Idaho Fish Report

DESCHUTES RIVER, mouth to Pelton Dam:       

The emergency Hoot Owl Closure, which prohibited fishing after 2pm from the Deschutes River mouth to Sherars Falls, was lifted Aug. 10.

The mouth of the Deschutes River at I-84 upstream to the lower end of Moody rapids is closed to fishing from July 15 to Sept. 15.

Anglers have been reporting good trout action on tightline nymphing.

Steelhead fishing has been slow. However, anglers should expect fishing to start picking up by mid-August. The run will peak in the lower reaches (from Macks Canyon downstream to the mouth) at the beginning of September.

Fall Chinook and coho fishing opened Aug 1. Fall Chinook fishing is open from Moody rapids to Sherars Falls, and coho fishing is open from Moody rapids to the Pelton Regulating Reservoir Dam. The bag limit is two salmon or hatchery steelhead, plus an additional hatchery steelhead for an aggregate of 3 adult fish harvested per day.  

A few fall Chinook have passed through the Sherars Falls trap, and the number of fish in the river will continue to increase through August; a relatively robust return of fall Chinook is expected on the Deschutes this Fall.