Demystifying the Lower Deschutes Salmonfly Hatch
May is just around the corner, which means one thing here in Oregon — we're just weeks away from our most famous and widely fished hatch of the year: the Lower Deschutes Salmonfly Hatch.
Why Anglers Love the Salmonfly Hatch
People love to catch big fish on big bugs. Watching a trophy-sized Deschutes River redband explode on a bushy dry fly just a few feet away is a real adrenaline rush. There is no better opportunity to catch massive, wily trout on dry flies with regularity. The fish treat this hatch like teens at a music festival, behaving against their better instincts with reckless abandon.
It's More Than Just Salmonflies
"Salmonfly" hatch is a bit of a misnomer — or at least somewhat incomplete. Salmonflies are just one of three stonefly species that hatch on the Lower Deschutes this time of year. The others — golden stoneflies and little yellow sallies — join forces with their larger cousins to create the abundant hatch we all expect when warm May days arrive.
Understanding the Bug
Salmonflies and golden stones are large, protein-rich bugs with flight skills that leave much to be desired. These awkward, clumsy flies have bodies roughly the size of a cocktail wiener, propelled through the air with two sets of distinct, paired wings. On the ground, the wings sit flat against the insect's body. In the air, they look somewhere between a hummingbird and a Chinook helicopter that's about to crash.
Those odd proportions make for a clumsy bug. Both salmonflies and golden stones have a propensity for ending up in the water — particularly along the banks — where trout capitalize on a helpless, substantial meal.
Timing the Hatch
We typically begin to see adult stoneflies crawling out of the water into bushes and trees along the banks toward the end of April. As May progresses, the bushes fill with adult bugs waiting patiently for outdoor temperatures to climb. These stoneflies are born with wet wings that make it difficult to fly until a few consecutive warm days dry them off. After a few days in the high-70s or low-80s, the air is as full of bugs as the bushes.
Once adult bugs are airborne, more and more begin to hit the water. It's not long before fish key in — after which time outdoor temperature starts to matter a bit less. If fish are keyed in on stoneflies and you see a 65-degree day in the forecast, you'll still find fish looking up and willing to take your offering, even if there aren't many adult naturals on the water.
Early in the hatch, you'll find most fish tight to the banks, where salmonflies and golden stones have been dropping from overhanging branches into the water. As the hatch progresses and more bugs get airborne, you'll be able to effectively target trout further out in the main current.
This year's hatch is likely to be on the earlier side, given the warm spring we've been having. It's a common misconception that the hatch "starts" at the mouth and moves upstream — in reality, that can change year to year. Some years the hatch seems to go off all at once; others, it's more cyclical. As is often the case with fly angling, you'll have to get out there and experiment to figure out the program.
Gear and Rigging for the Salmonfly Hatch
Rigging and rod selection is about as easy as it gets for this hatch. If you prefer to fish the biggest bugs — think size 4–6 orange chubbies — you'll want a nine-foot six weight to accurately punch your fly into narrow slots. If you prefer smaller patterns and more precision, a nine-foot five weight will do the trick.
In either case, use a short leader — 7.5 feet of tapered 1x–3x is ideal. Fish are not leader shy during this hatch, but you'll often hook monster trout in fast-moving water, so leverage matters. Pair your rod with a floating line and a good-quality reel with an adjustable drag.
Don't Wait Until May — April Nymphing is Underrated
You don't have to wait until May to take advantage of this incredible hatch. Stonefly nymphs will be tumbling frantically downriver in massive numbers all throughout April. Fish will be actively chasing these big, high-calorie meals — both dead drifted through current and on the swing. Expect them to be highly active in water that is warming up by the day, and best of all, you're unlikely to run into any crowds. Once May 1 rolls around, that will change in a hurry!
Fish the Salmonfly Hatch with a Guide
The salmonfly hatch is a blast when everything goes right, but it's easy to get frustrated or even completely skunked. It's technical fishing that requires creativity, bushwhacking, and the occasional sketchy wade. If you've never been able to quite unlock the secrets of the salmonfly hatch, let us help you. Book a day on the Deschutes with one of our shop guides!