Deschutes River

The Deschutes River is Oregon's most iconic fly fishing destination, a powerful desert canyon river that carves through the basalt rimrock of central Oregon before joining the Columbia River near the town of Maupin. The lower Deschutes, from Pelton Dam downstream to the Columbia, is renowned for its wild redsides, a brilliantly colored strain of resident rainbow trout that are among the most athletic fish in the Pacific Northwest. These fish, typically ranging from 10 to 18 inches with occasional specimens exceeding 20, are muscular, acrobatic fighters that exploit the river's powerful current to test tackle and technique in equal measure.

The Deschutes is also one of the finest summer steelhead rivers accessible by road in the Northwest, with wild steelhead entering the river from July through November and providing outstanding opportunities for anglers willing to swing flies through the river's classic runs and tailouts. The dry fly fishing for steelhead on the Deschutes, using waking patterns skated across the surface, is one of the most exciting experiences in all of fly fishing. The river's canyon setting, with towering rimrock walls, golden grasslands, and surprisingly mild weather even in the shoulder seasons, creates an atmosphere that feels more like the American Southwest than the Pacific Northwest. Multi-day float trips through the canyon are a Deschutes tradition, combining outstanding fishing with camping on sandy beaches under star-filled skies.