Flyfishing and Guide Schools of Oregon
Your gateway to the Columbia River Gorge,
Mt. Hood Territory and the Portland Metro Area
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River Information
The river is renowned worldwide for its fly fishing. Being home to a unique native, wild strain of rainbow trout locally known as "redsides". The redsides grow larger than most and have a distinct red stripe darker than most wild rainbow trout.

This river was named Riviere aux Chutes or, Riviere des Chutes during the period of fur trading. French for River of the Falls. The waterfall was the Celilo Falls on the Columbia River. Very near where the Deschutes flowed into it. The falls no longer exist. Being covered by the lake behind The Dalles Dam.

Columbia River Gorge & Deschutes River

Dalles, Maupin, Madras, Bend,
Warm Springs

Fly fishermen travel from all over the world from mid May through the first half of June to take advantage of the Salmon fly and Stone Fly hatch.
Lewis and Clark encountered this river on October 22, 1805. They referred to it by the Native American name Towarnehiooks. On their return journey they gave it the new name Clarks River.



Real Time Information
from the USGS.

Fishing seasons and recommended Fly fishing techniques
for the Lower Deschutes

Best Good Slow Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Spring Chinook 4•6
7•9		 4•6
7•9		 4•6
7•9		 4•6
7•9
Summer Steelhead 1•2•3
4•5•6		 1•2•3
4•5•6		 1•2•3
4•5•6		 1•2•3
4•5•6		 1•2•3
4•5•6		 1•2•3
4•5•6		 1•2•3
4•5•6		 1•2•3
4•5•6
Fall Chinook 4•6
7•9		 4•6
7•9		 4•6
7•9
Rainbow Trout 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6		 1•2•3
5•6



1. Dry fly, dead drift
2. Dry fly, swung
3. Wet fly, swung near surface
4. Wet fly, swung deep
5. Nymph, lightly weighted
6. Nymph, weighted with indicator
7. Deep-drifted fly, with or without indicator
8. Wet fly retrieved near surface
9. Deep swing with retrieve