FISHING REPORTS
STEELHEAD | TROUT | SMALLMOUTH BASS
Our goal here is to give you active, current, and honest on the water video fishing reports. You will see live what is happening. There won’t be any archives or two year old reports here, just live action!
SPRING 2026 | April 1st, 2026
DESCHUTES TROUT FISHING
Won't be long and we'll be throwin stones!...
Spring is for Trout, Deschutes Trout!
Summer Steelhead Right Around the Corner!
QUICK SPRING DESCHUTES TROUT REPORT!
It’s going to be a low water year and that is good for spring trout! The fish will be settled into their spots and feeling happy. I anticipate adult Golden Stones and Salmonflies by May 1. Whether you want to fish dry flies only, learn how to hunt giant rainbows in the heavy boils, or take a trout spey day, I can help.
SPECIAL DISCOUNT: I’m offering an early booking discount 10% off ending April 15th, standard price is $650, so that would make it $585. I still burn a ton of gas and make cheeseburgers! This is a great way to introduce someone to fly fishing!
Summer Steelhead
The Deschutes
Once again we are booked through October. If you would like to be added to my cancellation list please let me know. Seats do open up and I fill them quickly.
John Day River
I am now booking November, we will fish into December weather permitting. This is a float trip, spey rod swing fly fishing. Please remember on days too windy to get down the river we will move to the Klickitat of the Deschutes.
$750 1 or 2 anglers.
Klickitat River
Now Booking. The Klickitat is a November fishery for me, it closes December 1. This is a float trip, spey rod swing fly fishing.
$750 1 or 2 anglers.
Oh My Goodness! Stunning, Absolutly Stunning!
Don’t Cha Just Wish It Was Summer Already?!
Sam Sickles
541-400-0855
Steelhead Outfitters
YEAR END UPDATE | Dec, 16th, 2025
A BIG THANK YOU!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!...
LAST Deschutes Fish of the year!
LAST John Day Fish of the year!
To everyone who fished with me in 2025, it was an unforgettable year. In fact, by the numbers it was the best year of steelhead fishing in at least a decade. The year over year support from you allows me to live this incredible life. 2026 will be my 17th year as a registered guide in Oregon, It’s hard to believe, you made that happen, Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
QUICK SANDY REPORT!
I actually went fishing yesterday, even caught a steelhead. I’m predicting a nice wet, warm winter. Steelhead fishing was exceptionally good last summer and fall and I expect it to continue through the winter. If you would like to get out with me this winter please shoot me a text or email.
THE WRAP UP!
What a year to be a steelhead angler! We started chasing summer steelhead on the Deschutes July 7th and pretty much caught them every day. Moved over to the John Day November 3rd and again, caught ‘em every day.
The 2025 return over Bonneville Dam was 156,581, significantly down from prior year. You wouldn’t know that by the catch rates we had this summer and fall. A-Run fish (July-August returns), were off the charts. One explanation for the much better fishing was that so many early fish showed above The Dalles dam prior to a thermal block but that didn’t actually happen, an overwhelming number of steelhead remained below The Dalles until after Labor Day.
We had seasonably cool weather and decent water temps in 2025, and many fish turned right and swam up the Deschutes for several weeks. These fish are strays or “dip-ins”. The strays stay in the Deschutes until something changes like water flow or a massive drop in water temperatures…that did not happen this year.
My last Day on the Deschutes River was November 2nd and we landed 9 steelhead. I started my John Day River season on the 3rd of November and did not regret it for a minute, my last day there was December 1st.
I will be setting my 2026 schedule in the next few weeks. Sadly I do not have enough dates for all of the people looking for trips, I apologize for that, I’ll do the best job I can.
IN THE MEANTIME!
I need some eager anglers for this winter on the Sandy and I need eager anglers for trout fishing this spring.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Sam Sickles
541-400-0855
Steelhead Outfitters
Can you see it? Better have some shades on!