Deschutes River (Lower), Oregon Fishing Guide

The lower Deschutes is a desert canyon river known for summer steelhead and native redside (redband) rainbow trout. Only hatchery steelhead may be kept, and fishing from a boat is not allowed, so boats are used only to get to the bank. Where the river borders the Warm Springs Reservation, non-tribal anglers stay on the east side unless they have a tribal permit.

📍 North-central Oregon. The lower Deschutes runs about 100 miles from Pelton/Round Butte dams near Warm Springs north through Maupin and past Sherars Falls to the Columbia River. The Warm Springs Reservation borders the west bank along part of the river.

Map: spots, ramps and marinas

★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)

Open the full Pacific Northwest Rivers & Lakes map →

Quick facts

The Deschutes runs 252 miles to the Columbia; the last 100 miles were made an Oregon Scenic Waterway in 1970 and got federal Wild and Scenic status in 1988.
The lower river is managed jointly by the BLM Prineville District, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Oregon Parks and Recreation.
Summer steelhead start entering in June; passage over Sherars Falls (river mile 43-44) peaks in mid to late September.
ODFW estimates that 50-90% of hatchery steelhead passing Sherars Falls are strays from other basins.
Round Butte Dam at river mile 100 is the upper limit for steelhead.

What you can catch

Summer steelhead
Wild fish must be released; only hatchery steelhead may be kept.
Redside (redband) rainbow trout
Native trout of the lower canyon; 2 per day, 10 to 13 inches, under current regs.
Fall chinook salmon
Open Aug 1 - Oct 31 from I-84 up to Sherars Falls (check yearly).
Coho salmon
Open Aug 1 - Dec 31 in the lower sections (check yearly).
Mountain whitefish
Common in the lower canyon.
Hatchery stray steelhead
Many hatchery fish come from upper Columbia and Snake River hatcheries.

Month by month

January	Trout and hatchery steelhead open year-round below the reservation boundary.
February	Blue-winged olive mayflies start on gray afternoons.
March	Trout fishing; BWO hatches.
April	Caddis start. Sherars Falls to Buck Hollow closed Apr 1 - Jul 31. Reservation boundary to Pelton opens Apr 22.
May	Salmonfly hatch starts near the Columbia in late May; boater limited-entry periods begin May 15.
June	Salmonfly and golden stone hatch moves up to Maupin and above. First summer steelhead enter the river.
July	Steelhead in the lower river below Sherars Falls; caddis evenings.
August	Steelhead build in the lower river. Chinook and coho seasons open Aug 1 in lower sections.
September	Peak steelhead passage over Sherars Falls in mid to late September; BWO returns.
October	Steelhead spread through the lower 100 miles; October caddis. Chinook season ends Oct 31.
November	Steelhead fishing continues.
December	Steelhead caught as late as December. Reservation boundary to Pelton closes after Dec 31.

Tips

Buy a BLM Lower Deschutes Boater Pass before floating; it is required year-round, day or overnight.
Do not fish from your boat; land and wade.
Stay off the islands west of mid-channel along the reservation; landing and fishing there are not allowed.
Book salmonfly-season guides and raft trips early; late May and June is the busiest time.
If you catch a steelhead with an orange 'ODFW The Dalles' dart tag, release wild fish quickly and report the tag to ODFW at (541) 296-4628.

Rules and license

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW); Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; BLM (boater passes) · Official rules page ↗

Oregon fishing license plus a Combined Angling Tag to fish for steelhead or salmon; a Columbia River Basin Endorsement is also needed in the Columbia Basin.
Only hatchery steelhead may be kept; wild steelhead harvest is not allowed in the Central Zone.
No angling from a floating device on the lower Deschutes.
Rainbow trout: 2 per day, 10-inch minimum and 13-inch maximum; artificial flies and lures only, except bait allowed from Sherars Falls down about 3 miles to the upper trestle.
Closed: Sherars Falls down to Buck Hollow Creek Apr 1 - Jul 31; and about 600 ft below Pelton Regulating Dam.
Where the river borders the Warm Springs Reservation, non-tribal anglers are limited to the eastern half; a tribal permit is needed for the reservation side (call 541-553-2002).
No launching boats from reservation land; no camping, fishing or landing on reservation islands.
ODFW regs change yearly - check the current Sport Fishing Regulations.

Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.

Boat ramps and marinas

The map above shows 7 boat ramps and 0 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.

Beavertail Boat Launch
Buckhollow Boat Launch
Harpham Flat Boat Launch
Longbend Boat Launch
Pine Tree Boat Launch
Sandy Beach Boat Launch

Sources

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.