Steelhead Fly Fishing Trips

on the Lower Deschutes River

Fly fishing for steelhead is in our DNA and at the core of our guide service. The Lower Deschutes River in Oregon is known by serious anglers as one of the world's greatest summer steelhead fisheries. Typified by broad classic runs framed by a towering basalt canyon, the Deschutes is perfectly suited to spey casting with floating lines and classic flies. Our daily guided float trips position anglers for success. Alternatively, we offer multi-day drift boat and jet boat camping trips for the ultimate Deschutes River steelheading experience. A guided steelhead trip with River Runner Outfitters will help you tune up your spey casting, master the process of swinging flies, or simply enhance your pursuit of steelhead on the fly.

Swing flies with confidence. Our Deschutes steelhead float trips cover 23+ miles of river in three to five days. Relax and absorb the rugged beauty and ambiance of the Deschutes River from Mack's Canyon to the mouth as you drift from one seductive run to another. Each day you will methodically fish a new stretch of river, arriving afterward to a fully prepared camp. Meals and camping equipment are provided.

FISHING PROGRAM

Your guide will meet you at the Mack's Canyon boat launch on the Lower Deschutes River just before sunrise the first day of the trip.  Staying in Maupin the night before your trip is recommended (accommodations handled independently and not included).  Having your waders and boots on when you arrive at Mack's Canyon will help expedite our morning fishing.  We provide large dry bags for you to pack your sleeping bag and clothes into.  These dry bags will be loaded onto our "bag boat" and taken directly to camp along with all of the food and camping gear.

At the boat launch you will split into groups of two. We fish two anglers per boat and guide.  We use the drift boats for transportation only and all fishing is done on foot. The wading can be difficult on the Deschutes.  Many people find a wading staff useful and even essential.  We strive to match anglers with appropriate water they are comfortable wading.

To fish for steelhead on the Deschutes we swing flies, usually with spey rods 12 - 14 feet long equipped with full floating lines.  We love Deschutes steelhead for their willingness to take flies on or near the surface.  We do keep Skagit heads and sink tips handy in case we feel the need to dig a little deeper in the water column.  Fishing tends to be best on the Deschutes during low light periods of morning and evening.  Our fishing program is optimized to fish hard during those times. Casting and fishing instruction is always available and part of our service.

We progressively fish our way down river, meeting for lunch as a group around 12:30 - 1:00 pm.  During longer summer days we usually take a break after lunch to rest and also to secure a good piece of water for the afternoon and evening fishing.  There are times when we opportunistically fish through the day, usually during cloudy weather or later in the season when the sun stays pretty low in the sky.

We typically arrive at camp at dusk after fishing or in time to fish camp water.  Dinner is served just after dark.

CAMPING ACCOMMODATIONS & MEALS

After fishing each day you will arrive at our fully prepared mobile streamside camp.  Each day while you are fishing our bagger is busy hauling gear down river, setting up camp, and preparing the evening's meal.  Without the hassle of setting up camp, you and your guide focus on fishing.

We sleep two guests per tent.  Tents are over six feet tall and equipped with sturdy padded cots.  We are happy to accommodate special sleeping arrangements.  During fall a steel framed canvas wall tent serves as the centerpiece of camp.  Here we gather for meals, comradery, and occasionally to dry out waders.  During the warmest months of summer we prefer to dine under an open sky.

The meals we serve are simple preparations, featuring a rotation of fresh seasonal ingredients.  We love to cook and eat, and enjoy sharing our passion for food on the river.  We strive to provide hearty and healthy meals that our guests look forward to each day.

2017 RATES & DETAILS

Camp trips priced per angler based on double occupancy.  Minimum four anglers.  We do have options for two anglers.

Three Day, Two Night Float:  $1850

Four Day, Three Night Float:  $2250

Included: One guide and boat per two anglers, all meals from lunch on first day through lunch on the last day, camping equipment (bring your own sleeping bag), fly rod setups, flies and fishing tackle.

Not Included: Transportation to Mack's Canyon Campground, vehicle shuttle, alcohol, staff / guide gratuities.

You will need to have:  Fishing license and steelhead tag with Columbia Basin Endorsement, Deschutes Boater Pass, waders and wading boots (studded felt sole recommended), sleeping bag and pillow.  We can assist you with obtaining most of these items.

CAPACITY

2 to 6 anglers

SEASON

July through November

FISHING LICENSE & BOATER PASS

Fishing License: You will need a valid Oregon angling license and steelhead tag with a Columbia Basin Endorsement.  Daily combo license are available and include the steelhead tag (available online at https://or.outdoorcentral.us/or/license).

