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Meeting Time:
Late afternoon/early evening Nov. 11th.
I’m calling Nov. 11 a travel day, although if you leave
early enough, you can get a couple of hours on the river
late in the afternoon.
Return Nov. 15: If you want to fish the morning of Nov.
15, you’ll get home later that evening. |
Meeting Location:
Oasis Resort, Maupin, Oregon |
Max. # Attendees:
We’ve got 30 miles of the Deschutes accessible, so
there’s plenty of room for all |
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Directions:
I-80 to I-5 North for 225 miles, take US 97 North
towards Klamath Falls/Bend, Stay on US 97 through
Klamath Falls, Bend and Madras (the highway makes a few
jogs, but it’s signed, just pay attention. As you get up
into Oregon, US 97 becomes Ore 232/US 97 Dalles/California
Highway. At the north end of Madras (just before
McDonalds) veer to the right and continue on 97 (if you
see Safeway on your right…you missed the turn…Safeway
should be on your left as you head up 97). Follow 97 for
approximately 25 miles. Just past a rest area (on your
left) will be the junction of 197 (to Maupin and The
Dalles). Take a CAREFUL left onto paved 197 (don’t take
the dirt road to South Junction!). Watch this
intersection and don’t sit in the turn lane…trucks have
a tendency to cut this corner. Continue on this highway
for 22 miles and you will drop down into the town of
Maupin. The Oasis Resort is the first business on
your right just past the 'Entering Maupin' sign. The
trip from Granite Bay/Roseville is about a 10 hour
drive, 550 miles.
Or,
You can fly into Portland and rent a car. It’s about a
2½ hour drive to Maupin and you get to drive through the
Columbia River Gorge, which is a National Scenic Byway. |
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Flies: |
Patterns:
Hook sizes: |
Steelhead:
Coachman, Reconnaissance, Lum Plum, Streetwalker,
Engagement, Freight Train, Green Butt Skunk, Skaters
Trout:
surface fly with a dropper works well, patterns depend
on hatches and water; nymphing can be successful as well
Size 6
or 8 |
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The
Deschutes bisects Maupin. Downstream from there it's
about 20 miles until the road ends. Upstream, it's about
8 miles to the locked gate, but I believe you can walk
further. So you've got about 30 miles of river, most of
which is accessible and fishable from the banks or by
wading in.
The
"D" is a big river; always have a wading staff at your
side. There are many, many places where you can
cast. Last time I was there for steelhead, I used a spey
rig for the first time. That virtually opened the entire
river. If you're using a single handed rod, a stout 7
weight will work, although if you're adventurous, a
longer 6 weight will make things fun. The access road
that parallels the river is 25 to 200 yards from the
banks. You can walk back to your rig and get a bite to
eat, put on or take off more clothes, take a rest or
whatever.
The
steelhead run begins in the late summer, and by November
the fish are distributed throughout the river. It'll be
cold that time of year, so layers and thermals are a
good idea. But that time of year there are few other
anglers in the water. It's also the favorite time to
fish for the locals and fly shop owners and guides. John
Hazel of the Deschutes Angler Fly
Shop in Maupin says that July and November are
the best times to steelhead fish. He also said that
since the steelies in the Deschutes are surface oriented
fish, you will usually do better on the surface,
provided the water is in good shape. Sometimes the White
River downstream from Maupin will blow out after a
storm. In that case, a sink tip would be worth having in
your vest, but whenever you can, fish the top with
darker toned flies. The river can clear out quickly,
depending on the flows. And if you go downstream from
the White a few miles, you’ll likely find good water.
In
addition to the Deschutes Angler Fly Shop, there is the
Deschutes Canyon Fly Shop in Maupin as well. The
Angler is a larger shop, but both carry a good
assortment of gear and tackle. If you're contemplating
making a big purchase, remember that Oregon does not
have sales tax, so that can save you 8 or 9 percent.
I've used guides from the Oasis, which is where I stay
(more on that later) and the Deschutes Angler,
which is the bigger shop in town. Although both shops
have websites that have fishing reports, I usually
follow the Angler’s fish report. They have more guides
out on the river, and I think the more information the
better. I watch the Angler’s fish report for a few weeks
before I go to get an idea of what the water and the
fish are doing.
I was up there in May and the river had more snotty moss
on the rocks than I've seen in the 6 years I've been
fishing there, so studs on your boots are a good idea,
as well. The upper parts the river have more rapids and
the lower parts have more wide open runs. There are a
few islands that are accessible by boat.
I stay at the
Oasis
Resort, 609 Hwy 197 South, P.O. Box 365,
Maupin, OR 97037. Tel: (541) 395-2611.
It's a funky group of cabins that were originally used
by the workers who built the rail lines that follow the
river on the north side. They would set up the cabins
and then when the track building had progressed enough,
load them on a flatbed rail car and move them. Anyway,
the cabins are small, some with two beds and all have
showers and a small refrigerator. They run a room
special that time of year. The second night is half
price. Check out their website and if you want to book a
room, give Mark or Marni a call and tell them you’re
coming up with Robert Miller. They’re good people. They
can also set you up with a guided float trip, as can
both shops.
View Larger Map
There is another place in town to stay: the
Imperial.
It’s more expensive, but more upscale. I eat at the
Imperial and the local watering hole which serves decent
pub fare (they’re the two places that are open for
dinner this time of year). I suppose you could set up a
cook stove at your room at the Oasis (I've seen it
done), but after a day on the river, I like a hot shower
and a hot meal that I do not have to cook. Plus a
cocktail or glass of wine. If you're hearty, there are
many campgrounds adjacent to the river. But remember:
it’s November, so it will be cold. In November, there
are places where the sun doesn’t crest the hills until
11 in the morning.
I
fished a 7 wt spey last year with a sink tip. I
landed my first steelie ever on that trip using an
articulated black leech tied to a slow sink tip. A
couple of years before that I hooked a huge steelhead
while fishing a 6/7 wt. single hand rod. It was a big
fish and my equipment was out matched. It was all I
could do to hang on. He got through most of my backing
twice before he broke off. |
