While we have no illusions this marks an end to snowfall, it does mean days are getting longer and warmer. When there is one of those warmer days we head to the river. We’ve made several trips to the Lower Deschutes this winter and have gotten more familar with Maupin.
Hwy 197 crosses the Deschutes River in Maupin
It’s a small town precariously occupying a hillside over looking the Deschutes River. It’s really returning to an old haunt and with a bit of exploring we discovered a stretch of river with easy access for all.
Maupin’s downtown mural art
If you’re here make sure to step inside
Highway 197 (Deschutes Ave.) winds it’s way in and back out of the canyon passing through the center of Maupin.
Where the highway crosses fifth street is the Deschutes Angler. . . . a flyfishing shop.
Among the hundreds of shops in river towns only a handful are must stop locations.
The adage “if they don’t have it you don’t need it”hallmarks these places. Deschutes Angler is on that list.
A fishing shop visit could replenish a tying bench or fishing pack, however mostly it’s a means to acquire current intel on local waters. Not all establishments are equal in these aspects, so when you find a good one it gets marked on the map.
The sun helps cut the chill but hasn’t been around enough to coax spring color back into the canyon walls.
A narrow road follows a section of the Lower Deschutes RiverKeeping an eye out … it’s what BCs do
We need wadeable access so take advantage of pullouts along the Deschutes River Access Road.
Fishing alongside traffic comes with some limits. Tip is on constant duty, so if the road offers the shortest route between JQ and Jack he’ll be on it.
Fortunately he is a good listener.
The spot we settled into this winter offers lots of dog friendly access to the river. There’s a wide swath of river silt and grass cut with jagged outcropping of lava rock.
Hunting Red Band Trout on the Deschutes River
The scattering of trees and willow bushes at river’s edge seem bare from the road. Ducking under a branch to gain access to a new pool I notice bud sites and the beginnings of summer foliage.
Won’t be long before the banks are lined with fisherman and the water is full of rafters. By then other waters will become our regular haunt.
Snow blown off tree boughs creates a winter sceneMarch snow loads the branches
Winter arrives in Central Oregon by late November, followed by a stretch of bitter cold after the holiday season. Typically, by now, we’ve moved through a false spring.
However, Second Winter never rolled over us this late in the year. If forecasts are to be believed, winter is over . . . but not before leaving a few inches of snow, then ambling away ahead of a string of spring-like days.
Our snow storms are not California level, but frequently dampen any excursions we might’ve been planning.
That’s not to say we didn’t get out of the house, just not far from it. It is a house policy not to drive on snowpack or icy roads, unless a bakery is the destination.
West end of the pond is iced over
Sunriver HOA is always on top of snow removal. Once parked in a recently plowed lot at the Nature Center, we ventured out onto untracked snow.
Fresh snow enhances any photo opportunity. A bonus is checking on the swans and attempting to spot elusive otters.
Tip enjoying a bit of ‘off-leash’ time
The cygnets have grown and the pond was full of ducks, but we didn’t see any sign of otters . . . may be next time.
It may be another ruse, but we’re definitely taking advantage of the upcoming thaw. After all, we already have stuff on the calendar.
Coyotes yap and howl across the valley, while doves stir along Fort Rock’s face.
With winter subsiding, at least briefly, we venture further from home. This week we headed east, early enough to catch the sunrise at Fort Rock.
The Fremont Highway is a strip of two lane asphalt cutting across the northern corner of the Great Basin.
Rock face catches the first rays of sun
On the western side is a rock structure jutting out of the sage steppe. Fort Rock is an excellent backdrop for sunrise or sunset images, as well as a raptor nesting site.
Summer Lake, one of our favorite birding sites
An hour after sunrise we’ve captured images and drone footage and are back on OR 31 heading further east. Over Picture Rock Pass and down into Summer Lake valley. It’s the latter part of hunting season and there’s not a lot of birding at the wildlife refuge.
Common sight along Fremont Highway
We press on eastward through Paisley to Valley Falls, where we turn north skirting the edge of Abert Lake. Oregon’s only saltwater lake, and one of two in the great basin, its eastern shore is shadowed by a 2500 foot exposed fault scarp. Abert Rim is one of the highest fault scarps in the US.
Abert Rim looking south from the lake’s edge
All this comes together for excellent landscape photo ops. There is renewed awareness of the damage drought and irrigation has brought to this important stop over for migrating birds. Recent legislation will focus research on ways to restore alkaline lakes. Hopefully, it’s not too late.
Receding water lines mark issues with scarce water resources
Starting in April and running into the fall, there are a series of different bird species using Abert as a nesting site, or for just a short stop over. Our trip was a chance to scout potential birding spots. To that end, the calendar has been updated with future excursions, which of course will get documented on these pages.
Summer and Abert lakes are remnants of an ancient sea bed
For now we swing farther north along the western edge of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. We hit Highway 20 outside Burns and then take that road back to Bend and complete the circle.
I may have mentioned adding a streamer box to our fishing sling pack. To fill that box, part of this week was spent at the tying bench working on streamer patterns. The other part was spent doing some on-river testing.
As this will require a laboratory we chose a small stretch of the John Day River.
The Eastern bank catches midday sun.
River access to the John Day is a problem. There’s no shortage of fishable water if you have a boat … well, and a permit.
Winter water levels expose gravel and rock.
To gain wadeable access (a stream bank within walking distance of a safe parking space) we chose a spot 40 river miles upstream from the Columbia . . . a place called Cottonwood Canyon.
Cottonwood bridge and J.S Burres SP are more than just boat take-outs. Where OR 206 crosses the John Day River there is a fairly new state park. In it you’ll find walking paths paralleling a wide gravel bank positioned opposite perfect holding water for Small Mouth Bass.
As a bonus, picnic tables sit under shade trees on a grass lawn right next to day-use parking. Only downside … it’s a long drive.
Throwing streamers to the far bank in search of Small Mouth Bass
Bass are warm water lovers, be mindful that warm is a relative term. There are plenty of reservoirs and lakes in Central Oregon with good bass fishing. Unlike their large mouth cousins, Small Mouth Bass take to moving water.
As the John Day’s water temperature rose the small mouth moved in. At roughly the same time there was a notable drop in seasonal Steelhead run. To some, bass in the John Day is an invasion, but it’s not unlike the introduction of German Brown Trout to western waters.
Willows define a space between water and sage.
Like Brown Trout, Bass are hunters thus streamer patterns are effective. Presentation requires stripping line over holding fish.
I was successful this summer in bringing them to the surface and trust me, the hook up is a kick. However, as the water temperature drops so do the feeding lanes, which is pretty much river fishing in the winter; regardless of species. For this, instead of tiny bead head patterns on dual rigs, you swing weighted minnow patterns about the size of your thumb.
Keeping an eye on the fisher
Winter on the Deschutes has Redside trout using folds in the current to hang out, while the river brings dinner.
Small Mouth Bass hold near the bottom waiting on small fish, their meal includes a chase.
Sunny days are as abundant as wind in this part of the state. Our visit was on a sunny day, perfect for a winter outing.
End to our day
The trip didn’t include any catching, but there was a lot of casting. More trips have been added to our calendar, as well as more time at the tying vice.
The scattering of trees and willow bushes at river’s edge seem bare from the road. Ducking under a branch to gain access to a new pool I notice bud sites and the beginnings of summer foliage.
Like Brown Trout, Bass are hunters thus streamer patterns are effective. Presentation requires stripping line over holding fish.
Winter on the Deschutes has Redside trout using folds in the current to hang out, while the river brings dinner.