You can order your photos directly through photoreflect, or call or email us the photo number(s). A quick recap showed seven trout hooked and landed in less than an hour. Scout Read and run. With over 43 miles in front of us, we will conquer many exciting rapids and enjoy the quiet moments of calm water. We transport you to the boat launch at Trout Creek. From Warm Springs to Trout Creek, the river gives no hint of what is to come, turning lazily on long drifts with an occasional small rapid. The Deschutes River-Boaters Guide at NRSweb.com provides useful information for the novice rafter and identifies campsites along the river. On Sunday, the sheriff's office received a report from Alberto Santos that his 30-year-old son had fallen from a raft on the Deschutes River and had not surfaced. Giant swirl holes have been formed where the river turns against sheer cliffs of basalt. Boaters can wade and fish the river up to the normal high-water mark. Scouting is highly recommended for all rapids Class III and higher. Wapinitia: Fee campground, floatboat fishing take out, vehicle ... garbage service. Rafters must also use an approved portable toilet or developed toilet facility. Weather in the Deschutes canyon is variable in late spring, ranging from wind, rain and 40 F to blue skies and 90 F, so prepare accordingly. 3. All campsites are fee and first-come, first-serve. Guided trips are a reasonable option for the first-timer or the cautious. ... overlooking the Deschutes. The river is located near the population centers of western Oregon and Washington, and features both sunny weather and enjoyable rapids along with excellent desert scenery. My experience suggests there is no way to prepare for being awakened from deep sleep by a freight train that passes by 50 feet from your sleeping bag. According to his wife Nancy, (a former elementary school teacher with considerable insight about human behavior) he is A.D.H.D. At Davidson Flat, high water from the 1996 flood has formed new gravel bars upstream of where the river t-bones a sheer rock cliff. Then a Deschutes River whitewater rafting trip is for you. Local tackle shops have websites that provide regular updates on fishing action by location. Raft rental companies generally supply life jackets, oars/paddles, a pump, dry bags, tie-down straps and a 80 to 100-gallon cooler that functions as a seat for the oarsperson. Where the gradient lessens, the river spreads out to form shallow riffles braided by cobble islands. This site uses cookies. The stretch including the Wapinitia and Oak Springs rapids is rated Class III-plus, intermediate approaching advanced, according to the Web sites of All Star Rafting and Kayaking and River Drifters. View the gorgeous scenery and the various wildlife that call the canyon their home. Each section of the river is different. Watch Queue Queue They are wary of having small pieces of hairy foam with dangling hooks tossed at them. Local anglers have coined the term “jungle water” to describe shoreline having tall grass and overhanging trees. Wading can be treacherous with steep drop-offs, slick rocks and strong current. My older brother became uncharacteristically animated as he described getting dumped on the lower Deschutes River. The Deschutes River is a river system every angler should check out at some point, from the towering basalt cliffs to the migratory wild summer steelhead. I recommend renting a raft set up with oarlocks for the simple fact that oars provide more control than paddles. The Deschutes River carves its way for 250 miles from Little Lava Lake to the Columbia River. The Deschutes River can be broken in to 3 sections: The Upper, Middle and Lower Deschutes, each with unique characteristics, seasons, geology and fish. Eligio Santos was one of nine people on the raft. Wearing chest waders, a long-sleeved shirt and washing exposed body parts with products like Tecnu at the end of the day helps reduce the risk of infection. Wapinitia Rapid. If you want to order a CD of your photos you will need to order directly through us because it is not offered online. The Deschutes River is home to golden stoneflies, yellow sallies and big salmon flies that from ½ to more than 2 inches long. Where the White River — which looked like chocolate milk — meets the Deschutes, the water turns a minty green, which was cool to see. They are wary of the constant parade of fly fishers scrambling along the shoreline. Two fish, between 10 and 13 inches, can be retained per day. The term is difficult to translate, but suggests a location near the edge of something, especially the edge of a desert or cultivated land. Central Oregon’s Deschutes River is one of the most popular Oregon whitewater rafting venues, and for