Deschutes River guided steelhead trips
River Runner Outfitters provides guided steelhead trips on the Deschutes River near Maupin, Oregon. Fly fishing for steelhead with a guide means you will be fishing with the correct equipment and flies, in the right water, with local knowledge working to your advantage.
Guided steelhead trips take place on the Deschutes River down stream from Sherars Falls, on the stretch of river between Pine Tree and Mack's Canyon. The Deschutes upstream from Maupin is also a productive section of river for a guided trip. Our guides are on the river nearly every day and will take you where the fishing is best.
a day of fly fishing for Deschutes steelhead
A typical day of guided steelhead fishing begins early in the morning before the sun rises. You will meet your guide at your lodging and carpool to the river. Your guide will launch the drift boat in the dark, so that you may take advantage of dawn's low light conditions. This is one of the best times of day to catch a Deschutes River steelhead, as the river is cool, the fish are rested, and can see extremely well. You will start the day fishing a floating line and a near surface or surface fly. You will have the opportunity to fish several runs with a floating line before the sun reaches an angle in the sky that is not conducive to surface presentations.
At this point, usually just before or after lunch, spey casting with sink tips and larger flies is a very productive method of fishing. While taking a rest after lunch isn't a bad idea during 17 hour days in August, mid day sink tip fishing is a large part a Deschutes River guided steelhead trip. Some water fishes well in the afternoons with a floating line, but expect to wait until the sun dips behind the canyon walls to resume fishing with a floating line.
Once evening shade cloaks the river, steelhead move back into the traditional fly water and fishing with floating lines and classic steelhead flies is the method of choice. You will have the opportunity to fish with your guide until dark, however if you would like to be transported back to Maupin at an earlier time, communicate this to your guide. River Runner guides are steelhead hunters and will fish you until dark by default.
