Central OR Guides

Dennisoft

Dennisoft

Steelhead
Forum Supporter
My family is gathering in Bend next June, and I’m exploring options for full or half-day guided trips in the area.

We’ll likely have 2–4 interested anglers. Two of us have fly fishing experience, and my dad is a gear angler. I think he’d have a great time trying fly fishing if we can get him onto trout. Since he’s not very mobile, I thought a float trip would be best for him, though I understand that parts (or all?) of the D can’t be fished from a boat.

Can you recommend any float trips in the area that avoid walk-and-wade fishing? Are there any stillwater options worth considering? I’d appreciate any other recommendations you can share.

Thanks in advance!
 
I can’t recommend a guide because I’ve never used one, BUT, few people are as knowledgeable of CO’s still waters as Jeff Perrin at the fly fishers place in sisters.

Unfortunately, you cant fish from a boat on the D. I think there’s a provision if you are seriously handicapped but the boat still can’t be moving (don’t quote me on this).
 
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If your family members haven't fished the Deschutes, I'd suggest doing that for the experience alone, and there should be plenty of willing trout in June. I'd call shops in Bend/Redmond/Maupin and tell them you are looking for a guide trip with someone who isn't able to wade. Like mcswny, I know for a fact there is an exemption (I've seen it a couple of times), but I also don't know the details as to the requirements. Any experienced Deschutes guide should know the deal.
 
Did a week out of Sisters in October; I much preferred the lakes to the couple rivers we fished, but that might just be me. Some beautiful brookies in some of them
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If you don't have watercraft, the Fly Fishers Place guides many of those lakes, also
 
x2 on what mcswny wrote...Jeff, a good natured dude, is the primary shop guide for the lakes and has a beamy Koffler that will comfortably fish guests. And there are some quality guides working out of the shop that guide all the local rivers as well.
June can be a variable weather month, possible to still get snow as well as calm mild days, and if the weather has been on the warmer side, rivers tend to be running higher as the first melts are occuring. Conversely, if the snow has hung around with cooler days, the higher elevation lakes are usually still iced over with locked gates on the roads to them....the lower elevation lakes, however, can provide some vg fishing.
Asking someone to fly fish for the first time on early season rivers is a pretty big ask, much easier to put them in a boat where they can flog the water with a good chance of hooking up multiple fish.
Suggest as your time here gets closer, give Jeff's shop a call and inquire as to conditions and their recommendations.
 
Appreciate all of the thoughtful responses!

Sort of as-expected, but I think we will probably save the river float for another time/destination. We may or may not qualify for a handicap exemption but I really just don't care to deal with that.

Will definitely call over to Jeff @ Fly Fishers Place re: stillwater options for the group and maybe inquire about a solo walk-and-wade if I can sneak away for a day/half-day.
 
Dennisoft said:
Appreciate all of the thoughtful responses!

Sort of as-expected, but I think we will probably save the river float for another time/destination. We may or may not qualify for a handicap exemption but I really just don't care to deal with that.

Will definitely call over to Jeff @ Fly Fishers Place re: stillwater options for the group and maybe inquire about a solo walk-and-wade if I can sneak away for a day/half-day.
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If you are considering a walk and wade for yourself, I would recommend the Upper D. Several shops own Bend guide there (not sure if Jeff's guys do), though if I were still in Bend, I would have been happy to show you around (favorite stream, Tilly and Cody's meadow - 2 of my pups ashes are up there), you can explore without a guide, not a difficult stream, but might have more success with one - June is a great time up there, big Brookies - mid week if you can.

Cheers
 
Dennisoft said:
Appreciate all of the thoughtful responses!

Sort of as-expected, but I think we will probably save the river float for another time/destination. We may or may not qualify for a handicap exemption but I really just don't care to deal with that.

Will definitely call over to Jeff @ Fly Fishers Place re: stillwater options for the group and maybe inquire about a solo walk-and-wade if I can sneak away for a day/half-day.
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my 13' Sportcat is set-up for two, and I'm on the lakes most days the weather is reasonable, so feel free to ping me for a lake run if you shake loose for a solo.
 
SurfnFish said:
my 13' Sportcat is set-up for two, and I'm on the lakes most days the weather is reasonable, so feel free to ping me for a lake run if you shake loose for a solo.
Click to expand...

That's a great offer, thank you! I will have to get back with you once we get closer to June and have more definite dates/availability.
 
Considering a) mobility issues, b) the Lower Deschutes is way past its heyday, and c) the expertise of your group; you will have a better experience on the area's lakes. IF your trip is later in June, the high lakes will be more accessible and the weather likely better.
 
What’s up with those bull trout in LBC? Are they a viable target in June? Tangling with some of those Deep Beasts has been on my radar for a while.
 
Matt B said:
What’s up with those bull trout in LBC? Are they a viable target in June? Tangling with some of those Deep Beasts has been on my radar for a while.
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I’ve never had the pleasure of fishing for them, only because I don’t have a boat. But from what I understand it’s more of a end of March, April, May situation but don’t quote me on that
 
Matt B said:
What’s up with those bull trout in LBC? Are they a viable target in June? Tangling with some of those Deep Beasts has been on my radar for a while.
Click to expand...
That's been something I've wanted to try for awhile. But no boat also.
 
Well, I don't see me towing my old 14' Smokercraft with 9.9 Honda for 6 hours down there any time soon either. It might rattle apart from the trip.
 
Matt B said:
What’s up with those bull trout in LBC? Are they a viable target in June? Tangling with some of those Deep Beasts has been on my radar for a while.
Click to expand...
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Lake Billy Chinook - Fly Fishing for Native Bull Trout in Central Oregon

Lake Billy Chinook - Fly Fishing for Native Bull Trout in Central Oregon By Zach Parker For many fly fishermen, bull trout are simply a figment of their imagination. A fish that they’ve seen glorified on fly fishing films showcasing their beautiful colors and innate ability to hunt and kill big...
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SurfnFish said:
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Lake Billy Chinook - Fly Fishing for Native Bull Trout in Central Oregon

Lake Billy Chinook - Fly Fishing for Native Bull Trout in Central Oregon By Zach Parker For many fly fishermen, bull trout are simply a figment of their imagination. A fish that they’ve seen glorified on fly fishing films showcasing their beautiful colors and innate ability to hunt and kill big...
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Got a daughter that just moved to Madras... this might be on my radar for spring.
 
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