Tumalo State Park Fishing Access Site

Description
From its source at Little Lava Lake 133 miles downstream to Lake Billy Chinook, the Deschutes River has excellent year-round trout fishing. There are several access points for both boat and bank fishing.


At dawn or dusk try casting for rainbow trout as they sip at mayflies and caddisflies. Grab your raft and float with your feet dangling into the cool water during the heat of the summer. Take a hike and explore one of the river trails as they gently wind through canyons created by the untamed river. Watch deer forage for food just as the sun creeps below the rim of the canyon. Listen as coyotes perform their haunting call, announcing the sunset and the coming darkness. Smell the sweet fragrance of sage and juniper as the dew drips off its branches. Sit quietly in the evening and let the stars put on a show of their own. All of this plus a quiet, quaint campground where your family can stay in a yurt, or camp in your own tent or RV.
 
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Features
Activities:
Fishing
Camping
Picnicking
Hiking
Wildlife Viewing
Campground:
Campsite
Fishing Water Reports
Deschutes River Fishing Report
 (1)
Starting at Little Lava Lake in central Oregon, this 252 mile, southward flowing River, takes a turn at the Wikiup Reservoir, defies gravity and flows north until it empties into the ... moreColumbia River. Archaeologists will tell that for eons, the Deschutes was an important route for Native Americans as they traveled to and from the Columbia. Later, in the 19th century, Historians will tell you that the river was an important marker for pioneers, eventually becoming part of the famous Oregon Trail.

Today the river is considered an important part of our national heritage due to its extraordinary beauty and bountiful fisheries. Over 145 miles of the river have been designated as a National Recreational River while another 30 miles are crowned with National Wild and Scenic River distinction. Typically thought of in three sections – upper, middle and lower - the river passes through high arid country, flower filled meadows, and steep canyons.

As an official “blue ribbon” river, the Deschutes is perhaps most famous for its Columbia River redband trout, known locally as redsides. These trout have an unusual, bright red stripe that covers the bottom half of their bodies; the spots on the upper body are darker than other wild rainbow. Depending on where you are on the river, there can be as many as 1,700 redbands per mile, ranging from 8 – 16 inches. 

Warm Springs to Macks Canyon is the preferred stretch for catching redbands. There is good redband fishing along Warm Springs Tribal Land but special permits are required. The section from Pelton Dam to the River’s mouth has high concentrations of wild trout, including summer steelhead. The entire river is managed as a wild trout fishery.
Game Fish Opportunities:
Steelhead Trout
Columbia River Redband Trout
Brown Trout
All 4 Fish Species
Guide Reports:
High Water on the Middle Deschutes
Fishing Trips:
Deschutes River Wade Trip with Fly & Field Outfitters
Deschutes River Float Trip with Fly & Field Outfitters
Deschutes River Float Trip with River Borne Outfitters
All 4 Fishing Trips
Fishing Access Sites:
Tumalo State Park Fishing Access Site
Tetherow Crossing Fishing Access Site
Sheep Bridge Campground Fishing Access Site
All 6 Fishing Access Sites
On the Water Fishing Reports
Started Here Reports
High Water on the Middle Deschutes
Date:
Fri, 21 Apr, 2017
Fishing Water Report:
Deschutes River Fishing Report
Water levels are still high, but not enough to scare off anglers. While not necessarily ideal conditions, the fishing is still pretty good. The river is down 100 cfs to 400 (normally ... morearound this time of year it’s in the 90-150 range). A lot is coming from the Little Deschutes. Once the runoff winds down, fishing should be excellent.

We’ve had success on the river with Jigs and Micro Mayfly Nymphs. Also heard someone caught a decent sized brown with a sculpin over near Tumalo. High angler traffic in the Lower Bridge area due to reports of strong March Brown hatches along with Grey Caddis, Midges, and some Blue Winged Olives.
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