For the second year in a row, I got a Christmas Day Steelie on the Deschutes. ??Trout fishing is tough this time of year due to seasonal closures. ??Steelhead are still availabe but realize they have been in fresh water for about five months now and are starting to show their age. ??However, the river gets a small push of "B-run" fish near the mouth. ??

Please be aware of spawnig beds... it may be tempting to wade out to redds that have fish spawning -- BUT if you want the Deschutes to continue being a blue ribbon trout stream AND great steelhead fishery, respect the beautiful Steelies, trout, and precious few Chinook. We all want our great-grandkids to enjoy this river, don't we ?

DRIES: BWOs, midges, little black stone. NYMPHS: Copper John, soft hackles, peasant tail, serendipity, prince, green rock worm, stonefly nymphs, October caddis nymphs, wooly buggers (on sinking line!!).

STEELIES: Green butt skunk, macks canyon, a-leach, wally walker, red-winged blackbird, Freight Train