Deschutes River Fishing Report – July 23, 2026: Evening Caddis Fires Up in the Maupin Canyon
Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator, Chubby Chernobyl, Parachute Adams, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Copper John
Current Conditions — July 23, 2026
The Lower Deschutes is flowing at 3,860 CFS at the USGS Moody gauge (site 14103000, near Biggs) as of this morning, running at moderate summer volume. Water temperatures measured at 65.5°F (18.6°C) — approaching the upper edge of the prime trout comfort zone, so expect the most action during the cooler bookend hours of the day: before 9 AM and after 5 PM. Clarity is good to clear throughout the canyon between Maupin and Sherars Falls, with visibility exceeding three feet.
What’s Hatching
July is caddis month on the Deschutes, and the heat is only turning up the volume. Evening caddis flights between 6 PM and dusk are producing some of the best dry fly action of the season — fish are stacking up in the tail-outs and soft seams to intercept the swarms. Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) are emerging reliably from about 9 AM through noon in the flatter glides above and below town. Little yellow stoneflies are also active, adding another option for the early afternoon lull. The big salmonfly push of late June has wound down, but large attractor patterns are still drawing opportunistic strikes from aggressive redsides.
Top Fly Recommendations
- Elk Hair Caddis (#14–16) — The go-to evening dry; skate it on a tight-line swing through tail-outs for explosive grabs.
- Stimulator (#8–12, yellow/orange) — Deadly as a stonefly attractor all day; fish it with a Pheasant Tail Nymph dropper in the faster pocket water.
- Chubby Chernobyl (#8–10) — Hopper season is beginning; use as an indicator fly with a nymph dropper in bigger, bouldery runs.
- Parachute Adams (#14–18) — Versatile PMD and general mayfly imitation; most effective in flat water during mid-morning hatches.
- Pheasant Tail Nymph (#14–18) — A must in the dead-drift nymph rig; excellent between hatch windows, especially near the bottom of deeper runs.
- Copper John (#14–16, red or green) — Bounce this along the gravel runs and tailouts when fish are holding deep and refusing dry flies.
Access Points & Best Water
Above Sherars Falls (Maupin Area): The Heritage Flats stretch just north of town offers outstanding wade fishing from the east bank. Deschutes River State Recreation Area provides reliable parking and river access. For drift-boat anglers, the classic Locked Gate to Macks Canyon float offers 17 miles of prime water and is excellent with flows at this level.
Below Sherars Falls: South Junction and Trout Creek access points give wade anglers solid options in the lower canyon. Watch footing on slick basalt — felt soles or studded wading boots strongly recommended at current flows. The canyon is open to the Columbia above the Warm Springs Reservation boundary.
Hazards & Notes
Water temps will push toward 68°F during peak afternoon heat on sunny days — consider taking a mid-day break and resuming after 5 PM. Always practice catch-and-release and wet your hands before handling fish during warm weather. The Deschutes above Pelton Dam remains closed to all angling — know your boundary. Rattlesnakes are active in the canyon; watch your step on rocky banks and trails. No known closures on the public-access corridor at this time.
USGS gauge data: Deschutes River at Moody (site 14103000), 3,860 CFS / 65.5°F as of 5:45 AM PDT, July 23, 2026. Provisional data subject to revision.