good reason. Early French trappers called the Deschutes River “le Riviere des Chutes,” meaning “The River of the Falls.” It flows fast and hard through big canyons carved out by ancient floods. Consider checking out a “how to” video on whitewater rafting. The lower Deschutes River Recreation Area has a long list of rules designed to ensure conservation of natural resources, including restrictions on firearm use, packing out all refuse and burning in a fire pan only wood that you bring. Whatever the weather, the Deschutes offers numerous thrilling rapids, including Wapinitia, Boxcar, Cyclops, Surf City, and Oak Springs. I’ve gone to a floating line and 4X tippet. For gearing up on your next trip to the Deschutes be sure to give us a call 1-800-926-0900 or email us at info@vailvalleyanglers.com for all your gear needs. During this “magic hour”, Deschutes River trout seem to abandon their sensibility. Site Map - Rapids for River Deschutes River Rapid Beta - Click on a Link for Listings. This variability in size and color has produced dozens of fly patterns available for those hoping to match the hatch. We can also send you a digital copy by If you have any more questions call us at 541-395-2414 or email at sagephotos10@gmail.com. Site and All Content © 2021 Sage Rafting • Sitemap. If you order directly through us you can avoid paying the photoreflect processing fee. The campground is … Spring days when the Willamette Valley to the west is cloudy, Deschutes rafters often find themselves basking in the sun. But for some the greatest thrill comes at Elevator rapids. Downstream of lower Whitehorse Rapids, experience a constant panorama of shear rock pinnacles, anticlines layered with columnar basalt and rim rock headlands muted in tones of red, green and yellow. A mile downstream of Whiskey Dick campsite is where one of the most dangerous rapids in the river awaits. It takes the form of a vine to hide in reed canary grass or can be disguised as a shrub. Whitehorse is where even the most experienced boaters stop at the overlook to scout safe passage. DESCHUTES RIVER, HARPHAM FLATS TO PINE TREE, 17 miles. This is not the river on which to seek solitude — the Deschutes is too popular for that. The Deschutes River runs hundreds of miles from the mountains near Bend, Oregon to the Columbia River. Waiting for YOU! A cluster of 1950 vintage summer cabins, some rebuilt, are perched along the river here in the shadow of the railroad bridge. You will see over 12 miles of river and enjoy the major rapids such as Wapinitia, Devils Hole, Boxcar, Surf City, Oak Springs, White River, Lower and Upper Elevator rapids. Flip, Swim and Rescue at Whitehorse Rapids, Deschutes River According to guidebooks, the river drops 40 feet over a distance of 0.6 mile at Upper Whitehorse. It offers 6 sporadically spaced campsites located directly on the river. Every boat trip should have a float plan. The lower 100 miles of the river flows through beautiful desert landscape and is termed the “Lower Deschutes.” Our 25-room lodge and guided whitewater operation are located in the center of this lower 100 miles, in Maupin, Oregon. But, “stones” and salmon flies aren’t the only game in town. As a child, he peaked out after two years of piano lessons and failed four-string banjo, but continues to love all kinds of music, particularly blues guitar. Before attempting to navigate your first rapids, practice how to turn the boat, how to paddle backwards and forwards and how to clear obstacles. After running elevator in our rafts we stop along shore, and those who wish can accompany one our guides as we "swim" (float feet-first) through the rapid. Time spent on this iconic river leads to adventure no matter how you slice it. However there are three major rapids … If you order directly through us you can avoid paying the photoreflect processing fee. If possible, bring your camping gear and clothing already stowed in a dry bag. On one such magical evening, I hooked one trout that jumped into a clump of bank-side reed canary grass before thrashing back into the water. Spanning 32 miles along the east bank of the Lower Deschutes Wild and Scenic River, this back country byway offers close-up views of rapids and steep canyon country. The Deschutes is rich in insect life. control of line and fly drift. The River. Dennis Dauble is the author of the award-winning “Fishes of the Columbia Basin” and “The Barbless Hook”. Rapid River Run Upper Trout Creek Rapids: Deschutes River: Warm ... Wapinitia Rapid: Deschutes River: Warm Springs to Sherars Falls: Airplane Rapid: Deschutes River: Dillon Falls to Mount Bachelor Village (Big Eddy) Boxcar Rapid: Leave your planned itinerary with a person you trust. Some of the bigger drops (in order of