The Lower Deschutes is fishing quite well on nymphs, with some dry fly action in the right place at the right time. Look for midges, BWO’s, spent caddis and the last of the PMD’s of the season in the eddies, and some fresh hatches below weed beds and in good riffles and runs to get fish on the dry fly.
Euro Nymphing 3.5 and 4 mm beaded flies (and sometimes bigger) is producing well for us.
Under the indicator use an October Caddis pupa, Stonefly Nymph (golden and black are both equally good) and Prince, Soft Hackle PT, Copper John (our amazing guide Troy loves a Red Copper John) and a Lightning Bug.
Do you have a trout spey? It’s a good time to get on the water with it if you do. Swing some small leeches and sculpins with a sink tip, and also soft hackles on a floating line. And will Steelhead spread though the entire 100 miles of the Lower D, of course get out your 6 and 7 weight spey rods and your scandi lines for smaller swung flies and skagit heads and sink tips for the leech and intruder work to be done as we see more cold mornings ahead and eventually go to all cold days and a drop in water temps later this fall, the fish will hunker down and respond to deeper presentations then. Or, just nymphs ’em! It’s all effective.