Deschutes River Fishing Report — June 18, 2026: Caddis Hatch Firing, Flows Dropping Into Range

Current Conditions Overview

The lower Deschutes is firing on all cylinders this week — flows have dropped from a late-May high of 4,380 CFS down to a more manageable 3,750 CFS as of this morning's USGS reading at Moody. Water temperature is a prime 63.9°F, right in the sweet spot for the Deschutes' famously hard-fighting redside rainbows. Water clarity is slightly off with the elevated flow, but fish are active and looking up for bugs. The caddis hatch happening right now is nothing short of spectacular — this is one of the best weeks of the entire year to be on this river.

Flows & Water Clarity

At 3,750 CFS, the lower Deschutes is on the higher end for comfortable wade fishing. Drift boat anglers have the clear advantage — this is prime float territory, and guides are reporting excellent fishing from the oars. Waders can still access productive water but should stick to lower-gradient sections, use a wading staff, and avoid any cross-current moves in heavy water. Water clarity is slightly off-color, which won't slow the bite — fish are keyed in on surface bugs regardless. Expect conditions to continue improving as snowmelt tapers off through the coming weeks.

Hatch Report — Welcome to Caddis Season

Bug activity on the Deschutes right now is as good as it gets all year. Caddis are hatching in biblical proportions — local guides report that evening walks along the riverbank will literally put insects in your mouth. This is the heart of caddis season, and fish are looking up aggressively. The magic window runs from roughly 6:00 PM until dark, but don't rule out morning caddis activity in shadowed canyon sections.

The last of the Golden Stoneflies are wrapping up their lifecycle — dead adult stones are drifting in the current and large trout are feeding subsurface on drowned specimens, especially in turbulent, swirly water near whitewater edges. Little Yellow Sallies (size 14-16) are now taking center stage and will remain active through early July. On overcast and cloudy days, watch for PMD and Green Drake hatches — inconsistent in direct sun, but excellent when clouds roll in. Hatches are inconsistent on sunny days but reliably good on overcast ones.

Top Fly Recommendations

Dry Flies

• Elk Hair Caddis (#14-16, tan or olive) — the quintessential Deschutes caddis pattern. Dead drift through feeding lanes or swing through the tail of a run at last light. This is your workhorse fly all week. Find it at bugsnjugs.com.
• Stimulator (#14-16, yellow/orange body) — excellent Yellow Sally and caddis attractor. Try a little skitter action on the swing through shallow tailouts.
• Chubby Chernobyl (#10-12) — floats all day in turbulent water, works as a dry-dropper rig indicator with a Copper John hanging below. Especially effective in pocket water.
• Parachute Adams (#16-18) — your PMD and Green Drake go-to on cloudy afternoons when the mayflies show up. Keep a few in the box and switch to them when you see upwing duns on the surface.

Nymphs & Streamers

• Copper John (#14-16, red or green) — hang it 18-24" below a Chubby Chernobyl as a dry-dropper rig. Lethal in the riffles during mid-day when surface action slows.
• Pheasant Tail Nymph (#14-16) — dead drift along deeper seams during caddis pupa emergence windows mid-morning. Classic and deadly.
• Woolly Bugger (#6-8, olive or black) — strip slowly through deep holes and along undercut banks early morning for the biggest redside trout in the system.
• Zebra Midge (#18-20) — don't neglect the small stuff. Trout sipping in flat water between hatches are often keying on midges.

Best Access Points

• Harpham Flat — State-managed campground above Sherars Falls with excellent wade access and boat launch. Fish upstream into productive riffles.
• Maupin City Park — Convenient in-town access right off US-197. Good evening caddis water directly off the park. Popular with locals and visitors alike.
• Sandy Beach — Walk-in access above Sherars Falls. One of the more productive wade-fishing stretches when flows allow.
• Sherars Bridge — Wade-accessible from the bridge below the falls. Historic crossing with reliable trout water. Drift boaters must portage Sherars Falls (Class V — mandatory).
• Beavertail Campground — 8 miles below Sherars Falls via road. Great base camp for the lower canyon with solid nearby wade water.
• Macks Canyon — 13 miles below Sherars, end-of-road access. Remote, productive, and worth every mile for the solitude and big fish.

Hazards & Regulations

• ⚠️ Elevated flows: At 3,750 CFS, swift-water wading is dangerous. Use a wading staff, wear your belt over your waders, and choose your crossings carefully.
• 🌊 Sherars Falls: Mandatory portage for all watercraft. Class V — not runnable under any conditions.
• 🐍 Rattlesnakes: June sun warms the canyon walls. Watch where you step around rocks and brushy banks.
• 📋 Wild fish regulations: The lower Deschutes is a wild fish river. All native redside rainbows must be released. Only adipose-clipped (hatchery) fish may be harvested. Review current ODFW regulations before your trip.

Flow data: USGS gauge 14103000, Deschutes River at Moody, near Biggs, OR — 3,750 CFS at 63.9°F as of 6:45 AM PDT, June 18, 2026. Provisional, subject to revision. Hatch conditions informed by current local reports from Deschutes Angler Fly Shop (Maupin, OR).