The Lower Deschutes has been good for trout on the day stretch, and we had a wonderful 3 days last week with a great group of guys from Trout Creek to Harpham. Nymph fishing has been the best by far, with small Euro Jig Streamers, Eggs, Caddis Pupa, 2 Bit Hookers, Split Case PMD, Berry’s PCP, Jig Napoleon in brown or red, Girdle Bugs and TJ Hookers.
You might run in to some dry fly fishing in the eddies and along the shallow riffles. Purple Haze and comparaduns, BWO’s, Griffiths Gnats and Corn Fed or Fin Fetcher Caddis. I love that Fin Fetcher because you can really see it on the water. Sip, sip Hooray.
Remember steelhead season is closed as per ODFW. I don’t really understand why at this point. Numbers are not great over the dams still, but around 41, 000 hatchery steelhead have passed Bonneville and if Oregon is going to put so many hatchery fish in the system, anglers should be able to fish for them.
In that vain, handle wild fish with respect and keep them wet always. Always.
There is no doubt trout anglers are catching steelhead while trout fishing. I know of a few fish that were landed on small nymphs recently….