Countdown to Troutfest
Casting call: fine tuning your 5wt. stroke can be accomplished at Troutfest. See details below.
Sign up for Dutch Oven Cook-off, Casting Instruction
The 3rd Annual DRA Troutfest & Dutch Oven Cook Off is right around the corner! Make plans to be at the Oasis Riverview Campground (622 US-197, Maupin, OR 97037) in Maupin on Friday, May 30th through Sunday, June 1st. In the meantime, hop on over to the event website to sign up for casting lessons, volunteer support, the Dutch Oven Cook Off, and to check out all that this exciting event has to offer. Troutfest is a celebration of trout, the people who chase them, and the lower Deschutes River.
Hundreds of angling enthusiasts have descended upon the lower Deschutes River the past two years for what has quickly become the premiere trout event in the Pacific Northwest. Similar to years past, this year’s Troutfest will feature expert demonstrations from legends like Tom Larimer and Amy Hazel—among others. Attendees can check out the latest innovations at manufacturer booths from the top brands in the industry. And a bountiful beer garden from pFriem Family Brewers and Freebridge Brewing, plus a river feast in the form of a Dutch Oven Cook Off, will keep all comers refreshed and satiated.
The Troutfest Action: Music, Food, Fun
Layered into to the entertainment attendees have come to know and love—like rocking live music and a thrilling casting competition—will be an assortment of activities that appeal to crowds both new to the sport and veterans alike. Grayling Education will lead a Friday afternoon (4:00-6:00pm) trivia session to offer cook off connoisseurs the chance to test (or improve) their knowledge of freshwater ecosystems, fisheries, and fish species while vying for sponsored prizes.
A team of Fly Fishers International-certified instructors have generously donated their time to provide all-day casting workshops on Friday and Sunday. Those ready to boost their catch rate can sign up to sharpen their accuracy, extend their distance, and adapt their cast to each fishing scenario. The participation fee benefits the lower Deschutes River and includes lunch, a copy of Mary Ann Dozer’s workbook, Take your Cast from Good to Great, and 30-days access to online casting demonstrations.
For those not quite ready for an all-day clinic. Attendees can visit the Casting Doctor on Saturday (5/31) at the Troutfest grounds with a specific hitch they would like to fix in a 30-minute 1:1 session with an FFI Instructor or vendor rep. Register online or at the event.
Match the Hatch Masters to Offer Insight
Finally, Rick Hafele will bring his highly sought after Four Seasons of Deschutes Hatches presentation down to the river for an on-the-water clinic with the help of the legendary John “Smurf” Smeraglio and DRA Water Quality Coordinator, Hannah Camel. If you are curious what insects trout eat, they will tell you.
This powerhouse trio will also explain how hatches have changed over the last 15 years of SWW Tower operations, and share some helpful patterns to try out in pursuit of lower Deschutes River trout. Let us know if you plan to attend this Saturday (5/31) morning presentation at the White River BLM Campground. The first to sign-up will win a free two-hour E-Bike rental from Gear Up Maupin for their workshop commute.
Join us the weekend after Memorial Day to find out the rest! The big bugs will still hatching, The Takes will be rocking, and all of your fishing friends—new and old—will be there for the good times. This year’s event is going to be special and you will not want to miss it.
Special thank you to iFishiBelong for helping us make Troutfest an event supportive of all species, techniques, and people within the fishing industry and community.
See you all at Troutfest! (Sign up to volunteer, please! You will have fun)
For the lower Deschutes,
Your DRA Troutfest Czar
Peter Anderson
Development Director
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