River of the Falls

Four men are fishing the Deschutes River.

The Deschutes is one of the most beloved rivers in Oregon. Cutting through the Oregon plateau, its emerald waters sparkle under the desert sun, attracting anglers not only from around the country but from around the world. The river’s reputation for fly-fishing excellence is legendary. Bob Shoemaker from the Deschutes Angler Fly Shop says: "Anglers come from all over the world to fish the Deschutes. They come from England, Scandinavia, Italy, Australia, France, South Africa—they come from all over."

The river’s fertile waters nourish eight different species of fish, from the coveted redside to the ignoble squafish. For the purpose of fishing the Maupin area though, anglers are only concerned with two fish: red-side rainbows and steelhead.

Redsides, a sub-specie of rainbow trout, have a thicker body than normal rainbows and their sides, as the name implies, is a deep sanguine. They are aesthetically appealing and they make the common rainbow look just that: common. Best of all—they fight like a pitbull. When hooked, they dazzle anglers with their acrobatic repertoire of leaps, dives and somersaults. It is a true joy to catch one of these fish. Kevin Erickson from Kaufmanns Streamborn Inc. in Tigard, OR says: "These trout know how to use the current. They like to kick it into high gear and throw on the afterburners. They are very fun to fish."

However, catching one can prove to be difficult. Redsides are moody fish that can leave the most talented angler frustrated and morose. The key is to never stagnate by fishing the same fly in the same spot. It is necessary to keep on the move and fish every nook and cranny the river offers.

Anglers should try either a Golden Stone Fly Nymph or a Green Rock Worm Caddis to catch redsides when there isn’t any surface activity. But if the fish are feeding on the surface, it is better to switch over to dry flies and fish under the trees. Dry flies such as the Elk Hair Caddis and Slow Water Caddis work very well. Mayfly and Midge emerger patterns also work well when fished along the river’s seams and back eddies.

But if foot-long redsides don’t make an angler’s body quiver from an endorphin high, he or she can fish for their steelhead brethren. Nothing is more spectacular than having a Deschutes River steelhead torpedo a fly. The effect is explosive. Heart attacks are a common occurrence among unhealthy anglers. But for those top-notch anglers, the robust ones, they all return home with a Deschutes River fish tale. Many anglers prefer acquiring a good fishing story from the Deschutes River than one from any another river.

"I’ve fished the McKenzie; I’ve fished the Umpqua and I’ve fished the Rough, but the Deschutes is my favorite," says Bob Shoemaker from the Deschutes Angler Flyshop. As good as the Deschutes is for catching stealhead, it is common for an angler to return home and sit sullenly in silence wondering where all the fish went. Catching a steelhead can be a difficult task. They are finicky eaters and usually bite only from reflex. Special flies are needed to coax them into biting. Typical flies to use are the Green Butt Skunk, Freight Train, Street Walker and Max Canyon. Remember, though, choosiness is not required when selecting a fly because most patterns work just as well as the next. What matters is that the fly is consistently presented in a way that makes it look natural. It could take all day to catch one but however long it takes, it is well worth the wait. With the warm desert wind combing the tall grass and the ambrosian aroma of sage all around, waiting will be a pleasure.