Good reports are flowing in despite the weather from the Deschutes north of us to the Klamath area to the South. Fishing techniques are shifting to traditional summer patterns, with early and late in the day being most productive. The fish are moving to deeper water or inflow areas to search out cooler conditions.

Crane Prairie
We are finally starting to see some consistency at Crane, but look for the trout bite to progressively get better in the next week or so. Some reports at the Rock Creek Ramp of "huge Bluegill" being taken up the Rock Creek arm... this could be the demise of a world-class trout fishery.

Bass fishing has been great, with the bite lasting nearly dawn to dusk. Spinnerbaits have produced on cloudy or overcast days, as the fish will move to the outside edges of the cover. If it's clear, dig deep into the brush and flip tubes, jigs or worms into the heart of the cover. Fly fisherman have been scoring in the deeper water between the Quinn River and Rock Creek Campgrounds. Caddis hatches have been thick, and so have the Mosquitoes! Cast to feeding trout during the hatches or "Buggers and minnow imitations when nothing's happening. The fly guy's are still averaging 1-2 fish per boat.

Deschutes River
"The thickest Caddis Hatches I've seen in years" is the report I got from Pete, a local resident and former Portland area guide. While fishing nymphs in the back-eddies did produce, he stated that the best action was along the seams with an Elk Hair or Tent Wing Caddis dry. Pale Morning Duns were being sucked down by eager Redsides just as the sun dipped behind the canyon walls and continued the outstanding dry fly action to the end of the day. The Rainbows will be in the back eddies or right along the shoreline. Fly selection for a trip up here should include Humpy, Elk Hair 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.

Klamath/Williamson
Start fishing near the mouths of the Wood, Williamson or the springs in Pelican Bay and Recreation Creek. This is the time of the year that truly HUGE trout (the largest native rainbow trout in the lower 48) begin searching for cooler water temperatures and start to stack up in these areas. Seal, Flash and Woolly Buggers in hook sizes 10-8 are the ticket for the fly fisherman, while Kastmasters and Rapalas can be productive for hardware tossers. Be advised: You can only keep ONE trout.

East Lake
Fly action has picked up, but small fish rule. Hot Springs, the Resort and Slide areas are where it's happening. This time of year, I like to wind drift a rubber-legged Stonefly or black/brown bead head nymphs along the edges of the weed beds for consistent action.

Davis
Still fishing pretty well. 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 midday try a bead head woolly bugger on a type II full sink line and retrieve with six-inch pulls all the way back to the boat.

Hosmer
Returned to its regal form this week with some Callibaetis and Caddis popping midday with the Atlantic salmon running 10-18." In addition to the bug hatches, another very productive method is to cast white, chartreuse or hot pink streamer patterns with a rapid retrieve. Concentrate your efforts near the channel early and late.

The Central Oregon Grand Slam

The opportunity to catch four or more species of trout and salmon in one day is possible here in the Bend area, if you know where to look. Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat, Bull and Brook Trout are all within an hour or two of Bend. Add to that Atlantic salmon and Steelhead and you have the chance for the Ultimate Slam!

We're going to do it this week, starting with Cutthroats at Sparks Lake and ending with Rainbows at Davis. See the full report (hopefully with photos, if Walmart doesn't screw 'em up again!) in the next issue.

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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