Keno Dam to J.C Boyle Reservoir

This section of the river opened Oct. 1. Fishing success should be very good for numerous 16- to 18-inch redband trout. Water temperatures have increased to around 70 degrees. Flows (846) are good for fishing. Public access is difficult but you can drive a horrendous road to immediately below Keno Dam. All other sites require a significant hike to the river.

Redband trout this time of year start gorging on the incredible insect life that is hatching. There are blizzard hatches of caddisflies and mayflies. Flies that mimic caddis pupae and emerging mayflies work best. Damsel flies are also beginning to hatch. The water is always slightly off color so this is not a place for dry flies.

This section of the river is very challenging fishing with white water and treacherous wading. The river is loaded with boulders and drop offs that eat fishing gear. ODFW recommends a wading staff, wading belt, excellent wading boots with studs, and maybe even a helmet and shin guards!

J.C. Boyle Dam to J.C Boyle Powerhouse

Open all year. Flows are low and stable. Catch rates should be good. Fishing is best below the spring inputs. The springs start to discharge into the river approximately one mile below J.C. Boyle Dam. This section of river requires a hike down steep grade to the river with the exception of the area just above the powerhouse.

Use small flies as fish are small in this section. Good hatches of mayflies and caddisflies are occurring. Dry fly fishing will be good. A few salmonflies will be hatching.

There is good access at the powerhouse. Park and walk upstream. This area is fished hard but you can hike to get away from the pressure. Hiking or wading upstream is difficult. Small nymphs such as pheasant tails and prince nymphs work well in this section. Small black Panther Martins or Rooster Tails work well cast upstream into the deeper pools. 

J.C. Boyle Powerhouse to State Line with California

Open all year. Catch rates are high during low flow periods. Flows are mostly high during the day. Best fishing is before 8 am. Look for the salmonflies hatching.

Best fishing is when flows are less than 900 cfs. Flow estimates are available and you can check them at PacifiCorp Weekly Flow Estimates. You can also call the flow line at 1-800-547-1501. Fishing can be excellent this time of year if flows are fishable. Blue winged olive mayflies are hatching, which will provide some nice match the hatch dry fly fishing. The mayflies typically hatch from noon until four. Look to the backwater eddies and foam lines for rising fish.

Large attractor flies such and wooly buggers, bead head prince, stimulators, and rubber leg stoneflies under a strike indicator work best this time of year. Olive and black wooly buggers almost always work well. Black spinners and Panther Martins can also work.

Below the JC Boyle Powerhouse the redband/rainbow trout get slightly larger than the aforementioned reach and average 12 inches but rarely exceed 16 inches. Currently, most redband caught are in the 10- to 14-inch range.