appearance) are Wapinitia, Boxcar, Surf City, Oak Springs, and White River. The Lower Deschutes is a great family destination that is fun for all ages, the average float has many relaxing stretches of calm quiet water. Things change when a few “warm-up” or Class II rapids appear during the 4-mile drift to South Junction and the terrain steepens where the river makes a big “S” to incise down through the Mutton Mountains. Wapinitia rapids on the Deschutes River Jan 1 2016 w/ Rob Miles and crew. Wapanitia Campground is situated on the Lower Deschutes river. Foam lines are key indicators of current seams and are good targets for landing your fly. Much of the riverbank parallels railroad tracks used by anglers to access fishing holes. Bury Me With My Fly Rod: The Unvarnished Truth About Fly Fishing, The Barbless Hook: Inner Sanctum of Angling Revealed. The most popular section of the Deschutes is from Harpham to Sandy Flat and runs through the small town of Maupin. He was not wearing a … Find all your photos online at photoreflect.com.You can order your photos directly through photoreflect, or call or email us the photo number(s). The river is runnable for it's entire length offering rapids from Class I to VI, great fishing, and overnight trip options. Things can also get exciting when a rattlesnake shows up, like the 8-button version my fishing buddy almost stepped on next to our tent site. No potable water is available thus bring plenty of water for drinking or have a method for treating river water. We include a stop to hike up White river—a quick and easy walk to the natural water slides—where you can relax and play while enjoying the scenery of the beautiful White River Canyon. I was stuck under it. As for my brother, he lost a vintage bamboo fly rod when the raft overturned, but he did not lose his appetite for rafting and fishing the Deschutes River. The BLM website (www.boaterpass.com) has a map of all campgrounds, major rapids and boat ramps. However, the number one hazard might be poison oak. Rafters and boaters must safely navigate past “Oh Shit” rock, legendary because of its position in the rapids, and “Can Opener” so-named because of its “pointy” head. Add days to your itinerary and camp at Whiskey Dick or lower Whitehorse, followed by Rainbow Bend or any number of camps below Buckskin Mary. Consider clouds of caddis blowing off overhanging alder, pale morning dun and swarms of mayflies dancing on the water’s surface. Deschutes River trout are managed primarily as a catch-and-release fishery, with up to 4,000 fish per mile reported for some sections. Deschutes River rafting. Several sites require a short walk in. Summary tables provide details on toilet locations and number of campsites per location. In other words, I was ready to go fishing. Ask someone with previous experience how to approach each major rapid before you launch or take an experienced whitewater rafter along. Expect competition from guided outfits for prime camping sites and from anglers for fishing locations, especially during holidays and weekends when boating passes may also be are limited. It was day one of our float trip and all I could hope was that his rafting experience was atypical. Short casts are often as productive as longer ones, especially where they allow for better 54.9 Wapinitia Rapids, Class III: Large roller coaster waves. In this type of water, feeding trout can often be found with their nose a foot from the bank waiting for insects to fall. They are wary of boaters drifting overhead. River currents dictate where trout lie and wait for food. Camping along the west bank (river left) is prohibited to non-tribal individuals from Warm Springs downstream to the reservation boundary at river mile 69.3. The basalt rock canyon, sandy banks, desert junipers and exhilarating rapids of the Deschutes River corridor provide a natural setting for splashing, sunning and just plain relaxing. Twelve paved miles originate from the hamlet of Maupin and connect to state highway 216 near Sherar’s Falls. Slow deep water having divergent current to push floating insects towards the bank should also not be ignored. Trout Creek, White Horse, Buckskin Mary, Wapinitia, Boxcar, Oak Springs and other colorfully named rapids stud the river’s course amidst the breathtaking scenery of the Deschutes River … With over 52 miles in front of us, we will conquer many exciting rapids and enjoy the quiet moments of calm water. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. It was the kind of action that I could have only imagined before the float trip. Waves and boiling rapids color has produced dozens of fly patterns 4,000 fish per mile reported for some the thrill. 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