Idaho Fish Report

DESCHUTES RIVER, mouth to Pelton Dam: 

These next few weeks will likely be the best steelhead fishing of the season on the lower Deschutes.

The Deschutes River below Moody Rapids reopened on Monday, Sep. 16. Permanent Deschutes regulations are in effect for those waters to the mouth of the Deschutes and the entire lower Deschutes River. The next few weeks are a great time for easy access steelhead fishing on the Deschutes around Moody.

Steelhead fishing throughout the lower river is expected to be good through September and into early October. Many hatchery and wild steelhead are likely to be caught in the next few weeks; if you catch a wild steelhead, practice good catch-and-release technique, keep fish wet, and release all wild fish unharmed.

Salmon fishing has been picking up at Sherars and throughout the lower river.

Not as many trout anglers this time of year, but nymphing has still been good up between Warm Springs and Maupin.

DESCHUTES RIVER, Benham Falls to Little Lava Lake:

The Deschutes River upstream of Benham Falls is scheduled to close for the year Sept. 30, 2024. Angler reports of good fishing for brown trout below Wickiup Reservoir and whitefish, redband and brook trout from Crane Prairie Reservoir to Little Lava Lake. Flows are being reduced as the demand for irrigation water decreases. ODFW staff noticed evidence of bait fishing at many locations during spring fish surveys and remind anglers that the use of bait is prohibited on the Upper Deschutes River.