Welcome to Oregon

Location, Type of Fishing:

Draining a portion of the eastern side of the Cascade Range in Central Oregon, the Deschutes River is a major tributary of the Lower Columbia River, and offers fly fishermen some of the best steelhead fishing in the Pacific Northwest. As it descends the last 23 miles before joining with the Columbia, this Wild and Scenic River drops along a mellow gradient of Class II-III water as it flows through the beautiful high desert country of Mack’s Canyon, producing great scenery and good chances for wildlife viewing. One of the most popular overnight sections, the Lower Deschutes is a favorite among fly fishermen who come here in the summer and fall months in search of fresh summer steelhead. Fly fishermen who prefer swinging streamers and occasionally skating dries using mostly long, double-handed rods will enjoy the multi-day float trips that are offered in 3, 4 or 5 day packages. Access the legendary steelhead runs of the Deschutes and camp in one of the many secluded sites along the river. Campsites are accessed by drift boats, but fishing from boats is not allowed on any section of the river. Fishermen will wade the many varied steelhead runs, requiring good wading skills and studded wading boots. The camping is very comfortable, or ‘glamping’ as it’s sometimes referred to, with the boats packed with everything you will need to have a perfect mix of fishing and riverside relaxation in modest luxury among good friends and excellent food.

 

• Season: September- November
• Species: Steelhead and Red-Sides (Rainbow Trout Variant)
• Rods: 7-8 wt. Double-handed, Spey
• Rates: 3 nights/ 4 day float $1,800.00/person (min. 4 anglers)

 

 

 

 

 

What Makes It Special:

A distinguished fishery with a rich steelhead and trout history, overnights on the Lower Deschutes provide a unique take on steelheading by camping in several beautiful areas with new water each day of your multi-day trip. Rivaling the natural beauty of the fish that reside here, the beautiful scenery of this marvelous basalt canyon can be taken in while floating between gorgeous steelhead runs. Along with beautiful bluffs and formations to marvel at, there are chances to see bighorn sheep, deer and elk, as well as osprey and turkey vultures that you might otherwise miss fishing from the boat. Explore this wonderful sanctuary where red-sides and steelhead inhabit the cold, clean waters of an incredible river.  Absorb the experience of rolling fluid, looping spey casts across a grand river while standing on one of the West’s greatest steelhead runs. Highly methodical, the process of swinging flies and stepping through a run can be enticingly meditative, speaking to our inherent nature to perform patterns. Return to the peace and harmony of nature, becoming one with the outdoors, shedding off all the worries and stresses of day-to-day life. Let the exceptional guides of River Runner Outfitters take care of everything, freeing you to simply fish, eat and chill for the next few days.

 

Fishing:

Steelhead start to pass through the fish ladder at The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River beginning in June. A shift in the return of cold water to the river signals the launch of the migration upriver in earnest during the months of August and September. Steelhead numbers reach their peak at Sherar's Falls downstream of the town of Maupin about the middle of September to the beginning of October. The migration continues through the month of October, and the crowds begin to diminish as the run slows down from its peak. By Late October, fish will be spread out through the entire river system, all the way upstream to the Pelton Dam. You are likely to catch both wild steelhead and hatchery fish in this section of the river during the summer run. Hatchery stock from Round Butte Hatchery are easily identifiable by a clipped adipose fin. All wild steelhead are to be immediately released back into the water unharmed, but you are encouraged to keep hatchery fish for the cooler, benefitting the fishery by helping to keep the hatchery strains from mixing with the wild ones during the spawn. Steelhead hate direct sunlight. Like all trout, they have no eyelids to provide relief from the intense sun, so their activity greatly diminishes when the sun is directly overhead. For this reason, fishing usually takes place in the early morning until lunch time around noon when the sun has reach its zenith. After a nice time-out at a shady grove riverside, fishing resumes when the sun falls behind the canyon walls and shade is cast over the water once again.

