Montana Fish Report

Steelhead fishing is still great on the lower Deschutes between Macks and Heritage. Gear and fly fishers have been successful. If you catch a wild steelhead, practice good catch-and-release practices by keeping the fish in the water and removing the hook quickly. Fall Chinook are also in the river, and anglers have been catching nice salmon at the Sherars Falls fishery. A few salmon have been creeled between Sherars and the mouth as well.

Reports of good dry fly action in the mornings lately on the lower Deschutes between Maupin and Warm Springs. Nymphing has been consistent as well.

The Deschutes River from lower end of Moody Rapids downstream to the I-84 west bound bridge is all angling starting July 15 – September 15. This closure is a part of the Deschutes River thermal sanctuary that extends out into the Columbia River.

The Deschutes Steelhead Framework establishes metrics used to manage the summer steelhead fishery on the Deschutes River based on run strength and conservation needs. Strong returns of wild fish over Bonneville from July 1 to-date (August 20) have surpassed management metrics in the framework, meaning the Deschutes steelhead fishery will remain open by permanent rule.