Boater Pass: You will need a Deschutes Boater Pass, a Bureau of Land Management fee / document available at https://boaterpass.com.  Boater passes are limited in availability during peak season (July - September). Booking with us six months to a year in advance is recommended.  We are happy to purchase your boater pass on your behalf.

LOCATION & TRAVEL

Our Deschutes steelhead float trips begin at the boat launch at the Mack's Canyon Campground on the Lower Deschutes River 27 miles North of Maupin, Oregon.

Guests arriving by plane typically fly into Portland, rent a car, and drive approx. 2 hrs to Maupin.  Spending the night in Maupin prior to your float is recommended as we start before sunrise and Mack's Canyon is a one hour drive from Maupin.

Please be advised that the last 17 miles of the drive to Mack's Canyon is on a gravel road that varies in quality throughout the season.  Allow one hour to get down the Deschutes River access road and expect a slow and bumpy drive.

MAP & DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Mack's Canyon Campground, Maupin OR

PRE / POST TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

Maupin, Oregon.  Handled independently and not included.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Arrival: Fly in to PDX, rent a car, and drive to Maupin.  Stay the night in Maupin.

Fishing Days: Drive to Mack's Canyon before sunrise the first morning of the trip.  Meet your guide at Mack's at 5:00 am.  Three full days of fishing.

Departure: Half fishing day.  Take out around 1:00 or 2:00 pm at Heritage Landing.  Your vehicle will be there when you arrive.

Our daily steelhead float trips cover 35 miles of the Lower Deschutes River surrounding Maupin, Oregon. Here you have access to a variety of premium steelhead fly water both upstream and downstream of Maupin. Our guides posses local knowledge and a keen intuition, and are happy to provide spey casting instruction as well as rods, lines, and flies for you to fish with. Assistance with accommodations to suit any budget is part of our service.

FISHING PROGRAM

Your guide will meet you at your accommodations in Maupin pre dawn the morning of your trip. From there you will carpool with your guide to one of several boat launches in the area. You will float four to fourteen miles in a day depending on fishing conditions and where your guide decides to fish. The goal is to be standing in the water, fly in hand, at first light.

The drift boats are used to get to the best runs but we don't fish from the boats. All fishing is done while wading and is part of the process of traditional fly fishing for steelhead. Many anglers find wading the Deschutes to be tough and a wading staff is very helpful.  Our goal each day, in addition to successful fishing, is to keep our anglers comfortable and wading within their means.

Swinging flies on the Deschutes is most effectively done with two handed spey or switch rods. The Deschutes is world famous as a floating line steelhead river, so most fishing is done with full floating lines. Scandinavian shooting heads are easy to cast and what we recommend fishing with in most cases, although our guides are well versed in casting longer lines as well and encourage their use when appropriate. mall traditional wet flies such as the Green Butt Skunk, Silver Hilton, and Max Canyon are very popular for Deschutes steelhead, as well as surface or near surface flies like the Bomber, Muddler, and Dragonfly. Our philosophy regarding steelhead fishing is "when in Roam", and there may be no better place on Earth to raise a steelhead. With that being said we do carry and use Skagit heads sink tips and fish with them under the right circumstances.

You will systematically fish your way down river, each run being carefully chosen based on your guide's analytics. Mid day you will break for lunch in the shade. During longer summer days we usually take a break after lunch to rest and also to secure a good piece of water for the afternoon and evening fishing. There are times when you will fish during the middle of the day, usually at a choice "sink tip spot" or two, during cloudy weather, or later in the fall when the sun stays pretty low in the sky.

We typically fish until dark before heading back to Maupin, although we can tailor the length of the day to suit your preference.

2017 RATES & DETAILS

Day Float:  $700 (1 or 2 anglers), $800 (3 anglers)

Included: One guide and boat per two anglers, lunch, snacks, and beverages, fly rod setups, flies and fishing tackle.

Not Included: Alcohol, waders and wading boots, guide gratuities.

You will need to have:  Fishing license and steelhead tag with Columbia Basin Endorsement, Deschutes Boater Pass, waders and wading boots (studded felt sole recommended). We can assist you with obtaining most of these items.

CAPACITY

1 to 6 anglers

LOCATION & TRAVEL

Our Deschutes steelhead daily float trips begin in Maupin, Oregon.

Guests arriving by plane typically fly into Portland, rent a car, and drive approx. 2 hrs to Maupin.  Spending the night in Maupin prior to your trip is recommended as we start before sunrise.