Deschutes River Fishing Report – June 15, 2026 | Golden Stones & Caddis Prime Time
Chubby Chernobyl, Stimulator, Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Copper John
Deschutes River — Lower Canyon, Maupin Area
Date: June 15, 2026 | Flow: 3,800 CFS (USGS Gauge 14103000, Moody) | Water Temp: 64°F | Clarity: Clear
The lower Deschutes is fishing exceptionally well right now, and June 15th finds us squarely in one of the finest dry fly windows of the entire season. Flows at the Moody gauge have dropped to 3,800 CFS — down from 4,380 CFS last week — a welcome trend that continues to improve wade access and fly presentation throughout the Maupin corridor. Water clarity is excellent: the river is running clear with that gorgeous Deschutes blue-green color, and you can pick your fish with ease from the bank.
Water Temperature Advisory
At 64°F, the water is approaching the upper comfortable range for redband trout. Early morning (6–10 AM) and evening (5–8 PM) will offer the best fishing and the most ethical conditions for fish. During midday heat, consider resting fish after a fight and releasing quickly. The river's cold canyon shade sections — particularly the deeper slots below Sherars Falls — will hold fish throughout the day.
Hatch Activity
June on the Deschutes is legendary, and this week is delivering. Golden Stoneflies are the headliner — adults are flying and egg-laying activity picks up in the late afternoon, sending fish to the surface with reckless abandon. The big, bushy dry fly game is fully on. Caddis (primarily Hydropsyche and Brachycentrus species) are hatching throughout the day with explosive evening emergences near riffles and pocket water. Watch for the classic caddis "skating" rise forms after 6 PM. PMDs (Pale Morning Duns) are trickling off in the slower flats during midmorning, offering technical dry fly opportunities for those who seek them out.
Top Fly Recommendations
- Chubby Chernobyl (#8–10) — The go-to Golden Stone attractor. High flotation, big profile, and it handles the Deschutes chop perfectly. Fish it tight to the bank or swinging through the gut of a riffle.
- Stimulator (#8–10, golden/orange) — Classic stonefly dry that has earned its place on every Deschutes angler's box. Dead drift first, then let it swing at the end of the run.
- Elk Hair Caddis (#14–16, tan/olive) — Essential for the evening caddis blitz. Skate it lightly on the surface or fish it dead drift through the foam lines.
- Parachute Adams (#14–16) — Versatile all-day searching pattern when fish are rising but you can't quite pin the hatch. Handles the PMD window beautifully.
- Pheasant Tail Nymph (#16–18) — Nymph beneath a Chubby dropper rig for fish holding deeper. Accounts for a lot of fish between hatches.
- Copper John (#14–16, red or chartreuse) — Heavy enough to get down in the faster slots, irresistible to trout and steelhead alike as a dropper.
Access Points
- Above Sherars Falls: Harpham Flat, Beavertail, and Oak Springs campground offer excellent walk-wade access. The Heritage Landing boat ramp in Maupin is the primary put-in for float trips covering the classic Maupin water.
- Below Sherars Falls: Sherars Bridge access and the BLM road along the lower canyon give walk-wade access to the wild, uncrowded lower river. The falls itself is worth a stop — the Native American dip-net fishing platforms are an iconic sight in June.
Hazards & Notes
At 3,800 CFS, wade fishing requires felt soles or studded boots and a wading staff. Do not attempt to cross the main channel. Rattlesnakes are active — watch where you step on the canyon rim trails. A Deschutes River Combined Angling Tag is required for steelhead; standard Oregon license for trout. No bait in the fly fishing-only sections above Mack's Canyon.
Flow data: USGS gauge 14103000 (Deschutes River at Moody, near Biggs, OR), reading as of 5:45 AM PDT June 15, 2026. Provisional data subject to USGS revision.