You'll Always Remember Your First

Doesn't look like it, but Jake was really excited...

Jake Markezin from the East Coast fished with me and my good friend Ed Hepp on one of the last days of the steelhead season on the Deschutes. Jake popped his cherry on this nice November buck. Nice going Jake!

First Snow Of The Season

I'll take snow over 34 degree rain any day...  That's exactly what we had this week while chasing late season steelhead on the Deschutes River.  I spent a wonderful day with long time Larimer Outfitter clients Rich & Janis Kornbroth.  Despite the snow and colder temperatures, we had a great day.  

-TL

How To Warp A Trout Fisherman

Fished with Chett Cross from Rocky Mountain Anglers in Boulder, Colorado late last week.  After running my jet boat up the lower Deschutes on the most beautiful morning I've ever seen, Chett lost his steelhead virginity with this beautiful native.  I always love watching a hard core trout addict getting his world rocked by a rampaging steelhead.  Nice going Chett!

Father and Son

I fished with Eric and Ben Steel last week on the lower Deschutes.  We had a great couple of days on the water!  I always love fishing with a Dad and his Son... Reminds me of my youth.  Some of my best memories are from spending time with my Dad on some remote lake or river.  -As a guide, it's a privilege to be a part of wonderful Father and Son memories.  Thanks for a fun trip guys!

-TL

Last Camp Of The Season

We just wrapped up our final steelhead camp trip on the Deschutes.  Thanks to everyone who fished at my camp this season, I really appreciate the business.  And, a big thanks to the guide & camp staff for all of your hard work.  What an awesome year!

Gotta Love Autumn

Fall is officially here in the Columbia Gorge and with it comes my favorite time of the season to be on the water.  Although our schedule is booked almost solid until the end of the month, we do have a few openings on the Deschutes and Klickitat in late October and November.  If you enjoy fishing without the crowds, the “late season” offers some great fishing opportunities.  –Some of the largest steelhead start showing up in our rivers in November.  Give me a ring if you want to get out this fall.

-TL

Late Fall Steelhead on the Deschutes

Jim Trainer found this wild beauty on a recent Deschutes trip with Larimer Outfitters guide Mike Duffy.  Nice going Trainer!  The late season is our favorite time to be on the Deschutes... The big fish show up and there's no one around.

-TL

Steelhead Camp

Larimer Outfitters client Steve Turner sent me some great images from a recent Steelhead Camp on the Deschutes.  Thanks for the shots Steve!

Finding Walter

Dan Gordon from The Gorge Fly Shop recently found this beautiful 39" wild buck while on a Deschutes Steelhead Camp.  Nice going Dan!  I don't care what the other guys in the group say, you're alright in my book.

-TL

More Photos From Steelhead Camp

Here's a few more from a recent Deschutes River Steelhead Camp... Enjoy!

Deschutes Steelhead Camp

It's been a while since I've been able to post...  Making hay while the sun is shining!  We've been booked solid every day...  It's been a great fall on both the Deschutes and Klickitat.  Here's a few great photos from our Deschutes River Steelhead Camp.  Thanks Dick and Dale for a fun trip!

-TL

Nice Fish Paul

Paul Warner found this handsome Deschutes buck on a recent five-day Deschutes Steelhead Camp.  Despite three days of nuclear wind, it was an awesome trip.  Thanks Paul!

-TL

Deschutes Steehead Camp

I took this shot early in the morning as my clients were gearing up for the morning session of steelhead fishing on the Deschutes.  Waking up early has it's rewards.  Outside of superb dry line fishing, watching the canyon come to life is pure magic.

-TL

Fighting Gravity

I had a number of folks ask about a skater pictured in a recent post I did about the Klickitat River.  I designed "Fighting Gravity" last season and it has become my number one skater for steelhead.  It's been a great producer on the Deschutes and Klickitat.  Plus, it's easy to tie and floats like a cork. Hopefully, it'll be available in fly shops next season, until then -here's the recipe.

Hook:  3X long, 2X heavy down eye streamer hook.
Thread: 6/0 Uni-Thread
Tail: Crystal flash
Body: 2mm foam -two pieces tyed Chernobyl Ant style
Collar:  Spun deer hair, clipped on the bottom.

Pretty simple...  The pic is of my two favorite colors but you can get creative!

-Tom Larimer

Hickman's Fish Taco

Mmmmm... Tacos

Russell Davis found this Deschutes buck on a recent guide trip with Mike Duffy.  It ate one of our favorite flies for both summer and winter steelhead... Hickman's Fish Taco.  The "Taco" is available in all the favorite food groups of steelhead and salmon. LO guide Jeff Hickman also introduced the Flash Taco last season and it too has earned is place in our box.  It's easy to cast and moves like a sea creature.

Deschutes Steelhead Fly Fishing Report -August 18, 2011

Doesn't get anymore shit eating than that...

Two beautiful steelhead, two happy anglers.  Opitz and Bittman tore it up with Larimer Outfitters guide Jeff Hickman last week.  The recent drop in water temps have made for better fishing as of late.  Skaters are coming into play in the mornings though you're better off fishing a wet in the evenings.  The sink-tip bite in the mid-day has been strong until around 3:00pm.  Life is good on the Deschutes.

Deschutes Steelhead Fly Fishing Report

Steelhead fishing is picking up on the Deschutes.  It's still a hunt, but life is getting good for those chasing chrome on the "D".  The bite has been strong through early afternoon then shutting down as the river warms up.  The Columbia River dam counts have gone up with 6000 to 8000 fish a day coming over bonneville dam and almost as many over the Dalles Dam.  -It's only going to get better!

-Tom Larimer

Deschutes Steelhead Are Here!!!

It's that time of the year again... Deschutes steelhead are showing up in the lower river and life is good.  We've been finding fish on a regular basis, but it's been a hunt.  Good anglers are finding one to two fish a day.  That being said, the dam counts are finally picking up and I'm expecting the fishing to follow suite.  For those of you wondering, the water temps. have been 61 to 62 degrees in the mornings and reaching 64 to 69 depending on day time temperatures.  The water is still fairly high after the rains from last week.  We've been finding fish on floating lines rigged with an intermediate Poly Leader and flies dressed on heavy irons during the low light time periods.  Sink-tips have been very effective in both the shade and in full light conditions.  So there's the dirt...  There's fish to be caught and it's only going to get better.  Here's a few shots from the past week or so.  -TL

Our schedule is filling up quick!  Give us a call at 541-490-9446 or email us to plan your trip!

The Trout Fishing Is Good

Mmmmm... Yellow Sally

The trout fishing on the Deschutes is as good as it gets.  We've been having some great fishing in the mornings and early afternoons.  The river has been slowing down around 2:00 pm, then picking back up around 4:00 pm.  While the dry fly fishing has been a little slow, we've been having huge days dead drifting small pheasant tails, midge and caddis pupa.  If we have found fish on top, it's been a yellow sally or caddis game.  However, the fish are starting to key in on terrestrials like grasshoppers and ants.  Windy afternoons can generate some great dry fly fishing this time of the year.  Most anglers on the Deschutes don't consider fishing grasshoppers... That's because there isn't a large population of bugs from Mack's Canyon up river.  However, the lower river offers some fantastic terrestrial fishing.

-Tom Larimer

Back on the Lower Deschutes

The Lower Deschutes is finally low enough to safely navigate with our jet boats.  Guide Mike Duffy and I headed up the creek today to check things out.  The river is still high but in great shape.  We didn't fish much but did manage to hook a few trout in the spots we fished.  It was great to see the lower river again!

-Tom Larimer