Deschutes near Redmond
- Thread starter aaronj
- Start date
Has anyone fished the Deschutes near Redmond, OR? I'll be there in late May for work but will have afternoons/evenings to explore the local waters. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Access is also quite difficult, there are some access points from Crooked River Ranch, You'll have to do some research to find them (I can't remember their names) - also Lower Bridge (don't think I'm giving anything away - Fishing is so-so, watch out for snakes).
Crooked is closer to Redmond than the Fall, probably just as crowded though - flows should be better in May for irrigation season.
If I had my druthers, in late May evening - the Lady M (bring green drake patterns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Have fun.
Edit: Dam spell check changed "druthers" to "brothers" - I don't gots no brothers, but I do gots druthers.
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Breck
The Whisk(e)y Dick
And ticks.
I've fished in the section that curves around Eagle Crest and found it to be great - especially when the evening hatch pops. You can drive in and park near the restaurant, then walk down the wide dirt path. The area at the base of the path is shallow and quite fishable, but if you walk downstream through the grassy meadow muffins you'll come to a much deeper area that can only be fished from the bank. You'll need to bring your best roll cast, as the brush on the shoreline is dense and grabby. The evening caddis hatch can dimple the surface just like rain.
You can also park at the public park at the east end of the big bridge (just west of Redmond) and walk upriver. I believe3 the land is all public, and gong in from that side avoids parking on the Eagle Crest property. Eventually you come to the same p[lace I described above.
I once had a close encounter with a river otter in the shallow portion. I noticed a very inquisitive fish swimming toward me. As it got close I realized the fish had whiskers. What a cool thing to experience!
You can also park at the public park at the east end of the big bridge (just west of Redmond) and walk upriver. I believe3 the land is all public, and gong in from that side avoids parking on the Eagle Crest property. Eventually you come to the same p[lace I described above.
I once had a close encounter with a river otter in the shallow portion. I noticed a very inquisitive fish swimming toward me. As it got close I realized the fish had whiskers. What a cool thing to experience!
Camped at Crooked River ranch and fished two places on the middle D. Did poorly one time but very well the other. Dave G seems to have the best idea and experience in this area. Fall river and Crooked river are both a bit of a drive. It's all pretty country so enjoy.
If the water temp is still low the Crooked can be fun. Start as soon as the river looks fishable and fish/drive your way up toward the dam.
I've also gone to the public campground (in Terrebonne??) near Steelhead Falls, driven in as far as one could go, and then walked down to the river and fished my way downstream. There's easy walking at first, and then the bank changes to rockfall. It's still fishable, but a bit more physically challenging. At some point it was no longer fishable, but there was plenty of water access up until then.
For some reason, rather than walk back upriver to my original access point I decided that I was 30 years younger than I was, and climbed back up the incline via the rim rock. Bad Idea! That in itself isn't so bad, but I've actually done it on more than one occasion, with the same conclusion!
I've also gone to the public campground (in Terrebonne??) near Steelhead Falls, driven in as far as one could go, and then walked down to the river and fished my way downstream. There's easy walking at first, and then the bank changes to rockfall. It's still fishable, but a bit more physically challenging. At some point it was no longer fishable, but there was plenty of water access up until then.
For some reason, rather than walk back upriver to my original access point I decided that I was 30 years younger than I was, and climbed back up the incline via the rim rock. Bad Idea! That in itself isn't so bad, but I've actually done it on more than one occasion, with the same conclusion!
Any launch \ recover access suggestions? I will also be in Redmond 8-10 of May for the high school equestrian tournament then the rest of that week for some fishing. I have fished the Fall River, Crooked River, and Metolius River. I have also gone on from Redmond to the Owyhee but never the Deschutes. In addition to wading access I have a one man inflatable pontoon. I can fish from my pontoon but I prefer to use it to access wading. Does anyone have suggestions for possible launch and recover sites that I might want to check out?
There is good access to the middle Deschutes from Crooked River Ranch. Look for the Steelhead Falls trail - access to the Foley Waters and downstream by trail as far as you want to walk. Also look for the Otter Bench Trail and Boy Scout Trail on line. Check water levels as the middle Deschutes flows can be influenced by irrigation demand. Check the fishing report from The Fly Fishers Place in Sisters. They usually have good info on Redmond area river conditions.
aaronj
Steelhead
Thank you for the advice; I'll be doing some more research. I have the opportunity mid-April to go down for a day and am planning on checking out some places. I don't imagine the salmonflies/stoneflies are this far upstream?
Look for adult Skwalas - they are not prolific here but trout may key on them. April is early for stonefly adults but the nymphs will be active for sure. Also look for March Browns (here they arrive in April) and caddis of all types.