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Justison Ranch Lakes Offer Trophies, Variety

By Scott Richmond

More than 20 private lakes dot a large ranch near the Deschutes River. Big trout, strong hatches, and variety are available.

ry one of these," said guide Ron Shirashi. I examined the suspender-style midge pupa. It was size 10, dark gray-bodied, and sported an extra-large piece of foam at the head to help support the weight of the big hook--a good match for that springtime hatch of big midges that desert lakes are famous for.

I took Ron's fly and flippered down the lake until I spotted a large rise in a small cove. Then I took Ron's advice and tried the fly, using a floating line and the static midge tactic. About 20 seconds after I'd cast, a fat 20-inch trout sipped the fly and proceeded to rip line off my reel.

It wasn't a bad way to start the day. And before it was over, my friend Berkeley Merchant and I had landed several dozen more trout--few of them smaller than that first 20-incher--on a combination of midge pupa patterns, Callibaetis Cripples, and damselfly nymphs.

The next day we visited two other lakes and took more trout, including a 27-inch brute that would have delighted any steelhead angler.

The Recipe for Stillwater Pleasure

The rolling sagebrush country east of the Cascade range is blessed with ample sunshine and slightly alkaline soil. The result is that trout will grown to huge sizes if you provide them with enough water and keep anglers from killing them. Ranchers that built lakes for irrigation and stock watering have found a new way to make money: plant trout in their lakes and let anglers pay a fee to fish for them.

It's a simple concept that has resulted in some spectacular private stillwaters. I've wet a line in many of these lakes, and the complex I fished that day--known as the Deschutes Basin Lakes--is one of the best.

Variety and Hatches

Many private fisheries offer large trout, so trophy fishing is pretty much a given. But there are two things I particularly liked about these waters: their variety and their hatches.

Some private fisheries consist of one small pond, while others may have a large lake or a couple of medium-sized lakes. The Deschutes Basin Lakes have over 20 stillwaters with trout. Some are only a couple of acres, and some are 30 acres or more, but each has its own personality. Getting bored with one lake? Move on and explore a new one!

Further, these are not "Woolly Bugger" lakes. In other words, most of the year there's more to fishing here than dragging a size 8 olive Woolly Bugger around all day, Let's face it: that can get boring, even if the trout are big and plentiful. These lakes are not like that. I had some of the best midge fishing I've experienced in years. Throw in a midday Callibaetis hatch, some damselfly nymphs (and adults in season), trout that can be particular about pattern and presentation--and you've got some very interesting stillwater fly fishing. A beginner can do well here, but an expert is going to find enough challenge and variety to keep him or her excited, too.

One of the more interesting hatches is the salmonflies. "Salmonflies?" you say. Yup. These lakes are near the Deschutes River, and during that stream's famous salmonfly hatch, the wind blows big orange bugs up the canyons and they plop onto the lakes. And trout eat them. There aren't too many stillwaters where you can cast a salmonfly pattern and have a trout take it with confidence!

Kamloops Rainbows and Locked Gates

The Deschutes Basin Lakes are just east of Maupin, Oregon, on a 40,000 acre ranch.

The lakes are stocked with Kamloops rainbows, a strain that is adapted to east-of-the-Cascades lakes. The fish are aggressive feeders and grow one inch per month in the fertile waters.

The Deschutes Basin Lakes are shallow enough to be productive, but deep enough to avoid winter or summer kill. Because they're located on a high plateau there's enough summer wind to put oxygen into the lakes. Overall, survival is quite good and the trout keep on growing--and delighting anglers.

The lakes can only be reached via gated roads, so there's no point driving around trying to find them; you have to go through a booking agent and pay a fee if you want to cast your flies on these waters.

Booking a Trip

I fished here as the guest of John Hazel, a Westfly auction supporter. Hazel is a long-time Deschutes River guide who recently opened a new trout shop, Deschutes Angler, in Maupin. John books many trips into these lakes from March through late June, and again from September through October. There is no booking during the hot summer months because that would create too much stress on the trout.

John books both guided and unguided trips. Guided groups consist of 6-8 anglers. Up to 6 non-guided fly fishers can fish at the same time, but they are assigned to different lakes. Anglers may rent tackle, float tubes, and other gear from John. Deschutes Angler has all the flies needed to fish these lakes.

Because there are so many lakes, and because access is limited and tightly controlled, trout in any particular lake are not pounded day after day; this keeps them fresh, healthy, and eager for the fly.

John Hazel and Company charges $200 per day per angler to fish here. The price includes a guide, a high-quality shoreside lunch, soft drinks and water, and transportation from Maupin. Overnight lodging in Maupin can be arranged. John Hazel and Company can be reached at 541-395-0995, or visit Deschutes Angler Fly Shop in Maupin (504 Deschutes Ave.).

Another Westfly supporter, Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters, also books trips on these lakes. Their phone number is 503-252-1529, or toll-free at 888-292-1137. In addition, Deschutes River guide Brad Staples (503-250-0558) books trips.

Scott Richmond is Westfly's creator and Executive Director. He is the author of eight books on Oregon fly fishing, including Fishing Oregon's Deschutes River (second edition).

Uploaded 06/26/2002.

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There are more than 20 lakes in the Deschutes Basin Lakes complex

Kamloops-strain rainbows are aggressive feeders

Spring midge fishing can be terrific

Callibaetis, midges, damselflies, and even salmonflies are the primary fish foods in these lakes

Trout grow about one inch per month in the fertile waters