Deschutes Steelhead Excursions: Best Trips and Time of Year

The Lower Deschutes Steelhead Run

With July comes the thousands of anadromous rainbows that move into the Columbia before journeying into the dozens of tributaries where they spawn the following spring. The Deschutes was made famous by steelhead and continues to be an incredibly iconic river to visit every year to chase these beautiful creatures.

Right now, fish are navigating Bonneville Dam before making their way to the mouth of the Deschutes and quickly moving through the lower river. The lower river is warm, and steelhead run upstream to the cooler water where they can rest. This makes the Deschutes a useful checkpoint for non-Deschutes steelhead that make a pit stop on their way up the Columbia, eventually destined for Idaho.

Wild Lower Deschutes Steel

The steelhead return predictions for 2025 were not very high, with only 78,000 fish expected to return over Bonneville. However, the numbers are exceeding those set last year, which is good news. If the fish passage numbers remain steady, it could be another good season on the Lower Deschutes. But either way, the numbers are saying that there will be a season this year, and I am stoked for swinging flies for these fish.

Sections of the Deschutes

The Deschutes is a long river with a variety of characteristics from section to section. When steelhead fishing, it is important to understand where you are in proximity to the Columbia. Early-season anglers want to be as close to the incoming fish as possible, whereas late-season anglers have a variety of sections to choose from.

Here is a breakdown of the river sections and an explanation of how the fishing varies throughout different times of the season.

Mack's to the Mouth

The lower river, from Mack's Canyon to the mouth where it spills into the Columbia, is the best section from July to September. The fish are chrome, bright, and hot, and more likely than not, eager to take a traditional steelhead fly swung on a dry line. These fish do not linger for long in this 21-mile section; they are on a mission to reach their spawning grounds upstream, and some have 100 miles to go. But the benefit of this section is that fresh fish enter the system consistently until mid-autumn.

Fellow guide, Tonn, swinging a run in the lower river

The scenery is wild and beautiful in the desert landscape, inhabited by anglers and bighorn sheep. The water is powerful, but the runs are tailor-made for spey anglers. When floating the river, every bend is a new piece of steelhead holding water that is calling for a swung fly. The float can be completed in a single day for a person in a rush, but it is best enjoyed as a multi-day float with at least two nights of camping along the riverbank. Some anglers prefer to lay over in a particular good fishing spot for multiple days to maximize the potential of the water.

Maupin Area

This stretch is some of the most accessible water for the steelhead season as the road follows the river to Mack's Canyon and up to the locked gate road, and there are numerous boat launches and access points to use on the way. This stretch is great for day-trip anglers looking to float or wade.

There is a great water for swinging flies and room to get away from other anglers. Last summer, I made a stop at Mack's Canyon on my way to Portland for a few days to check out the scene, and was rewarded with an early steelhead.

Trout Creek to Maupin

The river from Trout Creek to Maupin is our bread and butter for multi-day floats on the Lower Deschutes. The FFP guides know this water very well and love floating it ourselves, chasing steelhead in the fall. The river is incredibly scenic as it winds its way through the canyon with chances of seeing bighorn sheep, otters, and ospreys.

There are a few class II-III rapids in this stretch that add a bit of excitement to the trip, along with the fishing. If you choose to do a multi-day camp trip with FFP, it includes all meals, tents, nonalcoholic beverages, and fishing gear. Our baggers get downriver to the campsite long before the guides to put together a comfortable and welcoming camp, complete with tents with standing room, comfortable cots, and a dining area. After a long day of fishing, drinks and appetizers come first before a freshly prepared riverside meal.

Usually, the camp sits next to excellent steelhead water for morning and evening fishing, then back to the boats again for a day of swinging pristine runs and enjoying the beautiful ambiance of the canyon. Trout Creek to Maupin floats are generally done in three days, but can be adjusted to add another day on the river if needed. October-November is the prime time for this section, as most of the steelhead have entered the river and are making their way upstream to wait for the spawn the following spring.

The steelhead are spread out throughout all sections of the river, but they tend to travel in groups and hold in the same runs. When you encounter a pod of fish in the right conditions, it can be lights out, sometimes lapping runs with a fish encounter each time through. While this is not necessarily the norm, it is an exciting time to swing flies with high confidence that a steelhead grab will follow each cast.

Warm Springs to Trout Creek

This piece of water is about 10 miles long and is referred to as the Day Stretch for the locals around Bend. This float is great for people looking for a single-day float with some fantastic runs for swinging flies without traveling far or going overnight.

The steelhead usually start showing up here as early as mid-August, but arrive in better numbers in October and fish through the closing of the river starting in January. While trout fishing is the main event in this section of the river, the steelhead fishing can be great. Swinging flies is still a great tactic, but oftentimes we catch the nymphing for trout with our clients.

Steelhead Tactics for the Deschutes

Swinging for steelhead is the primary method we use on the Lower Deschutes, and it is the most exciting method. The feeling of a steelhead grabbing the swung fly on a tight line is unlike any other and induces a rush that you may find yourself chasing over and over again.

We use spey rods ranging from 6-8wts with both skagit and scandi lines. The wind is an ever-present force on the Deschutes, which means a heavier line can punch through the wind a bit better, especially if you are new to the spey game. 12 to 13 foot 7-weight spey rods are our preferred rods due to their versatility.

The two-handed rods cover an exceptional amount of water and are fun to cast as you work your way down a run. If you enjoy a methodical and measured approach to fishing, then spey fishing may be your new favorite hobby.

Nymphing is also implemented for Deschutes steelhead, but it is a secondary method to swinging. Some runs or buckets may call for flies under an indicator.

Fish the Lower Deschutes Steelhead Run

At the time of this post, over 100,000 steelhead have surmounted Bonneville Dam, and it's only August 16th. The steelhead are here, and the only question is, will you be there to see the magic unfold? Whether a three-day Trout Creek to Maupin or single-day float trip is your style, it is a great year to pick up a spey rod for the first time and dust off that two-hander and hit the river.

Contact The Fly Fisher's Place to book a trip on the Lower Deschutes for a day of swinging for steelhead in a beautiful desert canyon. There's a trip available for you, whether you are brand new and interested in spey fishing or have been swinging for steelhead on the Deschutes for the last 30 years. I look forward to seeing you on the river, cheers.