In an ideal world, trout would chase down big dry flies every day. For those seasoned anglers, you know this is rarely the case. Dry fly hatches are often a technical dance, balancing presentation and the right fly with a well-placed cast. But every year, big bugs emerge on the banks of the Deschutes River signaling the start of dry fly madness—the annual salmonfly hatch.
If you’ve hit this hatch before, you know it’s nothing short of epic. Some of the biggest fish in the river are looking up, and they’re eager to pounce on foam bugs. For those who haven’t experienced it, this hatch is the crown jewel of dry fly fishing in the Pacific Northwest. Here’s everything you need to know about fishing the salmonfly hatch on the Deschutes River.
The Salmonfly
Salmonflies are a species of stonefly, and the largest species of stones in North America. Their lifecycle consists of an egg, a nymph, and an adult phase. The eggs hatch into nymphs. Over time, the nymphs grow and molt until they are ready to molt into an adult. The nymphs then crawl onto the banks and hatch into the adult salmonflies that anglers eagerly await. This process takes 3-4 years, with the true giant stoneflies making up the latter. While salmon flies can be found throughout Western states like Colorado and Montana, the Deschutes River is one of only a handful of rivers in the Pacific Northwest that supports them.
Timing the Hatch
The salmonfly hatch can be tricky to hit just right. On the Deschutes, it’s one of the first major hatches, and a great way to kick off the season. Historically, the hatch occurred later in the spring, around May and June. However, a change in the water flow from Pelton Dam has created warmer water throughout the year. As a result, the hatch has shifted to April and May.
While it can be a tricky hatch to hit, it is very water temperature dependent. Typically, when temperatures reach the mid-50s, salmonflies will start to hatch. This also means that lower stretches of the river with warmer water will see hatching bugs first. If you missed the hatch on a stretch of the river, follow it upstream, and there’s a good chance you’ll find some hatching bugs.
Fishing The Hatch
The Deschutes River is Oregon’s premier trout fishery. For anglers wanting to fish the salmonfly hatch, the best stretch is the water below Pelton Dam. Here, the cool tailwaters support lots of trout as well as the highest densities of salmonflies.
Fishing the salmonfly hatch is a lot different from traditional dry fly fishing. For one, the hatch occurs on land. The salmonfly nymphs will crawl out of the water and onto vegetation along the riverbank. Once they hatch, they will fly around and fall off the vegetation where trout are lining up. Ideally, you want a light breeze when fishing the hatch—enough to blow bugs in the water but not too much that it interferes with casting.
With that in mind, anglers need to switch up their approach when targeting trout during the salmonfly hatch. Rather than wading to fish mid-river, target the banks. Trout are well aware that the hatch is happening and will leave their favorite pools in favor of the river’s edge in search of an easy meal. Fish upstream and either stay on the bank or wade out a few feet to avoid spooking any fish. Lastly, don’t be afraid to fish your fly right up against the bank. Even big fish will charge into shallow water for a salmonfly.
