Happy Birthday, America!
ATTENTION - JULY 4 THE FLY SHOP WILL BE CLOSED
Tomorrow, our nation turns 250 years old - and people across the country will be celebrating the 4th of July with fireworks and BBQ cookouts. Since neither fireworks of any kind nor charcoal briquettes are allowed in Maupin or in South Wasco County due to a very well enforced burn ban, this is one of those holiday weekends that people may expect the river to be very busy and it is usually a ghost town. It is so slow, in fact, that we are going to be CLOSED on July 4 this year to allow our staff to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. We will be open 8:00 AM -5:00 PM today and 8:00 - 4:00 PM on Sunday.
The American flags are lining the downtown corridor in Maupin - and they will be flying this weekend thanks to fairly strong winds in the forecast. I have been getting strong fire warnings on my phone for the past few days thanks to the perfect storm building of strong winds, dry conditions, and the 4th of July coming together. If you are planning to camp out on the river this weekend, please keep an eye out for campers who do not know or understand that this area of the country is under a strict fire ban that prohibits smoking (unless you are in an enclosed vehicle or standing in the river), campfires, fireworks, charcoal BBQs, and open flames. Propane cookstoves or white gas cookstoves are okay.
Onto the fishing report…
We had a full moon on Monday, but it didn’t seem to impact the trout feeding much because we had cloudy skies that kept the moon from giving the trout an opportunity to feed all night. Now that we are well past that bright moon, the trout will be much happier.
All of the same hatches and bug activity that I reported on in the last two fishing reports will still hold true for this weekend. The caddis take the main stage until we have an overcast day - then the mayflies are the dominate mid-day bug. We are still seeing PEDs, PMDs, and BWOs, so have your mayfly box handy if you see clouds roll in.
Mid-day is the best time to explore the depths with either a nymphing rig or with a sink tip and streamers. The river is LOW LOW LOW - so the trout are seeking the deeper pools for the shelter and cool temperatures. The edges of the river are so abnormally low, it seems that the trout have moved out to the deeper pocket water to feed on nymphs and sculpins. Trout are happy risers every evening when the caddis hatches occur - so save yourself for that last-light fishing if you are struggling to find trout in the heat of the day.
The caddis dries to have are those with olive or tan bodies in size 16 or 18. We can show you our favorite patterns if you stop into the shop.
We were fortunate this past week to have some lower than average temperatures, which has allowed the Deschutes to cool down a bit. Cooler temperatures are what we need to encourage steelhead to come into the Deschutes - they use our river (when cool enough) as a thermal refuge. There are a few hundred wild steelhead coming over Bonneville each day, so they are coming our way! Get ready!
Have a wonderful 4th of July holiday!
