TroutFest Time: Don’t Miss It!
Guide Matt Price (pictured above) of Lower Deschutes River Outfitters has generously donated a float for two on the Warm Springs to Trout Creek section. You can win the trip with Matt by coming to TroutFest and buying a raffle ticket for $5. More high-value raffle swag listed below.
Fish-Centric Fun, Food, Music, Angling Enlightenment: It All Starts Friday at 4 p.m.
The DRA’s fourth annual TroutFest weekend is less than 48 hours away from kickoff. It all happens in Maupin at the Oasis Riverside Campground, 201 Upper River Access Road. Things start off with a bang, on Friday at 4, with Amy Hazel and Rick Hafele tag-teaming a must-see clinic: how to assemble the perfect Deschutes River fly box. Where else will you find one of the river’s most reputable guides and one of the region’s most accomplished entomologists and authors telling you which flies to dangle for redsides? And where else can you get a draft beer from Pfriem or Freebridge while soaking up such knowledge? The TroutFest beer garden is open on Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Stick around Friday after Rick and Amy’s presentation: The Rahr Brothers, Guido and Sumner, of The Takes, take the TroutFest stage at 7. With some special guest musicians, they’ll have you tapping your toes and swaying in the breeze to their music, created and performed at the intersection of rock, country, and their love of the lower Deschutes River.
Saturday’s schedule: Rick Hafele is at it again, with John Smeraglio, also a seasoned Deschutes guide and long-time fly-shop owner: they’ll be downriver at 10:00 a.m. at the White River Campground (just across the Deschutes from its confluence with the White) helping you identify mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies in their various life stages, with kick nets in the river and a wealth of expertise to further help with the question of which fly to tie on in pursuit of Deschutes trout.
The beer garden is open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to closing time.
Back at the venue, from 11 until 4, browse the vendor booths, representing an array of fly-fishing industry brands—as well as some of our conservation partners. In the midst of all that, there’s a full slate of afternoon clinics, presentations, and demonstrations from industry experts. Fortify yourself with a hearty meal provided by The Riverside Grill, and enjoy a cold draft beer from Freebridge or Pfriem.
At 5 p.m., test your mettle in the back-up-a-driftboat contest, or partner up for the TroutFest cornhole tournament. The Greg Haller Band will take the stage at 7 p.m. Their alt-country melodies will undoubtedly help with the rhythm of your bean-bag toss.
Lower Deschutes River Outfitters and Matt Price are offering flexible dates for a trout trip for two, Warm Springs to Trout Creek, that you can win with the purchase of a $5 raffle ticket, only at TroutFest.
We’ll also announce the winner of the NRS fishing raft raffle: for just $25, you could win an NRS Boundary 100 Personal Fishing Raft, retail price, $2,495.00. It’s not too late to get your ticket, but online sales will stop today at 5 p.m. After that deadline, tickets will only available for purchase at TroutFest. Don’t need a boat? For $5, you can enter a raffle for a host of prizes, including:
A day of guided fishing trip with Lower Deschutes River Outfitters
Nam Products: Einarrsson 6 Plus reel, solid bronze color
Sage: Arrow 490-4 fly rod
Temple Fork Outfitters: Fly rod, valued at $200
Patagonia: Fly-fishing vest, Stealth Switch 3 liter pack, 40-plus upf sun-shirt and trout hat
Anderson Custom Rods: 4wt trout spey
Richard Bowers and TroutStyx: custom bass rod in Oregon State University-themed colors
River Drifters: Weekday Morning Rafting for 4
Sunday: There’s still room to sign up for a half-day casting clinic with FFI-certified casting instructor Mary Ann Dozer of Fly-Fishing pursuits. The half-day Friday morning clinic sold out, and Sunday is well on its way—so if you’re considering signing up, act fast.
We invite volunteers on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. You can help with a clean-up of the DRA-sponsored section of highway 197, on the winding grade just out of town, or help us break down and put away gear on site.
Don’t miss the celebration of Deschutes trout and the people who chase them. We’ll look forward to seeing you this weekend!
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