Deschutes River Fishing Report – June 13, 2026: Caddis Blizzard & Dropping Flows
Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulator, Chubby Chernobyl, Parachute Adams, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Copper John, Woolly Bugger
Deschutes River Fishing Report – June 13, 2026
Flow: 3,830 CFS (USGS Gauge #14103000, Deschutes at Moody) | Water Temp: 63.5°F | Clarity: Clear
Current Conditions
The lower Deschutes is fishing well as flows ease down from last week's higher mark of 4,380 CFS. This morning's reading of 3,830 CFS at the Moody gauge (near Biggs) translates to slightly lower, more manageable water through the prime Maupin section. Clarity is clear in the classic pocket water and riffles that hold this river's legendary wild redside rainbows.
Water temperature sits at 63.5°F — on the warmer end of the comfort zone for trout. Fish are active but will seek out shade, deeper runs, and seams with cooler upwellings as midday temperatures climb. Target early morning and evening windows for your best surface action.
Hatch Report
June is delivering the goods on the Deschutes. Caddis are in full blizzard mode — evening walks along the bank are a mouthful if you're not wearing a buff. The Elk Hair Caddis and Stimulator in sizes #12–#16 are the go-to dries, and fish are absolutely smashing them in the riffles and tail-outs from late afternoon through dark. Don't overlook a swung soft-hackle just below the surface for caddis emergers — it can be incredibly productive.
The last of the Golden Stoneflies are wrapping up their run, with drowned adults tumbling in the heavy whitewater and swirling current seams. Keep a Chubby Chernobyl (#6–#8) in your box — if it gets sucked under in the heavy water, let it dead-drift in the mid-column. The biggest trout in the system that won't commit to the surface will hammer a waterlogged stone.
Yellow Sallies (Little Yellow Stoneflies, #14–#16) are coming into their own and will remain a key hatch through early July. Watch for the egg-laying flights in the early evening — females carry a bright red egg sac. A yellow Stimulator is the right answer.
Mayflies — Pale Evening Duns (PEDs), PMDs, and scattered Green Drakes — are hatching inconsistently. Expect better activity on overcast afternoons. A Parachute Adams in #14–#16 covers the PMD/PED emergences nicely; go bigger (#10–#12) for Green Drakes if you spot them rising to larger flies.
Nymphing remains productive throughout the day. A Pheasant Tail Nymph (#14–#18) or Copper John under an indicator through the deeper runs has been a consistent producer all week.
Top Fly Recommendations
- Elk Hair Caddis #12–#16 (tan/olive) — evening dry fly #1 right now
- Stimulator #10–#16 (yellow or orange) — Golden Stone stragglers and Yellow Sallies
- Chubby Chernobyl #6–#8 — attractor/drowned stone in heavy water
- Parachute Adams #14–#16 — PMD/PED hatch, all-day confidence fly
- Pheasant Tail Nymph #14–#18 — sub-surface workhorse in the runs
- Copper John #14–#16 — high-flash nymph when PTN isn't cutting it
- Woolly Bugger #6 (black/olive) — swing the deeper slots at dawn and dusk
Best Access Points
Above Sherars Falls: Deschutes River State Recreation Area, Macks Canyon, and the BLM gravel road corridors downstream of Maupin offer excellent wade access. The south bank trail out of Maupin gives miles of prime water with little pressure midweek. Sherars Falls area: Tribal fishing rights apply on the east bank — fish the west bank. Below Sherars Falls: Beavertail and Kloan see far fewer anglers; worth the extra miles if you want solitude and big water.
Hazards & Closures
At 3,830 CFS, wading is powerful — a wading staff and belt are not optional on this river. Use felt or studded soles and never turn your back to the current. Rattlesnakes are active in the rocky, sun-baked basalt terrain — watch every step. No emergency closures are currently in effect. All redsides are wild, unclipped fish — barbless hooks are strongly encouraged and required in some sections.
Flow data from USGS Gauge 14103000 (Deschutes River at Moody, near Biggs, OR) as of 5:45 AM PDT, June 13, 2026. Provisional data subject to revision. Report prepared by Bugs & Jugs Fly Shop.