Fall Fishing Opportunities in Central Oregon
- Michael Dooley
- Oct 29
- 4 min read
Autumn is a fantastic season in Central Oregon and marks the beginning of the descent into cold, stormy months, but there is still time to relish in the waning light of summer. Fly fishing is a year-round activity; the fish don't stop eating just because everyone starts watching football, and the fall is my favorite season to hit the river.
The brisk morning air gives way to pleasantly warm afternoons (hopefully), and the trout fishing can be exceptional. Not to mention, steelhead are dispersed throughout the Lower Deschutes, and any run an angler steps into has a chance of holding some steel. Book a trip to see for yourself the beauty of the fall foliage or the pull of a steelhead on a swung fly.
November Fall Trip Special
Jump on this opportunity to get one or two days on the river before winter moves in. The Lower Deschutes is fishing very well as a float trip option, and the Fall is a fun fishery to test your presentation skills with tiny blue-wing olives. Lunch is not included for this special, but can be added on.
Float Trips: $450
Walk and Wades: $375
Walk and Wade Streams
Wade trips are a great way to get familiar with a local stream you've been trying to crack, or a half-day trip for a first-time fly angler. The rivers are less crowded, and the fish are hungry in preparation for winter. Fall hatches, such as BWOs, October Caddis, and midges, are great food sources for trout and lead to some fun dry fly fishing.
The Crooked River
The Crooked River is my favorite small stream fishery due to the consistency of the hatches and the variety of fishable water. From smooth tailouts, fast riffles, and boulder gardens full of pocket water, there are plenty of places to increase your angling prowess in casting, presentation, and bug selection.
Midges and BWOs are the primary bug action on the Crooked and remain consistent due to the dam-fed water coming from Prineville Reservoir. As long as the afternoon leads to a bit of warmth, you can expect the bugs to get active and the fish to follow. I find midges work best in the morning, and mayflies take over the show from early morning to mid-afternoon. In the fall, there is no rush to get to the river at daybreak, as the fishing is often best in the mid-morning to afternoon, but fish can be found throughout the day.
Streamers are also a fun way to get fish, whether they are under an indicator, tightline nymphing, stripped, or swung. I usually opt for a small leech pattern with a little weight to create a jigging action when stripped.
The Fall River
The small, picturesque stream set in the Deschutes National Forest is a great half-day escape to wet a line and practice your presentation skills. Despite being a fishery dependent on hatchery fish, they can be picky eaters that require creative casts and precise
presentation. Any drag can result in a fish taking a long look at the fly before a rejection.
The nymphing is good, and dry fly fishing picks up in the afternoon. Small caddis, BWOs, and midges are the main hatches in the fall, but the presentation, size, and light tippet are more important than the actual pattern.
Tightline nymphing is the preferred method for the Fall, and if you are interested in sharpening your tightline nymphing skills, it is a great place to see exactly what your flies are doing under the water and how the fish react. It can get busy on the Fall, so early or late is the best option to avoid the crowds.
Drift Boat Float Trips
Floating a river is one of the best ways to make the most out of a guided trip, as you cover more water and see a variety of water types.
I use a 17-foot Willie's Drift Boat as my daily driver on the lakes and rivers of Central Oregon. The vessel offers a comfortable perch for casting to rising fish or admiring the wild horses on the Lower Deschutes as we cruise to our next fishing spot. The Lower Deschutes and the McKenzie are best fished via a drift boat and are fantastic fall fishing options.
The Lower Deschutes
The Lower Deschutes is our bread and butter at FFP when it comes to floating. The river flows through a steep-walled canyon filled with wildlife and beautiful scenery. Autumn is an amazing time to be on the river as the variety of species increases. Salmon and
steelhead move up from the Columbia and create an opportunity for anglers to fish for steelhead from the dam down to the mouth.
Additionally, the trout fishing can be great as fish move to new food sources to put on their winter weight. Summer hatches are in the rearview as BWOs, October Caddis, and midges replace the caddis and PMDs.
Steelhead fishing remains good on the Lower Deschutes now throughout the entire river. Earlier this week, I floated from Mack's Canyon to the mouth of the Deschutes with my dad, and I found some willing players, but I found the fish a bit more resistant to taking the fly wholeheartedly. Many bumps did not materialize into true hookups, keeping me busy changing flies for comeback attempts.
While attempting a scary wade through some rock ledges with a swift current, I sent some long casts towards the middle of the river and I felt a massive tug right before the hangdown, that sent my reel into a long scream downstream, but like most steelhead I've hooked, they want to go upstream after their initial run, and just as quickly as it took off downstream, he headed straight back up.
After battling him in and out of the ledges and one failed net attempt, we got him securely housed in the basket before a few pictures and high fives. Truly a special fish, not just because of the size, but having Phil there to share the moment with that fish. The weather was fantastic, sunny skies and limited wind after the first blustery day, with comfortable daytime highs and chilly mornings.
The Lower Deschutes is the place to be for me, and I will be fishing it whenever I get the chance over the next month. Call the shop, shoot me a text, or email to reserve your day on the river and go fishing.
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