Bend & the Deschutes
About this
Bend sits on the upper Deschutes River in central Oregon, with the Crooked and Metolius rivers to the north and the lower Deschutes canyon downstream toward Maupin.
Destination hub · 24 mi away in a straight line
Deschutes River
- Type
- Tailwater, Oregon (West)
- Designation
- Featured sport-fishing water · Steelhead / salmon water
- USGS gauges
- 2 live
- Guides
- 9 name it
- Shops
- 4 nearby
Today on the Deschutes River
Reading the gauge…
The Deschutes River is a tailwater in Oregon, listed as Featured sport-fishing water by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
More about the Deschutes River
2 USGS gauges on the water report flow; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife lists 3 species, including rainbow trout, brown trout and whitefish. 9 guides and 4 shops nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Bend & the Deschutes.
Photo credit
The lower Deschutes River canyon above Maupin, Oregon. Photo: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Where it is
Deschutes River is a tailwater in Oregon. Our destination hub Bend & the Deschutes is 24 mi away in a straight line and lists it among its waters.
Flow now at 2 gauges
Reading the gauges…
Follow Deschutes River for flow alerts
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Where to fish
About this
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Deschutes River on the map
About this
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Deschutes River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Deschutes River with 2 USGS gauges.
Restrooms near Deschutes River
Restrooms near Deschutes River
Restrooms within 2 miles of Deschutes River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.
Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
More water near Deschutes River
Featured sport-fishing waterPhoto credit
Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Photo: icetsarina, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Featured sport-fishing waterPhoto credit
The Metolius River at sunrise with Mount Jefferson. Photo: Bonnie Moreland, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Featured sport-fishing waterPhoto credit
The Chimney Rock segment of the Crooked Wild and Scenic River, below Bowman Dam. Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Haystack ReservoirPhoto credit
Eagle Lake, Lassen County, California, with dry Horse Lake in the foreground (aerial). Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Haystack Reservoir.
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Suttle LakePhoto credit
Crowley Lake and the Long Valley Caldera from US 395. Photo: Clinton Steeds, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Suttle Lake.
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Ochoco ReservoirPhoto credit
Ennis Lake, Montana, in March, with the Madison Range beyond. Photo: Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr Not Ochoco Reservoir.
Regulations
About this
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
- Fishing Report - Central Zone | Oregon Department of Fish & WildlifeOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · checked 2026-10-14
- Oregon fishing regulationsOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · checked 2026-10-14
- Oregon weekly trout stocking scheduleOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · checked 2026-10-14
2 official designations
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under salmon & steelhead.
- Featured sport-fishing water
On the ODFW featured waters: Oregon's top steelhead rivers list (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read 2026-11-05). All waters with this designation
- Bend: 50 places go fishing within 90 minutes bend
- Steelhead / salmon water
On the ODFW featured waters: Oregon's top steelhead rivers list (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, read 2026-11-05). All waters with this designation
- below Sherars Falls
- above Sherars Falls &White River
The water on the map
About this
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
- Length
- 255.6 mi (247.7 in OR)
- Drains
- 8,810 sq mi
- Drop
- 4,580 ft · 17.9 ft/mi
- Flows into
- Columbia River
- Watershed
- Upper Deschutes, Lower Deschutes, Middle Columbia-Hood
Public land along it
About this
Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
37.4 of 247.7 mi on public land
- Deschutes National ForestForest Service · 13.8 mi
- Wickiup ReservoirBureau of Reclamation · 9.3 mi
- Prineville Deschutes Field OfficeBureau of Land Management · 5.9 mi
- Crane Prairie ReservoirBureau of Reclamation · 4.5 mi
- Tumalo State ParkCity Land · 2.1 mi
- Crooked River National GrasslandForest Service · 0.9 mi
- County Open SpaceCounty Land · 0.3 mi
- Riley Ranch Nature ReserveRegional Agency Land · 0.3 mi
+1 smaller areas
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Guides and shops near Deschutes River
About this
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
9 guides name it on their website
Guides
Lower Deschutes Outfitters
Madras, OR · 3 mi
Float trips · Walk-and-wade · Deschutes & Lower Deschutes
- Unclaimed
Names this water
Triple T Outfitters
Bend, OR · 11 mi
Crooked & Lake Billy Chinook
- Unclaimed
- Veteran-owned
Names this water
Brian Silvey's FLY FISHING GUIDE SERVICE
Maupin, OR · 27 mi
Float trips · Spey & two-handed · Deschutes & Sandy
- Unclaimed
Names this water
Deschutes River Anglers
Bend, OR · 44 mi
Multi-day trips · Overnight camp trips · Owyhee & Deschutes
- Unclaimed
Names this water
Renton’s River Adventures
Bend, OR · 46 mi
Spey & two-handed · Multi-day trips · Deschutes & North Umpqua
- Unclaimed
Names this water
Deep Canyon Outfitters
Bend, OR · 47 mi
Float trips · Overnight camp trips · Deschutes & Crooked
- Unclaimed
Names this water
Legendary Outfitters LLC
Sunriver, OR · 66 mi
Drift boat · Spey & two-handed · Deschutes & Crooked
- Unclaimed
Names this water
Steelhead Outfitters
Hood River, OR · 69 mi
Drift boat · Jet boat · Deschutes & Sandy
- Unclaimed
Names this water
4 shops nearby
Deschutes River Fly Shop and Camp
Madras, OR
Fly shop · Guided trips · Casting lessons & classes
- Unclaimed
Species and hatches
About this
The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.