 

Camping:

The guides and crew of River Runner Outfitters make camping easy, as you will find it difficult to want for anything while under their care. Camp provides a nice relaxing pause at the end of the day to reflect on and recall the day’s events. Overnighting on the river allows you to access the more remote parts of the canyon with no public road access, and there’s always a terrific steelhead run right in front of camp. An 18’ drift boat, affectionately named Joe, is dedicated solely to carrying the camping gear with a bagger at the oars. The gear is sent downriver ahead of the group, and the bagger sets up the kitchen and pitches the tents at the evening’s campsite. This removes the distraction of having to haul all of the gear in the boats that transports the guide and the clients, and frees up the guide to focus entirely on working with you to catch more fish. At the center of the camp is the kitchen and dining area. When the weather is nice, you can eat right out in the open air by the light of the lanterns. A steel-frame, canvas wall tent can be erected to dine in shelter when the elements don’t cooperate, if needed. Off of the main common area, guests will find their tents ready for them with cots and self-inflating air mattresses. Just grab your personal stuff packed in a dry bag, provided by the outfitter, pick a cot and you’re equipped for a great night's sleep. There is a very excellent portable lavatory that is set up outside of camp, so don’t worry about where to go to the bathroom.

 

Dining:

From the fishing to the camping, everything about the Lower Deschutes is exceptional, and that does not exclude the food. Overnight camping trips on the Lower Deschutes are fully-catered affairs. From a hot breakfast to go in the boat on the first day through lunch on your departure day, all meals are included in your fishing package. In the evening after a full day of fishing, settled down in preparation for the meal ahead with a delicious appetizer. Three-course meals come from a menu that changes from year to year to keep things fresh for returning clients. They serve a variety of fare that may include, but is not limited to wild-caught coho salmon with mixed veggies, rib-eye steaks with red potatoes and grilled asparagus, pork tenderloins with risotto and garden broccoli, thai shrimp with linguine in a peanut-sauce, dutch-oven roasted chicken with a caprese salad, steak kabobs, and even paella round-out the diverse creations that River Runner’s owner, Chris O’Donnell is inspired to make in this truly spectacular setting. So wonderful, in fact, is his handiwork in the kitchen, it’s a good bet you’ll be checking next year’s availability before the trip is out. Chris can gladly cater to any special dietary requirements or needs.

 

How to Get There:

Your multi-day, overnight float fishing trip on the Lower Deschutes begins with your arrival at Portland International Airport (PDX). After collecting your bags from the baggage carousel, proceed to the rental car area to pick-up your rental. When you leave the airport, travel east from Portland on Interstate 84 to The Dalles about an hour and a half to the east. Take a right on Highway 197 south to Maupin, another half an hour. You will need to arrive in Maupin the day before your trip. Your accommodations for the night in Maupin will also need to be arranged separately. 2Salt Travel will be happy to help you make those arrangements. Meeting times on the first day vary from pre-dawn to around 7 am. Follow the guide’s truck and boats along the access road to the campground and boat ramp upstream of Mack’s Canyon on the Deschutes River. If you wish to have your vehicle shuttled to the take-out, you will need to arrange that with the outfitter. At the end of the trip, you will reach the take-out at the Deschutes River State Recreation Area by 2 pm, which will give you enough time to make an evening flight out of Portland.

 

Typical Day:

Every day of your trip, you’ll have a new stretch of river to explore. Your day starts with fresh-brewed coffee available in the dining area with a light breakfast just before dawn. Pack-up your personal gear into dry bags, and put on your waders in preparation for the day’s fishing. Some of the best runs can be found right at the campsite, so you’ll probably start there. After fishing a run, climb aboard the drift boat with your fishing partner and guide to float to the next run. Guides serve a hot breakfast to go in the boats between fishing spots sometime about mid-morning. Lunches are taken together as a group at one of the many spots that offer good afternoon shade with a steelhead run that can be fished after a satisfying lunch and an afternoon nap. The lunch menu changes, and may include sandwiches, cold fried chicken, potato salad, chips and cookies. The guides float between campsites with cots, which they will set up for a apres-lunch siesta. When the sun dips behind the canyon walls, it’s time to start fishing again, swinging and stepping your way through the run. When moving to a new spot or to the camp at the end of the day, you will do so in the boats. You may fish the run right in front of the camp, until dinner is ready. Meals are served family-style around a camp table.

 

What’s Included:

Camping gear, boats, guided fishing, all meals, spey rods and flies.

Not Included: Overnight accommodations in Maupin, ground transportation to/from the Deschutes River, Oregon Fishing License ($16.50 per person/day), Deschutes Boater Pass ($5 per person/day), vehicle shuttle ($100 per vehicle), sleeping bag rental ($18 per person/day), and wader/boots rental ($25 per person/day). Fishing licenses may be purchased on-line or at a local vendor.