2022 Steelhead Fishing Opens on the Lower Deschutes - They’re back, baby! Kind of.
What current warm water temps mean for trout.
With critically low Steelhead counts over the last several years on the Lower Deschutes and a 2021 closure to steelhead fishing, we’re finally seeing their numbers return. And that means steelhead fishing has officially opened back up for the 2022 season.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, ODFW, announced the season would open from August 15th to September 15th, 2022 from Moody Rapids to Pelton Dam.
July counts at Bonneville Dam met the unclipped steelhead goal of 9,900, and as of August 11th, numbers stay strong at 23,928 - this total is from counts starting January 1st, 2022. If August numbers are met, there’s a really good chance the season will stay open past September 15th. Fingers crossed!
Keep in mind that even though numbers are better than they’ve been in the last several years, they’re still well below the averages. While we saw some daily counts in the few hundreds, a healthy count should be in the few thousands.
This season will bring excitement, oodles of anglers, some unknown, and a lot of hot weather. With plenty of days in the 100s on the Lower Deschutes, water is warming up and already reaching temps in the mid-70s, according to the monitoring station at Moody.
What do warm water temps & minimal counts mean for the 2022 Steelhead season?
We don’t know yet.
But in the past, ODFW has implemented Hoot Owl regulations cutting off all fishing at 2 pm. Even while using the best catch and release practices, warm water temps can cause stress, severe damage, or death.
When water temps reach 65 degrees or more, trout become lethargic, making breathing extremely challenging. Warm water also creates a lack of dissolved oxygen that trout depend on, which can cause starvation, organ failure, and death.
The 2022 steelhead season on the Lower Deschutes brings excitement to anglers, local fly shops, and guide services. But please remember to use these best practices when fishing on hot summer days.
Fish early when temperatures are cooler and be off the water by noonish
Follow Hoot Owl regulations if enforced
Check water temps using a stream thermometer, online data, or call your local fly shop
Wear lightweight UPF clothing, drink plenty of water, and bring sunscreen
Land and handle fish quickly, land them in a big net, and keep them wet
Give them ample revival time so they can catch their breath before being released
Use barbless hooks and a 7 or 8 weight rod for an efficient landing (no 5 weight!)
One and done. If you land the fish of 10,000 casts, you’re insanely lucky, so call it a day
Use your own judgment, and don’t fish if you feel like it’s too hot because it probably is