Region/Terrain Where You Fish

Lower Deschutes River: Healthy populations of rainbow trout and growing returns of steelhead inhabit the lower 100 miles, known as the Lower Deschutes River. This spectacular river rambles through an immense canyon, at times silently, and then dropping sharply creating exciting whitewater.

Crooked River: The Crooked River offers exciting year 'round fly fishing action for rainbow trout. And it's the best river in Central Oregon for your introduction to fly fishing. The river flows from the base of Prineville Reservoir through a deep canyon of rim rock, wandering through a magnificent desert canyon.

Fall River: A mere 25 minutes from Bend, Oregon the Fall River emerges from several headwater springs and flows crystal clear through beautiful stands of lodgepole and ponderosa pine. The majority of the river is open to fly fishing year-round. The section below the fall does close in the early Autumn to allow the brown trout to move up from the Deschutes to spawn.

Upper Deschutes River: The Upper Deschutes River, while less well known than sections downstream, is a wonderful fishery offering a range in character from placid elbows to wild whitewater. From the headwaters at Lava Lake down to Crane Prairie and then Wickiup Reservoir lie two incredibly productive and diverse seasonal fisheries. Below Wickiup to Benham Falls this river produces both wild and stocked rainbow trout and brown trout. Most of the fish in this stretch are in the 8-14" range but larger fish are caught every year.

Cascade Lakes: We often ask our fly fishing guests two questions when determining what guided adventure trip best suit their desires: "Do you want to learn about the sport of fly fishing, while catching a few fish?" or "Do you just want to catch fish?" If the answer is the latter, then a trip up to one of Central Oregon's top lakes is for you. Deep Canyon Outfitters knows all of the best stillwaters in and around Bend. In fact we have exclusive access to a number of them.

Typical Weather by Season

Spring - March/April - Potential for rain, snow, sun, and/or all three in one day.
Late Spring - May/June - Less rain, warm weather, great fishing weather.
Summer - June/July/August - Sunny and warm, can be hot, great fishing weather.
Late summer/fall - September/October/November - sunny early, can stay warm until mid October, some rain mid October through November.

Species You Fish for by Season

Species caught near Bend, Oregon

Year round - Wild rainbow trout and Brown Trout

May through October - Trout, Atlantic and Kokanee salmon, large mouth and small mouth bass

August through November - Summer steelhead

December through March - Winter steelhead

Date Range

Year around - Peak season from May 1 to October 31st.

Rates

Half Day Walk-in Trips:
1-2 Anglers: $325
3 Anglers: $375
4 Anglers: $425
Maximum 4 anglers/guide

Half Day Boat Trips:
1-2 Anglers: $400
3 Anglers: $475
Maximum 3 anglers/guide

Full Day Walk-in Trips:
1-2 Anglers: $475
3 Anglers: $550
4 Anglers: $625
Maximum 4 anglers/guide

Full Day Boat Trips:
1-2 Anglers: $525
3 Anglers: $595
Maximum 3 anglers/guide

What airport do we fly into?

The closest airport to Bend Oregon is the Redmond, OR Regional airport. They offer direct flights daily to and from Portland, Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco. We’re about a 3-hour drive from the Portland, OR International airport.

How far is Bend to the Lower Deschutes?

From downtown Bend it takes one hour to arrive at the Warm Springs boat ramp, one and a half hours to Trout Creek.

Will the owners be available to ensure the guests have a great experience?

Deep Canyon Outfitters is owner-operated, managed, and staffed. If you are a guest on a fly fishing trip, it is highly likely you’ll be on the water with one of the four owners.

Is there a hotel you recommend nearby?

If you are staying in Bend, we recommend staying at the Oxford Inn, or the Ameritel Inn. If you are staying in Redmond, we recommend the Sleep Inn. If you are staying in Madras, we recommend the Inn at Cross Keys Station.

How far is Bend from prime fishing?

From downtown Bend in one hour or less you can be on the Lower Deschutes, the Crooked, the Fall, the Upper Deschutes, Buckhorn Lake, Ranch at the Canyons, and many of the Cascade Lakes. The closest fisheries to Bend are the Upper Deschutes, the Fall River, and the Cascade Lakes.

What does being an Orvis Endorsed Guide Service mean?

Orvis Endorsed Guide Services offer complete outfitting half and full day trips. You'll will fish with the most passionate, knowledgeable, professional and personable guides anywhere. Our operation was inspected by the Orvis staff and continues to be monitored for high quality.

What fishing adventure would be right for me?

Do you want to learn about the sport of fishing, while catching some fish? Then we suggest you join us for a trip on one of the rivers. This will be the classic fly fishing experience. Do you just want to catch fish? Then we suggest you book a fishing adventure on a lake. To maximize your productivity, we suggest a trip on one of your private properties.

Do you have any age restrictions for your fly fishing adventures?

Our fishing adventures are designed for just about all ages, but we often restrict river trips to age 9 and up. Some of the local rivers are difficult to wade for younger anglers. If you want your young son or daughter to catch their first fish, we suggest booking a trip on a lake. On any of the lakes we guide there is a 90% chance they will catch fish. We don’t have an upper end age limit, but some of the rivers in the area can be challenging to wade. For those anglers unsure of their wading abilities, a lake fishing adventure is perfect.

What type of fly fishing will I be doing and what size are the fish?

Each fishery is unique in both fishing technique and fish caught. In a week spent fishing in Central Oregon, you can catch rainbow, brown, brook and bull trout, Atlantic and kokanee salmon, steelhead, large mouth and small mouth bass, and more. If there is a specific species you would like to pursue, please let us know; we’ll advise you when to come and where to fish to maximize your opportunity. Fishing techniques vary from one fishery to the next. Often in the rivers, you’ll be casting dry flies. If the dry fly fishing isn’t working you may need to nymph or use streamers. On the lakes, you will often be stripping streamers or dry fly fishing. We also use drifting techniques to maximum productivity.