Deschutes Beavertail to the Columbia Float

August 28-30, 2008

 

This year we decided to try and avoid freezing weather and bad conditions on the Deschutes by going in August and taking a 3-day float from Beavertail to the mouth at the Columbia to be able to hit more good water.   We had a group of four this time around - Jay, his son Matt, and Jeff came up from Florida to join on the float.  

We drove down the day before and stayed at The Imperial which was very nice, beat the heck out of camping.   We didn't fish that day but did go check out Shearer's Falls to see if any fish were coming up the ladder.

Jeff trying on gear at the Inn	Native fisherman
Shearer's Falls

   

We awoke at 4:30 a.m. to meet Gordy and Charles and start the trip down to the put-in and down the river for 36 miles.  The first morning we had great conditions - light breeze, clear water, easy wading.  Jay got a fish on the dry pretty early on, a hen that took a Lime Titanic in the 2nd run of the morning. 

Getting a very early start	Fishing the early light
First fish - a hen that went for Jay's Lime Titanic	A shady spot for lunch

After lunch it became obvious that the water was clouding up due to something going on with the White River.  Around Ferry Canyon I did manage a solid hit to a Painted Lady but missed the hook-up mainly due to being shocked by the strike when I had only about 1' of fly line out and was just fishing the leader.   By mid-afternoon we pretty much gave up for the day and headed into camp below Mack's Canyon.   Harley had camp set up when we arrived and food was soon on the table.

Boats at camp, see the cloudy water	Taking off waders
Our accommodations for the float	Camp kitchen and dining area

The next morning the river looked a little bit better than the night before but still had a bit of color.  Jeff and I fished the camp water with Charles while Jay and Matt took off with Gordy.  At the top of a run I had a take within a few casts and gave out a big "Fish On!" cry.  Quickly though I realized I wasn't into a steelhead and hand landed and released a nice 16" Redside trout before Charles came around the corner to help with the steelhead he thought I was into.  Oh well, at least the skunk was off.    Later that morning Jay and I were fishing across river from each other when we both had takes that we missed and couldn't get the fish to come back to another fly.   

Heading to lunch	Napping in the shade
I'm heading to fish while the guides snore

After lunch the wind picked up quite a bit and casting became a bit more challenging.  I fished my Sage Switch rod through it though and found that with the right line that thing cast well even in the wind.  At Steelhead Flats in the afternoon Matt finally hooked up with his first steelhead, a wild buck that took a Green Butt Hilton.

Casting at Steelhead Flats	Matt's first steelhead!
Jeff on Gatorback

That evening the wind never died down so sleeping was a challenge.  We awoke to winds in the 15-20 mph range that quickly got stronger.   We fished a few good runs but then the water clouded up, it got colder and the wind picked up so we opted to don rain jackets and life vests, pump out the boats, and head down through a series of Class III rapids to the landing at the Columbia mouth.  Of course we saw jet sleds pulling in fish off and on while Charles and Gordy had to row against the upstream wind for the last 10 miles or so of river.  

Gearing up for the rapids (and the cold)	Gordy pumping out the boat, note cloudy water again
The first Class III rapids	Heritage Landing at the end of the trip

We hit the landing by noon and decided to just pack up and head back to Seattle that night.  Not the best trip condition wise again for us, this is the 3rd year in a row that the water has clouded up on us.  Wind we expected but not the clouded up river.  Two fish in 3-days was a bit disappointing though Matt got his first and Jay finally got one to take a dry on the Deschutes.  We had several other fish take flies that we didn't set up on.    Of course after spending 3 days on the river I got back home and landed a nice wild buck within an hour on the Snoqualmie 15 minutes from home!