Join Us for the Weekend
Camping: October 23-25, 2026 | Beavertail Campground
Join Fishmaster Kirby Franklin for a fly-fishing outing on the beautiful Deschutes River.
Weekend Camping
Beavertail Campground is on a first come - first served basis. The camp does not have potable water, bring your own, and has vault toilets.
It is located 21 miles down river from Maupin.
Since there are no reservations for this campground you will need to look for the CSF signs to locate your Fishmaster Kirby Franklin. Orientation, group check-ins, and Saturday night potluck dinner will be held there.
It has 15 campsites and 2 group campsites. We will try and get one of the group campsites so that people camping in tents can camp together and not have to pay for the site. If you bring an RV or camper you will have to get your own campsite. There are a few hotels in Maupin if you prefer that.
Saturday Tentative Itinerary
Main gathering location: Kirby Franklin's campsite, look for the signs.
Google Map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NaWwhHBnkC5DupCKA
| Time |
Activity |
| 8:00 AM |
Meet at Kirby Franklin's Campsite. Set up rods. |
| 9:00 AM |
Fishing orientation and safety meeting |
| Morning |
Fish and explore the river |
| 1:00 PM |
Group lunch (optional) — bring your own lunch |
| Evening |
Potluck dinner, 5:30pm
|
Meeting locations and times are subject to change. Please RSVP so Kirby can contact you if plans are updated.
Fishing Plan
Fly fishing the Lower Deschutes River around Beavertail Campground in October usually provides an elite dual-opportunity season: it is prime time for summer steelhead migrating upstream, paired with excellent autumn trout fishing for resident "redsides" capitalizing on late-season bug hatches, and egg patterns. But since Steelhead fishing has been cancelled for the rest of 2026 on the Deschutes due to low returns, we will be concentrating on the Trout. This is an incredible time to be fishing for trout using egg patterns.
The section from Beavertail down to Macks Canyon features excellent gravel road access and exceptional swinging water. However, remember that Oregon regulations strictly prohibit fishing from a floating boat on the Lower Deschutes—you must wade or fish from the bank.
If you plan on floating the river to access uncrowded banks across the river, you will need to purchase a Lower Deschutes Boaters Pass online ahead of time for the days you want to float. You can obtain a boaters pass on recreation.gov.
You will need to arrange shuttles if you plan on floating down to Macks Canyon take-out. Talk to other members about setting up shuttles.
The 7-mile float from Beavertail down to Macks Canyon consists of straightforward Class II rapids with no highly technical rowing.
According to the guys at Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters, down river from Beavertail, Salmon will be spawning and the rainbows will be hanging below gorging themselves on eggs that escape the nests. The fish get huge. They have a YouTube video explaining the places and techniques below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYb-8xurcLQ
Targeting Trout (Redsides)
October trout fishing is rejuvenated by dropping temperatures and hungry fish stacking below schools of spawning salmon.
Fly Fishing with Egg Patterns:
Water Type: Look for Salmon Redds, they will be about 3 to 4 feet oval shape, and be a different color than the bottom, usually whiteish in color. They will be in 2 - 4 feet of water. Do not fish on the Redds. The trout will be downstream looking for salmon eggs that have been washed out. You will be able to see the Salmon in the river; they are not hard to spot. The trout will move to the eggs; you don't have be really accurate.
Tactics: Euro-nymphing, tightline nymphing (high-sticking), and indicators. Throw your tackle 45 degrees upstream and drift to 45 degrees downstream. There is no need to cast far out. This is close-in fishing.
Swinging flies: Fishing with a trout spey rod is very effective also. Anything with a bright orange bead on it will work, egg patterns, egg sucking leach to name just a few.
Gear: 5 - 6 weight single handed rods. 4 wt. Trout Spey. 4 wt. Euro rods. Leaders & tippets should be minimum 3x.
Flies/eggs: If it has pink or orange hot spot on it will probably work. Egg patterns (beads, glo-bugs), double egg sucking stonefly nymphs, egg sucking leaches, Pat's rubber legs with an orange hot spot bead. Fish a two-fly set up.
Fly Fishing with Flies:
Gear: Similar to above. Always keep a dry fly rod strung up just in case
The Hatches: Look for spectacular Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) hatches on overcast afternoons. You will also encounter massive orange October Caddis (#8-10) and late-season midges.
Tactics: Dry-dropper or double-dry setups using an October Caddis as the point fly perform very well. Alternatively, fish small nymphs like a size 18-20 WD-40, Pheasant Tail, or Hare's Ear under a light indicator.
Rigging: The Deschutes is a big, powerful river with strong fish. Do not drop down to a 5x tippet unless technically necessary for tiny flies; stick to 3x or 4x tippet so trophy redsides don't break you off in the riffles.
Stay Late: Trout action peaks dramatically at dusk. The last 30 minutes before absolute dark often bring the most reckless surface strikes of the day.
Also, check out the video above from Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters on the gear and techniques for fishing with egg patterns.
RSVP Required
If you plan to attend, please fill out registration button above (top of this page), or email Kirby Franklin at kirbyfranklin@hotmail.com with the following information:
-
Your name
-
Names of anyone coming with you
-
Your cell phone number
-
Emergency contact name
-
Emergency contact phone number
-
Are you joining the Saturday day trip or camping for the weekend?
-
If camping, what campsite did you reserve?
RSVPs help us plan, communicate any changes, and keep everyone accounted for during the outing.
Safety
For emergencies, aside from calling 911 when in cell coverage, please take note of the following information:
Nearest Local Clinic:
- Deschutes Rim Health Clinic in Maupin, 1605 George Jackson Rd. Maupin, OR 97037. Open Monday-Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm (closed weekends) Phone: (541) 395-2911
Nearest Hospitals:
- St. Charles Madras (37 miles south of Maupin). 470 Northeast A Street, Madras, OR 97741. Phone (541) - 475-3882
- Adventist Health Columbia Gorge (29 miles north/northeast in The Dalles). 1700 E. 19th St. The Dalles, OR 97058. Phone: (541) 296-1111
Email kirbyfranklin@hotmail.com if you have any questions.
See you on the water!
Cheers,
Kirby Franklin
Fishmaster, Deschutes River Outing
