Early Spring Fishing The Deschutes

A worm-fishing beer drinker

By Joseph Friedrichs, 3-10-08

Although the 7-day forecast for Central Oregon sounds less than spring-like, there should be at least several chances to take the rod and reel out from storage and venture down to the Deschutes River in Bend. The river is open to fishing right now (actually it is all year) from the North Canal Dam to the Colorado Street Bridge.

I tested my luck with the trout gods yesterday afternoon, and although I netted not a single fish, it was great to be back in the water fishing. I tied on a blue-winged olive fly and bounced around a couple big stone nymphs. I also took a march brown with me, although there didn’t appear to be much moving in the insect world near the Deschutes.

Regardless, it’s never too early to get warmed up for May’s stone-fly hatch, a phenomenon that’s coming closer with each setting sun.

And for all those anglers who simply can’t wait until insects start hatching, hook on a warm with your crank reel and try to bag a big brownie. As was apparently the case from a fellow I came across while walking home in my watters Sunday.

Here’s how the conversation went:

Man with 40 oz. beer: “You get anything?”

Me: “Not today First time out. Just working off the dust.”

“You gotta use a worm.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Hell, I caught a 24-incher (using his hands to show how big) down there last week with a crawler. You ought to try a worm.”

“I just might.”

Then the man erupted into a strange, maniacal laughter. I kept walking.

It feels good to be back fishing, I thought.

Like this story? Get more! Sign up for our free newsletters.

Like to receive our print magazine, The New West? Click here for free subscription information.