“Learn that fishing is a way to connect you to nature. Pay attention to what you see. The birds, the trees, the fish, everything you see, are trying to tell you something about themselves. They’re also trying to tell you something about you, about yourself. Fish in a way that respects the river, but works for you. Don’t listen to anybody else. It should never be a competition, but a way of seeing the world that makes you appreciate it more.” 

-Bill McMillan, speaking at the DRA’s Steelhead Masters event

Many thanks to all who attended TroutFest, especially all our volunteers who made the weekend run so smoothly. We saw you enjoying each others company, and building community around the cause of a lower Deschutes River flowing with clean cool water.

Troutfest weekend in Maupin starts Friday at 4 p.m.

The mating behavior of these stoneflies is particularly fascinating. Males communicate through a behavior known as “drumming,” where they rhythmically tap their abdomen against rocks or wood to create vibrations. Nearby females respond with their own signal, allowing the insects to locate one another. Each stonefly species has its own unique tapping pattern, essentially creating its own little percussion-based love language.

I wrote, “oh, we only hooked four this morning and lost three more tonight. Soon the fish will come in. So it will get better.” Having six or eight hookups in the course of a day was just standard, not terrific.

-John Hazel, recollecting early days steelhead fishing on the lower Deschutes.

The Deschutes River Alliance (DRA) believes that the available data support the contention that operation of the Selective Water Withdrawal Tower (SWW) in Lake Billly Chinook has had an ongoing negative effect on Deschutes wild spring Chinook.

TroutFest 2026 is just one month away.

Make sure to follow us on social media and sign up for our emails to receive weekly updates on conditions throughout the 2026 monitoring season. Untill then, stay informed, look at the data, and speak up for Deschutes. Lets keep this river beautiful and healthy now and for forever.

“These findings suggest that bottom draw provides important thermal relief for aquatic species, particularly during periods of elevated air temperature.”

For many anglers, this hatch marks the true beginning of spring fly fishing, bringing with it consistent opportunities to target rising trout after months of cold, quiet water.

“DRC's role on Trout Creek is to address one piece of that challenge, keeping water in the creek during the periods when it matters most for fish, while building on the longer arc of restoration work that partners have sustained here for years.”

Unlike many careers where accomplishments can be hard to quantify,  Haarberg can point to 17-18 miles of a vital tributary that look far better than when he started: channel reconstruction completed, riparian areas replanted, and a variety of wildlife taking advantage of new habitat.

“For catch-and-release anglers, this initiative removes the possibility of non-lethal pursuit of trout and steelhead, a vital connection to rivers and the natural world many of us cherish. “

“Together, agencies, Carvers and neighboring landowners decided to take on the restoration of the creek,” says Jeanne. “But we didn’t know what the outcome would be. Could we make a difference in our lifetimes?” 

“Two reliable patterns include the Chubby Chernobyl in olive or tan or a Stimulator in brown or yellow. These flies are highly visible, float well, and are effective at drawing aggressive surface eats during the Skwala hatch.”

“I’m deeply grateful to our staff, board, and volunteers, as well as our partner conservation organizations. Together, we have achieved extraordinary progress this past year.”

-DRA Executive Director Sarah Cloud

We need to bring the Deschutes back to its former glory - and that goal is well within reach. We just need to show the right people that this river matters to a whole lot of people and that there is a solution that can work for all of us.

“We are of a generation that remembers the river the way it was, which means we know what it can be. “

-Larry Marxer

If you were the kind of kid that snuck around the parents’ closet before Christmas, you’ll love this week’s blog: a preview of the live auction lineup at this year’s Deschutes River Alliance annual Auction and Gathering.

Welcome to the Deschutes River Alliance’s new blog series, Bug of the Month. Each month throughout 2026, we’ll spotlight an aquatic insect that plays a key role in the lower Deschutes River ecosystem. Every feature will dive into the bug’s life history, preferred habitat, abundance, and seasonal presence, paired with insights from our water quality and macroinvertebrate monitoring data. For anglers, we’ll also include guide-approved fly patterns and practical tips on when, where, and how to fish both dry flies and nymphs that imitate each featured insect.