I am going to Bend in mid March and am looking for guide recommendations. I am thinking about fishing the Fall or Crooked River. The Deschutes will still be closed and the Metolius does not allow guides. I do plan on fishing the Metolius for a day. I appreciate any information.
Sun River Fly Shop, in Sun River OR, guided me for a day on the Crooked River and I had a blast. I believe the owner was the gentleman who guided me, but I cannot remember his name. Lots of scud fishing on the Crooked. Pretty easy fishing compared to some other rivers in that are (re Metolious). You want to look into a Tribal/Indian Res. Fishing Permit for the Metolious.
Deschutes River Outfitters is a fly shop in Bend. They are a good place to get tips and a fishing lisc. You can rent float tubes there too if you want to fish the headwater lakes on the Deschutes. Nice folks.
If you dig stillwater fishing, hit East Lake. It is south east of Bend, in the Lava Beds. Lake Pauline is right next to it. Pauline is a meat fishery, but East Lake is something different. There is a natural mercury seep in the depths of East that makes the fishing "catch & release" by default. The mercury levels in the fish are way beyond those of even Bluefin/Swordfish/Marlin . But that does not effect the fishing. Absolutely huge fish. 8-10 pound Rainbows are possible, with Browns going a bit bigger.
Remember your sinktips and weighted flies. Many of OR waters do not allow any external weight/shot to be used.
-- Edited by Misterbill at 18:33, 2008-02-26
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The lower deschutes is open below shears falls or around maupin. Its a day trip from Bend but should be good fishing this time of year. Also craine prairie resivour, lava lake and little lava lake are good lakes close to sun river. The fall river is tough and has some restrictions, you may want to check the regs before fishing.
Try "The Hook" fly shop in the Sunriver Mall. A fellow named Neil guided us on the Crooked River. He said he did the snowboarding lesson thing in the winter and the guiding thing in the summer. It should be noted that the Crooked is midging for a lot of hungry rainbows, mostly smaller. He seemed to have a good take on a lot in the area and as well as the bigger fish. Never have hit the Metolius yet as I ran out of days last year but plan on it this year. Please post your results.
TK I have fished the metolius once, and dispite not catching anything had a great time. It was a diverse river and i would suggest if you have a free evening checking it out before you spend the day fishing it, it might increase your chance for success.
Yea, the Metolius is a hard river to fish. I spent a weekend there a few summers ago. I did get two nice Bull trout on big streamers. I have also spent a day on the Crooked River and a day and a half on the Fall River (at the hatchery and up towards the head waters). I fished all three without a guide. Thanks again.
. But that does not effect the fishing. Absolutely huge fish. 8-10 pound Rainbows are possible, with Browns going a bit bigger.
