Be advised that fire season is also in full swing and a half a dozen wildfires have already broken out in the Central Oregon area. Campfires are limited to improved sites or self-contained cooking equipment (Coleman stoves). PLEASE, completely douse your fires and keep cigarette butts in your vehicle!

Here is a short list of what's happening:

Rivers

The Upper Deschutes River meanders along the Cascades Lakes Highway west of Bend and just might provide you with a little solitude during this holiday weekend. Be advised, it is a fly/lure fishery only (no bait) and you may not keep any Rainbow trout. But the Brookies are plentiful and can provide some great entertainment in an idyllic setting.

Crooked River
Going to be packed this weekend. Elk hair Caddis (12-16) and Orange scud patterns as well as black bead head AP's size 14-16 are the old stand by's for consistent success.

Deschutes River
The Redside Rainbows will be in the back eddies or right along the shoreline. Totally cover these spots before wading out into the river and you should do well. Drift boats and whitewater rafters will be on the water in force this weekend, which is another reason to hit the close in spots first. Fly selection for a trip up here should include Humpy and Tent wing Caddis in sizes 8 -12 which will provide some good dry fly action. A Beadhead AP, Prince nymph, or Soft hackle fished between hatches will produce as well.

Lakes

Paulina/East Lakes
Mike, a Sniffer reader from the valley summed up the bite with an email he zapped to me on Tuesday;

"This past weekend 40 members of the Northwest Steel Headers spent the weekend fishing Paulina as we do every year at the end of June. However this past weekend the fish did not cooperate as in years past. Even after many hours on the lake using every trick in the book only fifteen fish were brought in to camp. The fishing was poor however the weather was great. Only one brown of any size, a few trout and kokanee were caught. If any one is planning a trip to Paulina be sure bring the bug spray, the mosquitoes are out in force." Nuff said...

Davis
Water temps are on the rise and the most productive areas have been around the Odell Channel or near the creek inlets on the west side of the lake. Fish the hatches early and late and mid-day try a bead head wooly bugger on a type II full sink line and retrieve with six-inch pulls all the way back to the boat.

Crane Prairie
I spent the last two days on Crane and just when I thought we had figured them out - it changed! The Bass guy's told stories of great catches the day before using Rapalas and white soft plastic jerkbaits, while some were being caught on white spinnerbaits. Of course, we spent half of the day going fishless until we decided to get deep into the brush piles and flip black and brown jigs. The bite changed that quickly. The water is crystal clear and the water temps were 68-74 degrees.

Spawners were moving in and out of the shallows, and are SPOOKY! Soft plastics on light lines tossed near the brush are working early the dig in deep when the sun is high. Fly fisherman have been scoring in the deeper water between the Quinn River and Rock Creek Campgrounds. However, the trout bite is still slow, with trollers and the fly guy's still averaging 1-2 fish per boat.

Hosmer
My favorite lake turned sour on me this week, but believe me, it will not last long. Fish white or chartreuse or hot pink streamer patterns with a rapid retrieve and the fish will respond (sooner or later)! Concentrate your efforts near the channel early and late.

More next week on the Steelhead run on the Deschutes and your opportunity for the Central Oregon "Grand Slam" - Lord, just help me make it through this weekend!

If you would like a personal report for an up coming trip, feel free to email me at - Oregonsportsman@cs.com.

Have a safe weekend and See you on the water!
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