deschutes-river
Deschutes River is a river in Oregon.
It ranks #1 among the 10 waters of Oregon in the registry, and is of national prominence.
Also called Lower Deschutes and The Deschutes.
Fished for trout and steelhead.
Species: rainbow trout, steelhead and brown trout.
USGS GNIS record: 1140916.
Stretches: Lower Deschutes, Middle Deschutes and Upper Deschutes.
Access points: Beavertail, Harpham Flat, Mack's Canyon, Pine Tree, Trout Creek, Buckhollow, Sandy Beach, Blue Hole, Jones Canyon, Oasis, Rattlesnake Canyon and Twin Springs.
Confluences: White River.
Warm Springs (access). Tribal land — tribal permit required.
Heritage Landing (access). It is launchable. Downstream end of the Mack's Canyon float; no road access from Mack's Canyon.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
Maupin (access). It is fishable and launchable. Town and hub; 'Maupin area' guided drifts (flyfishersplace). BLM/v2 'Maupin City Park' ramp not confirmed here.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Oasis.
Sherars Falls (feature). It is fishable. Vehicle portage required between BLM segments 2 and 3. Also called Sherar's Falls.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Buckhollow.
Locked Gate (stretch). It is fishable. '8 miles of Deschutes River access before a locked gate' (theoutbound). Position inferred below Mack's Canyon road end; verify before use.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is downstream of Mack's Canyon.
Mecca (access). It is fishable. Campground, walk-and-wade (flyfishersplace). The longer form 'Mecca Flat' is NOT confirmed by any source fetched.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Trout Creek.
Nena (access). It is launchable. Start of 'Nena to Wapinitia' and 'Nena to Harpham' one-day drifts (flyfishersplace).
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Harpham Flat.
Pelton Dam (feature). It is fishable. The first 50 miles below it are the highlighted reach.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Warm Springs.
Steelhead Falls (feature). It is fishable.
It is on the stretch Middle Deschutes.
Wapinitia (access). It is launchable. Order vs Harpham Flat not established.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Maupin.
Benham Falls (feature). It is fishable.
It is on the stretch Upper Deschutes.
Cline Falls (feature). It is fishable.
It is on the stretch Middle Deschutes.
Deschutes State Park (access). It is fishable. Hike or bike access to the lower river (flyfishersplace).
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
Devils Canyon (access). It is fishable. BLM campground south (upstream) of Maupin. Name spelled 'Devil's Canyon Campground' on BLM page.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Maupin.
Dillon Falls (feature). It is fishable.
It is on the stretch Upper Deschutes.
Grey Eagle (access). It is fishable. 2 road miles north of Maupin (BLM).
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Blue Hole.
Kloan (access). It is fishable. Steep canyon track, nearly no road access (flyfishersplace).
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
Lava Island Falls (feature). It is fishable.
It is on the stretch Upper Deschutes.
Long Bend (access). It is fishable. Also called Longbend.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Maupin.
Lower Blue Hole (access). It is fishable.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Oak Springs.
Lower Bridge (access). It is fishable. HOMONYM: 'Lower Bridge' is also the nickname for Bridge 99 on the Metolius (Flyfish Journal). Different places.
It is on the stretch Middle Deschutes.
Oak Springs (access). It is fishable.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of White River.
Oakbrook (access). It is fishable.
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
It is upstream of Jones Canyon.
Odin Falls (feature). It is fishable.
It is on the stretch Middle Deschutes.
Pringle Falls (feature). It is fishable.
It is on the stretch Upper Deschutes.
The Mouth (confluence). It is fishable. Confluence with the Columbia River (also recorded on the Columbia).
It is on the stretch Lower Deschutes.
Float: Pine Tree to Beavertail, from Pine Tree to Beavertail.
Float: Nena to Harpham, from Nena to Harpham Flat.
Float: Warm Springs to Harpham Flat, 27 miles.
Float: Pine Tree to Mack's Canyon, from Pine Tree to Mack's Canyon, 15 miles.
Float: Mack's Canyon to the Mouth (three-day camp trip), from Mack's Canyon to The Mouth.
Float: Mack's Canyon to Heritage Landing, from Mack's Canyon to Heritage Landing, 24 miles.
Float: Nena to Wapinitia, from Nena to Wapinitia.
Float: Trout Creek to Harpham Flat (camp trip), from Trout Creek to Harpham Flat.
Float: Warm Springs to Trout Creek (one-day or camp trip).
Sourced from 1 independent fly site.
Sources: api.theoutbound.com (retrieved 2026-10-20), Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Land Management (2), flyfishersplace.com, flyfishersplace.com (2), flyfishersplace.com (3) (retrieved 2026-10-20), howsyourriver.com and muleapi.blm.gov.
Hatches
Blue-Winged Olive (fall)
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep hatching
- Oct hatching
- Nov
- Dec
Dated reports: 9/17/21 expected to start on cool rainy days; 10/1/21 decent numbers; 10/8/21 expected on cool wet days; 10/15/21 the mayflies hatching are BWOs and mahogany duns.
Sources: flyandfield.com, flyandfield.com, flyandfield.com
Salmonfly
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr hatching
- May hatching
- Jun hatching
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Apr, May, Jun, per finandfire.com
- May, per flyfishersplace.com
- May, Jun, per api.theoutbound.com
Reported windows differ: one shop gives the last week of April to the first week of May on the Middle Deschutes, about the end of the first week of May on the Lower (Mack's Canyon, Maupin, Locked Gate), about May 10-15 near Warm Springs, strong through about June 5; another points to mid-May as the dependable time, depending on water temperature; a third says late May for roughly three weeks.
Sources: flyfishersplace.com, api.theoutbound.com
Pale Morning Dun (fall)
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep hatching
- Oct hatching
- Nov
- Dec
Dated Lower Deschutes reports: 9/17/21 #14-18 hatching; 9/24/21 #16-20 in sun, #14-18 when cloudy; 10/1/21 good numbers; 10/8/21 beginning to taper; 10/15/21 only stragglers.
Sources: flyandfield.com, flyandfield.com, flyandfield.com
Small tan and olive caddis
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep hatching
- Oct hatching
- Nov
- Dec
Dated reports: 9/17/21 mainly small caddis still hatching; 9/24/21 tan and olive caddis, size 14-18, on warmer days; 10/15/21 about size 16, grayish tan.
Sources: flyandfield.com, flyandfield.com, flyandfield.com
October Caddis
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep hatching
- Oct hatching
- Nov
- Dec
Dated reports: 9/17/21 on the way; 9/24/21 first hatches, cooler weather and little dry-fly chance (use as dry-dropper); 10/1/21 ramping up strongly; 10/8/21 thick, fish take dries close to dark; 10/15/21 still strong; 10/11/24 hatching afternoon and evening. A second shop lists October caddis in fall.
Sources: flyandfield.com, flyandfield.com, flyandfield.com
Mahogany Dun
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct hatching
- Nov
- Dec
Dated reports: 10/8/21 possibly around; 10/15/21 hatching (tilt-wing mahogany dun #14-16 recommended).
Sources: flyandfield.com, flyandfield.com, flyandfield.com
Golden Stonefly
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr hatching
- May hatching
- Jun hatching
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
One shop has them alongside the salmonflies along the whole river; another says they follow quickly and run to mid-June in a typical year. Salmonfly windows differ; see that entry.
Sources: flyfishersplace.com
Access, closures and rules change; check with the state agency before you go.