Will be in Bend Oregon from July 16th - 20th. Advise and or meet up?

Crazy, I cant believe I’m making it out as much as I have in such a short time. So hit hood obviously this weekend. But Tuesday night I leave for Bend. Will be staying in Sunriver…… and Yak will travel… 

1)   I know I’ll be fishing for the browns…. But what else is running and should I be looking for?
2)   Will do the 6 mile marina float and pick up… But where else should I go?
3)   The marina charges $10.00 per yak for pick up good /bad?
4)   Close lakes to sunriver?
5)   Hints..tips…?
6)   My kayak skill is still in the newbie stage so rapids would like to be avoided….

Don’t know whos down in that region but would be interested in meeting for a day of fishing.

Thank you guys,

Scott

I'm assuming you are thinking of floating and fishing the Upper Deschutes?  Buy a copy of Soggy Sneakers (Oregon river guidebook), that is a mellow float if you know where to take out, with some huge rapids below the important take out point.

Browns are cagey and smart, and tend to be most active during low light periods, and like to hide and ambush prey.  I'm not an expert in fishing for them, but as I recall they are fish-eaters.  Maybe try a big wooly bugger or streamer cast towards cut banks, logs, roots, etc... during the day.  You will also find native redband trout in the river here (rainbows adapted to E. Oregon's climate), and they will respond to a hatch the same as any other rainbow.  As I recall, there are also a few brook trout up there.  The only luck I've ever had in that stretch of river is with nymphs (hares ears, pheasant tails, etc...)

I'm assuming the $10 marina fee is for shutting you and your yak... that's pretty reasonable.

As far as lakes go, in Sunriver you are near the Cascade Lakes Highway, and some of the most beautiful lakes in Oregon.  Hosmer is my absolute favorite, and hosts gigantic brook trout and some land-locked atlantic salmon (thanks ODFW), both of which are very hard to catch.  Sparks Lake is nearby and may have easier fishing.  Davis Lake is also close, and has fantastic fishing for non-native largemouth bass (fish 5+ pounds are not uncommon), and it is a fly-fishing only lake.  Closer to Sunriver you've got Wickiup Reservoir (trout and bass, but can be really windy and has powerboats), and looking east, you have Newberry Caldera and East Lake (fantastic lake fishing for browns).

Hope this helps.

Thank you for the advice. I will try to hit a couple of those lakes. I’m getting pretty stoked about drifting down the river. Really just cant wait to have 5 days of fishing! Thank you again..