Upper Deschutes Fishing Report – August 7, 2026: Fishing remains steady on the Upper Deschutes, water levels are currentley dropping but the best opportunities coming during the cooler morning and evening windows. As temperatures climb and sunlight hits the water, trout tend to settle into deeper runs & shaded areas.
Best Time to Fish: Early mornings and evenings continue to be the most productive. Focus your effort before the heat builds or later in the day as temperatures begin to drop.
What’s Working: Caddis patterns, Purple Haze, PMDs, Perdigons, Zebra Midges, Pheasant Tails, and smaller streamer patterns remain solid choices. Having both dries and subsurface options ready will help as feeding activity changes throughout the day.
Recommended Approach: Work deeper pockets, shaded banks, softer seams, and slower water adjacent to faster current. Look for surface activity during the cooler hours and fish dries when trout are looking up. If surface activity slows, move to nymphs through deeper holding water or cover likely structure with a small streamer.