Oregon

Overview

Oregon occupies a unique position in the fly fishing world, straddling the divide between the arid high desert of the interior and the lush, rain-soaked forests of the coast, with each landscape producing fisheries of national significance. The Deschutes River, carving a dramatic basalt canyon through central Oregon's sagebrush country, is the state's flagship trout and steelhead fishery, offering outstanding redsides rainbow trout fishing from spring through fall and a prized run of summer steelhead that draws anglers from across the continent to swing flies in its heavy, powerful currents from July through November.

The diversity of Oregon's waters extends well beyond the Deschutes. The Rogue River in southern Oregon provides a legendary multi-day float trip through the Wild Rogue Wilderness, where summer steelhead, half-pounders, and resident trout keep rods bent through miles of pristine canyon water. The Metolius River near Camp Sherman is one of the most beautiful spring creeks in the West, its crystalline flows emerging fully formed from the base of Black Butte and holding wild rainbow and bull trout in forested surroundings. The Crooked River tailwater near Prineville and the Fall River near Sunriver offer additional central Oregon options, while the McKenzie River in the Cascade foothills east of Eugene produces wild rainbows and is the birthplace of the McKenzie drift boat that has become synonymous with Western river fishing.

Oregon's coastal rivers deserve special attention. The North Umpqua River, flowing through old-growth Douglas fir forest, is considered one of the finest summer steelhead rivers in existence, with its legendary Camp Water section offering classic swing-fishing in a setting of cathedral-like beauty. The Sandy, Clackamas, and Wilson rivers on the north coast provide winter steelhead fishing within easy reach of Portland, while the remote rivers of the south coast offer solitude and wild steelhead in tannic, tea-colored water that flows through ancient forests.

The Oregon season varies by region and species. Central Oregon trout fishing runs from late April through October, with the famous salmonfly hatch on the Deschutes in late May being a highlight. Summer steelhead arrive on coastal rivers from June through November. Winter steelhead fishing extends from December through March. The state's combination of accessible urban fisheries, remote wilderness waters, and everything in between makes it one of the most versatile fly fishing destinations in the West.