Listed by the state agency
Rainbow trout
Species guide
Photo credit
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Brown trout
Species guide
Photo credit
Brown trout (Salmo trutta), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service illustration. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- whitefish
When the bugs come off
About this chart
1 hatch charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.
- January: no charted hatch
- February: no charted hatch
- March: no charted hatch
- April: no charted hatch
- May: 1 charted hatch
- June: no charted hatch
- July: no charted hatch
- August: no charted hatch
- September: no charted hatch
- October: no charted hatch
- November: no charted hatch
- December: no charted hatch
Salmonfly (May)
Fish these abroad
About this
Matched on the fish the agencies list for both waters first, then the same water type, an official designation or flagship listing on both, and a similar mapped size where USGS hydrography covers both.
At most two waters per country. A shared fish is a listing, not a promise: presence varies by reach and season.
Like the Deschutes River? Same fish, overseas.
Flagship waterPhoto credit
The Meander River in Deloraine, Tasmania. Photo: Gary Houston, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Flagship waterPhoto credit
The Tekapo–Pukaki hydro canal, Mackenzie Country, Canterbury. Photo: Avenue, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
TailwaterPhoto credit
The Grand River just north of Paris, Ontario, looking upstream. Photo: JustSomePics, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
TailwaterPhoto credit
The lower Clutha River / Mata-Au and Inch Clutha from Kaitangata. Photo: Andrewrutherford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
TailwaterRepresentative photo · not Río CalcurrupePhoto credit
The Río Toltén at Pocoyán. Photo: Maxbalter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Río Calcurrupe.
TailwaterRepresentative photo · not Brumbys CreekPhoto credit
The South Esk River, Tasmania. Photo: Michael Coghlan from Adelaide, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Brumbys Creek.
Fish it when it's winter here
Southern seasons open while ours close.
Flagship waterPhoto credit
Penstock Lagoon, Central Highlands, Tasmania. Photo: Mike Cline, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Freestone riverRepresentative photo · not Río PetrohuéPhoto credit
The Río Puelo at Las Gualas, Cochamó. Photo: Nicolás from seno de reloncaví, Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Río Petrohué.
Lake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago LlanquihuePhoto credit
The Río Simpson passing Coyhaique, Aysén. Photo: Manxuc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Llanquihue.
Lake or reservoir
Flagship waterRepresentative photo · not Mataura RiverPhoto credit
The Oreti River near Lumsden, Southland. Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not Mataura River.
Flagship waterPhoto credit
Great Lake, Tasmania. Photo: Peripitus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Gear checklist
About this
A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.
Big western rivers (wade fishing)
9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish
Open the checklistVideos for this water (5)
Watch: reading a trout stream
About this
Seams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
How I Learned to Read Water (Fly Fishing)Embedded from YouTube · Mad River Outfitters · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube How To Read The Water with Tom RosenbauerEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube Reading the Water to Successfully Locate TroutEmbedded from YouTube · Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Watch: nymphing basics
About this
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
90° Nymph RigEmbedded from YouTube · Huge Fly Fisherman · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube Casting with an Indicator & Better Nymphing TechniquesEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Fish Tales
About this
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Deschutes River.
No stories from here yet.
Sources for this page
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
All 16 sources and dates
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge DESCHUTES RIVER NEAR MADRAS, OR. Water type is our own classification.
- Fishing Report - Central Zone | Oregon Department of Fish & WildlifeOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · checked 2026-10-14
- Oregon fishing regulationsOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · checked 2026-10-14
- Oregon weekly trout stocking scheduleOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · checked 2026-10-14
- Oregon fishing and trout stocking mapsOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · checked 2026-10-14
- ODFW featured waters: Oregon's top steelhead rivers (official list)Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · checked 2026-11-05
- NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies)U.S. Geological Survey · checked 2026-11-04
- Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public accessU.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project · checked 2026-11-05
- USGS gauge 14092500: DESCHUTES RIVER NEAR MADRAS, ORU.S. Geological Survey · checked 2026-10-21
- USGS gauge 14076500: DESCHUTES RIVER NEAR CULVER, ORU.S. Geological Survey · checked 2026-10-21
- Overture Maps places (guide map points)Overture Maps Foundation, CDLA-Permissive 2.0 · checked 2026-09-30
- Statistics documentation (percentiles of daily mean discharge)U.S. Geological Survey · checked 2026-10-15
- hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema)U.S. Geological Survey · checked 2026-10-15
- Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major floodingNational Weather Service · checked 2026-10-15
- Turn Around Don't DrownNational Weather Service · checked 2026-10-15
- 5 tips for fishing in hot waterOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · not verified by us (the site blocks automated checks): check the agency’s site
- ODFW takes action to help native fish (16 July 2015)Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife · checked 2026-10-22