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!
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!
FALL UPDATE | October 20th, 2025
A QUICK DESCHUTES REPORT.
This is my first day off in a long, long time...
Look at this TOAD! What a beautiful summer steelhead and that hat “ain’t bad either”!
In short this has been the best year of steelhead fishing on the Deschutes in at least ten years!
It has slowed, but not really. There are still fish all around. Tactics have to change, meaning you can’t go to the same spots over and over again and expect to get em, I’m guilty of this.
Some large even extra large fish are swimming around, we got spooled yesterday and Brad Staples was spooled a couple days before.
Although I am leaving the Deschutes In November, I may return here and there to check in on a few spots. You should continue to fish the Deschutes with confidence through the Turkey Holiday or come fish the John Day with me.
Sales Pitch
I’ve got some open Dates in November for the John Day/Klickitat/Deschutes.
My priority is to fish the John Day but on windy days, or after a big rain pivoting to another location is the move. I charge $750 a day for two anglers and we fish dark to dark. These are long days but we are often rewarded the the last real steelhead remaining in the mid Columbia.
The JDR is special and so are its fish. Come join me for a day, I bring hot chili in a thermos, maybe we won’t froze our asses off;)
Text me if you’re interested.
Sam Sickles
541-400-0855
Steelhead Outfitters
SUMMER UPDATE | July 25th, 2025
SUMMER NEWSLETTER REPORT: DESCHUTES UPDATE!
This season started off with a lot of anxiety for us (Deschutes steelhead guides).
OUR 2025 SUMMER STEELHEAD FISHING HAS BEEN GOOD!
This season started off with a lot of anxiety for us (Deschutes steelhead guides). ODFW forecast the worst return of summer steelhead up the Columbia/Snake in recorded history. Of course we all prepared ourselves for closures, etc.
Fast forward 25 days, we have exceeded the 9,900 wild fish required to remain open beyond August 15th and I believe in another couple days we will have exceeded the 23,100 required by the end of August (as of yesterday we have 19,348).
We will remain open this season for sure, fishing has been really good, some days better than others of course but it’s been fun.
I was completely booked until November 17th but some days opened up this week. I have a camp opportunity August 13,14,15, my client has some medical issues that won’t allow him to attend. I have one person taking a spot, I need at least one more and could take two more if you prefer. This is the most popular trip I run, it’s two nights, two mornings and one uninterrupted day. Price is $1800 for one or $3000 for two. I make pretty good food and the camp is top notch. Let me know if you’d like to join me.
I have a couple day trips open, September 3rd, October 28 & 29.
This is shaping up to be the best steelhead fishing we’ve had in a long time and I look forward to seeing the many of you that booked through the summer and fall.
Sam Sickles
541-400-0855
Steelhead Outfitters
STUNNING STEELHEAD!
Just a few sweet shots of our successful summer so far!
Give me a call to book your adventure.
What a sweet, THICK, summer steelhead!