How To Rob A Bank… Part Five –Presentation For Deschutes Trout.

Presentation is everything on the Deschutes.

More times than not, Deschutes trout are not super picky eaters.  It’s way more important to focus on the water you fish and how you fish it. 

When we're guiding the river, we look for behavior patterns in the fish.  we're constantly climbing up high banks looking for active trout.  Often times we’ll need to watch the water for a while to see what the fish are doing.  If we're fishing deep bank water and see fish eating nymphs two to four feet under the surface, we’ll find fish on similar bank water eating at the same depth.   Realize the behavior of the fish is not static!  Things can change by the minute out there and you need to recognize and adapt to these changes.  Observation is critical for success on the Deschutes.  If you just go out and fish everything that looks good, you’ll spend a lot of time fishing water with no fish.  Look for patterns.  Once you find the pattern, focus on it until the trout change their behavior.

We can’t stress how important good presentation is on the Deschutes.  The first mistake most anglers make is to start fishing without thinking about their presentation. 

The Deschutes is a big, pushy river with lots of complex current edges.  Unlike many rivers, these current edges move around as the river surges.  The fish follow these currents.  Fishing in these conditions can be extremely challenging. If your fly line lands in a surge at the wrong time, your whole rig will get sucked under and drag past the fish.  Any big fish in the area will be spooked and the game is over. 

It’s extremely helpful to watch the water for a few minutes before you make your first cast.  A friend of mine calls it, “getting in tune with the river.”  Look for the rhythm of the surges…  The river breathes.  This is especially true in bank water.  You’ll notice there are times the current will surge and everything will be churning around like a washing machine.  This is not the time to cast.  Keep watching and you’ll see these small windows where the current will smooth out and a foam line will form.  This is your opportunity to take a shot.  The best anglers can anticipate these windows and present their fly just as everything settles down.  More times than not, a short cast with only five to fifteen feet of fly line is out the rod tip is the best way to attack these tough situations.   Just remember, the more complex the water is, the shorter your cast should be.  


This concludes our series on "How To Rob A Bank".  Next time you're on the Deschutes, remember to look for good bank water and you'll definitely find the fish.  If you'd like to learn more about fishing the Deschutes, consider hiring one of our guides to show you the ropes.


Good Luck!
-Larimer Outfitters Staff

Read "How To Rob A Bank" Part 1 -Deschutes Trout

Read "How To Rob A Bank" Part 2 -Approaching Deschutes Trout

Read "How To Rob A Bank" Part 3 -Dressing For Success

Read "How To Rob A Bank" Part 4 -The Foam Is Home

How To Rob A Bank, Part Four –The Foam Is Home

The Foam is Home

There’s an old saying in trout fishing; “The foam is home”.  On just about any big river, you will see foam lines.  Oregon’s Deschutes River is no exception. 

The foam is created from the breakdown of biomass in the river.  During a hatch on the Deschutes, all of the bugs –both dead and alive, end up in the foam lines creating the ultimate gravy train for hungry trout.   While you’ll see distinct foam lines along deep bank water, you’ll also find huge foam mattes in the back eddies.  These foam mattes are like going to Denny’s for the trout… It’s a smorgasbord of bugs!

Outside of funneling food to the trout, foam creates overhead cover as well.  -It’s the perfect scenario for wild trout.  Plus, foam will camouflage your cast as it lands in the zone.  Next time you’re fishing the Deschutes for trout, focus on the foam lines and good things will happen.

-Larimer Outfitters Staff

Read "How To Rob A Bank" Part 1 -Deschutes Trout

Read "How To Rob A Bank" Part 2 -Approaching Deschutes Trout

Read "How To Rob A Bank" Part 3 -Dressing For Success

How To Rob A Bank… Part Three –Dressing For Success.

Think "Pack Animal Brown" when stalking Deschutes Trout

A few years ago I was guiding a couple of trout anglers on the Deschutes River in the Maupin area on a perfect spring day.  As we floated by a choice piece of bank water we could see the snouts of many big fish chowing on mayflies like a cocaine addict snorting blow.  “We’re going to rope ‘em” I thought to myself. 

I quietly parked my drift boat below the fish and got into position.  The foam lines were alive with happy fish and all was well.  Just about then I heard a car stop just up river from us.  I rather large man got out and promptly put on his ten gallon -bright white cowboy hat.  As he walked down the road towards us -in plain view of the fish, I watched every trout on the bank drop deeper in the water column and stop feeding…  The show was over and we never made a cast.

The belly of an Osprey is bright white, and the wild trout of the Deschutes are very aware that they are Mr. Ospreys favorite dish on the menu.  Not to mention big cowboy hats are silly.

A word to the wise when stalking big fish in “bank water”…  Wear natural toned clothing that blends into the environment.  Avoid bright colors, especially white.  Companies like Simms make a wide range of comfortable fishing clothing that will ensure you stay concealed.  Trust me, it’s the difference between zero and hero.

-Larimer Outfitters Staff

Read "How To Rob A Bank" Part 1 -Deschutes Trout

Read "How To Rob A Bank" Part 2 -Approaching Deschutes Trout

How To Rob a Bank... Part Two -Approaching Deschutes Trout

Part 2

Okay, boys and girls…  Now that you’ve identified good bank water for Deschutes trout, it’s time to head down to the water.  Approaching good bank water takes some consideration.  It’s usually good because it’s steep and difficult to access.  Why do you think trout like to live there? First, always think safety. You definitely won’t catch any trout if you fall and break yourself or your rod. Loose stones on riprap boulders are dangerous.  Grass, either wet or dry can be very slippery despite having cleats on your wading boots.  Furthermore, blackberry bushes can tear holes in your waders as well your arms or legs.  The Deschutes has a healthy population of poison oak. This dreaded plant is always to be avoided especially if wet wading or fishing naked, as some of us occasionally do.  Loose gravel on hard packed dirt is like marbles on hardwood floors.  Take your time and scope out your path.  It pays to have a game plan.

You must take some care when heading down your chosen path, you don’t want to kick rocks, sticks or an old rotting flip flop into your water.  Creeping along and keeping a low profile is always a good idea.  Remember, these fish make a living by survival. 

You would be surprised how many times I have spotted a rising fish, carefully started down the bank with an eye on my target only to see another trout that was hidden from my view from above by a clump of grass or other structure. Now I get shots at two fish.  If I had stomped down carelessly I would have spooked this second player.

Generally, trout will be facing into the current.  We should obviously approach from behind our targeted fish, from a downstream position if possible.  We rarely fish bank water from above the fish but there are a few spots where it’s your only option.  This presentation takes ultimate stealth.  Be mindful of back eddies…  The current runs opposite of the main river.  Consequently, the fish will be facing downriver.  Watching the direction of foam lines is the key to success.  If our trout are cruising an area we need to be even more cautious.  If there is minimum foam, no shade, or little broken surface water the trout will be extremely wary. Cruising trout can be facing any direction at any time.  While this doesn’t happen often on the Deschutes, every once in a while you’ll see it in back eddies.  More times than not, this behavior will be seen in the winter months when low water temps will pull fish into calmer water.  In the heat of the summer you won’t find many “cruising” trout because they will be drawn to faster water with more oxygen.

Getting yourself in to a good position to cast is important but don’t forget stealth.  The next article on “How to rob a bank” will cover how to dress for success. Be careful, be stealthy and have fun!

-Larimer Outfitters Staff

Read Part 1 "How To Rob A Bank -Deschutes Trout"