River guide · Oregon
Fly Fishing the Deschutes River
Central Oregon's Deschutes is a powerful high-desert river that flows north to the Columbia, with its Lower section below Pelton Round Butte Dam regarded as a world-class fishery for hard-fighting native 'redside' rainbow trout and summer-run steelhead. Fishing from a floating device is prohibited on the lower river, so anglers float to access points and then wade the bank, casting to fish holding along basalt ledges and riffles. The river is defined by its enormous late-spring salmonfly and golden stonefly hatch, when big dries draw redsides to the surface. Summer caddis and steelhead season then carry the fishing through fall.
- 3 shops nearby
- tailwater
- May–June for trout
- Oregon
- 5 key hatches
- Live flows: Deschutes River at Moody, near Biggs, OR (lower river near mouth) ↗
The best time to fly fish the Deschutes River is May–June for trout. Key hatches include Salmonfly, Golden Stonefly, Pale Morning Dun, Caddis. 3 fly shops near the Deschutes River can outfit your trip.
Fly shops near the Deschutes River
Shops and guides that fish the Deschutes River. See all 39 Oregon shops →
Nearby towns
When & what to fish on the Deschutes River
- Blue-winged OliveMar–Apr, Oct
- Salmonflymid-May–Jun
- Golden Stoneflylate May–Jun
- Pale Morning DunJun–Aug
- CaddisJun–Sep, evenings
- October CaddisSep–Oct
Gear up on the Deschutes River
Everything you need before the next trip — rods, lines, leaders, and fly-tying materials.
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Find your fliesUpdated June 2026