Deschutes River › Fishing Report

Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator, Chubby Chernobyl, Parachute Adams, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Copper John, Woolly Bugger

Deschutes River Fishing Report — August 1, 2026

Lower Deschutes | Maupin Area | Above & Below Sherars Falls

⚠️ Important: Fire & Smoke Advisory

As of late July, multiple fires are burning in the hills surrounding Maupin, and smoke has been heavy in the canyon. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a partial river closure effective July 24 — check the BLM High Desert District website and call ahead before making the trip. Air quality can be poor; plan accordingly and be prepared to turn back if conditions deteriorate.

Current Conditions

• Flow: 3,800 CFS (USGS Gauge 14103000, Deschutes at Moody, reading: 5:45 AM PDT)
• Water Temperature: 63.7°F (17.6°C) — recorded early morning. Expect afternoon temps to rise toward the voluntary fishing closure threshold of 67–68°F during peak heat. Fish early (before 10 AM) and in the evening.
• Clarity: Clear — classic summer green tint with excellent visibility
• Overall Rating: Good, with important caveats (heat, smoke, fire closures)

What the Fish Are Doing

Flows at 3,800 CFS are comfortably fishable and right in the middle of the summer range for the lower Deschutes. The redside rainbows and native steelhead are stacked in their usual summer lies: shaded ledge rock seams, the cool slots below boulders, and the slower inside edges of long runs. Early August means caddis are the headline act, and evenings on the lower Deschutes can be truly spectacular — clouds of Hydropsyche caddis lifting off at dusk trigger aggressive surface feeding across the flats and tail-outs.

Mornings bring Pale Morning Dun (PMD) hatches along with early Trico spinner falls in slower water. Nymphing has been producing throughout the day, especially in deeper runs and pocket water where fish are holding tight to the bottom to stay cool.

Top Hatches — August 1

• Caddis (Hydropsyche) — Tan/olive, sizes 14–16; heaviest activity at dusk
• Pale Morning Duns (PMD) — Sizes 16–18; morning hatch, best 8–11 AM
• Trico Spinner Falls — Early morning; small spinners sizes 18–22
• Golden Stonefly Nymphs — Drifting subsurface throughout the day
• Yellow Sally (Small Yellow Stone) — Afternoon dry fly opportunity

Fly Recommendations

Dry Flies (Prime Time: Evening & Early Morning):

• Elk Hair Caddis (sizes 14–16, tan/olive) — The #1 evening dry on the lower Deschutes all summer. Dead-drift or skate it across riffles and tail-outs at dusk. Stock up at Bugs N Jugs.
• Chubby Chernobyl (sizes 6–10) — An excellent searching pattern and hopper imitation for mid-day prospecting along grassy banks and boulder-strewn pocket water.
• Parachute Adams (sizes 14–18) — All-purpose confidence fly. Works as a PMD stand-in and general attractor during slower morning hatches.
• Stimulator (golden/orange, sizes 8–12) — Great Golden Stone and Yellow Sally imitation. Fish the pocket water and faster riffles above and below Sherars Falls.

Nymphs & Wet Flies (All-Day Producers):

• Pheasant Tail Nymph (sizes 14–18) — A must-have for PMD nymphing and general subsurface work. Fish it 18–24 inches below an indicator on a 9–12 foot leader.
• Copper John (red or green, sizes 14–16) — A weighted workhorse for getting down in the faster runs and ledge-rock seams. Excellent point fly in a two-nymph rig.
• Woolly Bugger (black or olive, sizes 6–10) — Swung or stripped through the deep ledge pools and the slot water below Sherars Falls for larger trout and steelhead.

Best Access Points

Above Sherars Falls (Maupin Area):

• Heritage Flats — Classic flat water, excellent evening caddis dry fly water
• Maupin City Park — Convenient access; a good starting point
• Harpham Flat — Great nymphing runs and wade access
• Oak Springs — Private stretches nearby; stay on BLM ground

Below Sherars Falls (BLM Road Access):

• Beavertail Campground
• South Junction
• Macks Canyon — 22 miles below Maupin via BLM Road 6210 (high-clearance recommended)
• Trout Creek — Near mouth; walk-in wade access

Regulations Reminder

The lower Deschutes is open year-round for trout (catch-and-release, artificial flies and lures only, no bait). Steelhead season runs August 1 – October 31 with additional hatchery retention rules — check ODFW regs before keeping any fish. If water temps exceed 68°F on your thermometer, please stop fishing and let the fish rest.

Gauge data sourced from USGS National Water Information System (gauge 14103000). Always verify current BLM closures before access.

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