Deschutes River Fishing Report — June 11, 2026 | Caddis Madness & Dropping Flows
Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator, Chubby Chernobyl, Parachute Adams, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Copper John, Woolly Bugger
Current River Conditions
- Flow: 3,890 CFS (USGS Gauge 14103000 — Deschutes River at Moody, as of 6:45 AM PDT June 11, 2026)
- Water Temperature: 59°F (15.0°C) — ideal trout territory
- Clarity: Clear
- Overall Conditions: Good
Good news for anglers heading to the lower Deschutes: flows have dropped from last week's 4,380 CFS to a fishable 3,890 CFS and are trending in the right direction as snowmelt tapers off. Water clarity is clear throughout the canyon, and that magical 59°F temperature has the fish dialed in and looking up. Early June on the Deschutes is one of the best windows of the year — and right now, the bugs are proving it.
Hatch Report — What's Flying
The caddis situation is nothing short of spectacular. Evening hatches from Maupin downstream through the canyon have anglers swatting bugs out of their mouths on the walk back to camp. Bring an Elk Hair Caddis in sizes #14–#16 and expect aggressive surface takes from late afternoon through dusk.
Golden Stoneflies are wrapping up their season — the last adults are laying eggs and crashing on the surface, and big trout are vacuuming up the drowned naturals in swirly water along the banks. Let your fly sink after a drift through heavy current seams; a wet Woolly Bugger stripped through those upwellings is a legitimate big-fish play right now.
Yellow Sallies (Little Yellow Stoneflies, sizes #14–#16) are stepping into the spotlight as the golden stones fade and should remain a reliable hatch into early July. A yellow-bodied Stimulator is hard to beat when sallies are in the air mid-morning through afternoon.
Mayflies — PMDs, PEDs, and scattered Green Drakes — are showing up but remain inconsistent on bright sunny days. Cloudy afternoons produce the best PMD activity. A Parachute Adams (#16) covers the PMD window well, and a Pheasant Tail Nymph fished as a dropper below a dry will pick up subsurface feeders during sparse hatches.
Top Fly Recommendations
- Elk Hair Caddis (#14–#16, tan or olive) — Evening caddis hatches are extraordinary; fish the slow-water seams at last light for the most consistent action of the day.
- Stimulator (#14–#16, yellow) — Your Yellow Sally imitation. Effective mid-morning through afternoon along grassy and shrubby banks where sallies concentrate.
- Chubby Chernobyl (#8–#10) — High-floating attractor that doubles as a hopper/indicator rig. Rig it with a Pheasant Tail dropper for a deadly two-fly combo on the canyon's deeper slots.
- Parachute Adams (#16) — Versatile match for PMDs and light caddis. Most effective during overcast afternoon windows when mayfly hatches are consistent.
- Pheasant Tail Nymph (#16–#18) — Fish as a dropper 18” below a dry or under an indicator in deeper pocket water. PMD nymphs are active and trout are keyed in.
- Copper John (#14–#16) — Heavy attractor nymph for plunging runs and deeper slots. Effective all day when fish aren't visibly rising.
- Woolly Bugger (#6–#8, black or olive) — Target swirly bank water and deep seams in low-light conditions. Big trout are eating drowned stoneflies; the Woolly Bugger is the closest thing in the box.
Access Points & Logistics
Above Sherars Falls (Maupin Area): The Hwy 216 bridge in Maupin is the main hub. Deschutes River State Recreation Area and Sandy Beach access offer productive walk-and-wade stretches for several miles both upstream and downstream of town. Fish canyon walls in the morning shade, then work the riffles and drop-offs as afternoon thermals pick up.
Below Sherars Falls: Best accessed via Heritage Landing or by floating the class III/IV canyon. Long flats and deep tailouts below the falls hold excellent populations of wild redband trout and early summer-run steelhead. Sherars Falls itself is a mandatory portage — it is not runnable under any circumstances.
The classic Maupin to Harpham Flat drift provides access at Oasis, Sandy Beach, and Nena access areas. The BLM road along the east bank is passable for high-clearance vehicles. Camping is available at Maupin City Park or BLM primitive sites throughout the canyon.
Hazards & Closures
- Rattlesnakes: Early summer on the Deschutes means active rattlesnakes on warm basalt ledges and in brushy bank vegetation. Watch your step when scrambling to access points.
- High Water Awareness: At 3,890 CFS, wading requires felt-sole boots or wading studs and a staff. Current is significant in the main channel — stay out of thigh-deep fast water without solid footing.
- Catch-and-Release Required: Wild redbands in the lower Deschutes are catch-and-release only. Use barbless hooks. Handle fish in the water and minimize air exposure.
- Warm Springs Reservation Boundary: Be aware of the boundary below Trout Creek. Fishing the reservation side of the river without a tribal permit is prohibited.