Deschutes Stonefly Hatch Report Update - 5/20/13

Salmonfly on the Deschutes River

Working at a fly shop, you can get a lot of information about a fishery in a short time. With this time of the year being the stonefly hatch on the Deschutes, I wanted to give a quick update report. The hatch is not over the peak, nor is it even that early this year. Everyone comes in insistently speculating that the hatch is already over the peak, or that the hatch is so early this year that it will end in the next few days. Reality is that it's just getting going as of right now. The first good reports I have heard were just over the last two days. They were the kind of reports that let you know the fish are just starting to key into the big dry flies. 

Golden Stonefly and two Salmonflies

It takes a long time for the flies to crawl out, mate, and then fly back to drop their eggs in the water (which golden stones do). More often than not, you will start to see less bugs on the willows when the fish are actually keying onto them. People come into the shop saying how they see flies everywhere, but could not get any fish to come up and eat their offering. When I ask them if they nymphed, I often hear "no".

M's Still Stone took this Deschutes River Rainbow Trout

So if you are wondering what the status of the famous Deschutes stonefly hatch is, you can be confident that you are not fishing past the peak of it yet. It still has not peaked, and the very best dry fly surface action is yet to happen. With that being said, get yourself out there to enjoy one of nature's most awesome spectacles. If you have not ever experienced the Deschutes River's Stonefly hatch, then you need to because watching aggressive hungry rainbows eat your two inch long fly is totally awesome!

Rainbow catching some air on the Deschutes River

Tying a Favorite Deschutes Stonefly Pattern - Norm Woods Special - Video Demonstration

When fishing the lower Deschutes for the salmonfly / stonefly hatch event, there are some proven fly patterns that many experienced Deschutes anglers would have high on their list. The Norm Woods Special is a fly pattern that may be the highest on many people's list of proven patterns to bring for the Deschutes stonefly extravaganza. It is more or less a stimulator gone different, and that is with the wing and often it has no tail. I would simplify my statement and I would say that the Norm Woods Special is a calf tail stimulator with no tail on the fly. That is what separates it from the standard Kaufmann's Stimulator. For whatever reason (the wing color and body color - most likely), large wild rainbow trout love eating this fly, and it is a must for your arsenal.

Below is a video demonstration for tying this awesome fly pattern:



Recipe For Norm Woods:
HOOK - Spear It cs200 Size #8
THREAD - Flymaster 140 Denier Plus - Yellow or Fl. Orange
WING - Calf Tail - Tan or Light Orange
DUBBING - Fine & Dry Dubbing - Golden Stone
HACKLE - Whiting 100's Hackle - Brown
RIBBING - Fine Gold Wire

The Norm Woods Special is a standard fly you should have in your fly box for any golden stonefly situation. It has proven itself over and over as a true trout catcher. Tie up for your Deschutes stonefly fly fishing trip, and you will see some vicious takes!

Norm Woods Special - Picture from Spirit River

Cold and Off Up By Warm Springs - Deschutes River Salmonfly Hatch

On the way back from Bend, Oregon to my my hometown of Portland, we decided to swing into the Warm Springs Boat ramp to see the scene. It was peaceful and no cars in the lots showing signs of any fishing going on. After close observation along the banks, there were no adult salmonflies in the grass or in the trees at all. I do know they are down at Maupin, and I can say first hand that they are not up by Warm Springs yet. It is early there, and the only flies we saw were some blue winged olives flying off the water; with no trout paying attention to them at all.

Flows were slightly high, and water color was not the standard Deschutes color that you normally see. I would classify the water as a bit greener and murkier than standard Deschutes water color. The weather was holding up around Warm Springs, but it was rather nasty in central Oregon today.  Temperature was in the upper 50s, and it was hard to imagine that in two weeks we will be in the thick of it, and nice days may be around the corner.

Deschutes River below Warm Springs

The time will be soon when you can throw the big bugs all over the Deschutes from Maupin on up to Warm Springs, but as of now the action is lower down, and on its way up.....

Deschutes Salmonfly Hatch is Underway!!! It's Game On!!

Salmonfly - Some Serious Trout Food!

Yesterday afternoon, I spoke with a buddy who told me that fish were being taken on the surface on the Deschutes with dry fly salmonfly patterns around Maupin. The time has come!!! It is not "going off" yet, but my friend has been out there all week, and yesterday (4-11-2011) was the first day he was getting trout on the surface. He did not catch a ton of fish on topwater, but he did succeed. The nymph fishing has been strong, and now that the flies are starting to get taken on the top; it is time to start fishing over there.

Lots of Huge Smiles During the Deschutes Stonefly Hatch

The stonefly hatch is now focused lower down towards Maupin, and it will move up the river over the next few weeks; so being in the stretch where the fish are looking up is the key to success in the early phases. Before you know it, the fish will get keyed into the adult stoneflies up and down the river, and the fishing will be that "famous stonefly fishing" that we all hear about. If you have not experienced the fishing during this hatch; you need to give it a try. Yes, it does get extremely crowded, but for a good reason. If watching your 2 inch long fly getting clobbered by a suicidal trout does not appeal to you, then this hatch is not for you. There is a reason a lot of people come to the Deschutes to fish this hatch; it is very exciting, and there are so many flies out, where it is one of nature's amazing spectacles to see. 

There are as many golden stones as there are salmonflies....

If you have not been over to the Deschutes for the SALMONFLY hatch, then you need to get yourself out there. If you are interested in booking a multi-day Deschutes trip , then call me at (541)232-6360 or email me at fish@mckenzieangler.com. There are only a few bookings available with the outfitter I work with on the Deschutes for the stonefly hatch time; so act fast! Otherwise, you will have to wait until next year!