Oregon ·
Deschutes River Fly Fishing Report - September 20, 2026
DESCHUTES RIVER
ReportSEP 20 — 27, 2026
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Flow
4530CFS
DESCHUTES RIVER AT MOODY, NEAR BIGGS, OR
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Water Temp
63°F
Updated 2026-09-19
☀️
Weather
56–85°F
Mostly Clear
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 4,530 CFS (gauge height 2.93 ft) with water temps at a comfortable 63°F — slightly up from last week's readings but still firmly in the sweet spot for aggressive trout feeding. Clarity is good and conditions are dialed in for a productive fall day.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
#20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Top Secret Baetis #16
#16
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12
Egan's Frenchie #12
#12
Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless #12 - 32
#12
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Egan's GTI Caddis - Olive #12
#12
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caddis | 16-18 | Heavy | 5 PM - 8 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Midge | 20-22 | Moderate | 7 AM - 10 AM |
| October Caddis | 8-10 | Light | 4 PM - 7 PM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | 14-16 | Light | 12 PM - 4 PM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 10 AM: Midge and early BWO nymphing in tailouts and slow eddies before the sun hits the canyon walls.
- 11 AM - 2 PM: BWO hatch window — watch for subtle risers in flat water and fish emerger patterns just below the surface.
- 5 PM - 8 PM: Prime evening caddis hatch — the best dry fly action of the day along the main current seams and gravel bar edges.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 4,530 CFS and water temps at 63°F, the Deschutes redband trout are actively feeding throughout the water column. Start your morning in the tailouts and slower eddies with a midge setup in the top 18 inches, then transition to a deep nymph rig through the boulder gardens as the sun climbs. When the afternoon BWO hatch fires between 11 AM and 2 PM, switch to a size 22 Juju Baetis just subsurface before committing to a dry — fish will be in the film but not always fully committed to the top. Save your best dry fly game for the evening caddis push starting around 5 PM; position yourself downstream of rising fish and work upstream with a CDC caddis, letting it drag just slightly at the end of the drift to trigger strikes.
Main Species
Redband Rainbow Trout
Steelhead
Brown Trout
