 mostly. There are still some PMD and PED around but not strong, however a sparkle dun or parachute in yellow in a 14 to 18 is good to have in your box on any western river this time of year.
Steelhead fishing remains closed until the numbers of fish passing the dams in the Columbia increases. I hope to see a season in October and November and December and if so, we will offer our fall special guide trips in November again. This week over the bonneville dam each day was over a 1000 steelhead passing the counting window, so there is some migration happening, although still quite low.