Over the course of several days on the Deschutes, you will fish some of the most beautiful and diverse steelhead water in the world. From glassy runs, perfect for skating a dry fly; to classic riffles that break steadily away from the bank and leave a clearly defined seam of holding water; to boulder strewn runs several hundred yards long that offer dozens of holding lies for migrating steelhead - there is no denying the abundance of fantastic swinging water on the Deschutes River.

The name of the game in steelhead fishing is to cover as much water as possible during a day's fishing. The more water one covers well, the greater the chances to hook steelhead. To cover water effectively, we use Spey rods and floating lines with surface or near-surface fly patterns. Over thirty years of guiding the Deschutes, we have found this method to be the most fun and most effective for steelhead anglers of all skill levels. Feeling the line cutting through the water in a perfect swing, watching a hole the size of a sink basin open up around your swinging fly, and a tenth of a second later feeling line ripping out of your fingers and off your screaming reel, well....what more can we say about the excitement of hooking large sea-run chromers on floating line?

Combine these unforgettable steelhead experiences with the dramatically steep 2000 foot vertical rock walls of the Deschutes canyon, and you'll be pinching yourself. It is hard to believe that you can be transported from bustling Portland to this wild uninhabited canyon wilderness in just mere hours.

Don't let the wild surroundings fool you into thinking that you are "roughing it" - our safari-style camps are as comfy as can be. Our camp staff will set up large sleeping tents, each with two padded cots and plenty of room for changing/walking around. These tents are screened on top for fantastic star gazing, but many guests choose to fully enjoy the mosquito-free desert environment by setting their cots mere feet from the river under the canopy of stars. When you awake to the aroma of fresh-brewed gourmet coffee, the sun will not have lightened the sky. Fish the camp water at first light, or head out with your guide to great steelhead water downstream of camp. Our camp hosts will have a breakfast table laid out with pastries, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, yoghurt, fruit juice, and other breakfast goodies. Grab what you like and you are off for a day of steelhead fishing.

Your long day of guided fishing begins as it is just light enough to tie on a fly. Your guide will help you choose a good pattern and will guarantee that you are standing in a highly productive piece of steelhead water when you make you very first cast. Your guide will spend the day wading with you down the best steelhead water watching each swing of your fly. Our guides are extremely attentive to enhancing your fly fishing experience - whether you want a fish spotter, a casting instructor, a human wading staff, or simply a friendly chat while fishing - our guides are there at your side. This personal experience with a patient, knowledgeable, and fun guide at your side, is just one of the qualities that sets our overnight floats apart from all the rest.

While you are out fishing, our camp staff will pack up the camp and float down river to reserve another great camping spot. When you and your guide float into camp after a long day of fishing, the tents and cots will be set up as well as the dinner table. Our meals are thoughtfully prepared and specialize in Northwest Cuisine. Sit down at the riverside table to enjoy marinated free-range chicken breast with strawberry salsa, mushroom risotto, in-season fresh fruit salad, and northwest cheesecake for desert. The next night your river-sized hunger will be satisfied by table-tossed Caesar salad, USDA choice thick-cut New York strip steak with mushroom-cabernet sauce, cast-iron Lyonaisse potatoes, and sautéed apples for dessert.

Great accomodations, gourmet meals, beautiful steelhead water, hard-fighting fish, and a spectacular wild and scenic canyon - these are the ingredients for a memorable camp float. We would love to share the majestic beauty of the Deschutes River and her steelhead with you. The best times for summer run steelhead camp trips are mid-July through late-September.

Advance reservations are required - camping trips are extremely popular for steelhead anglers.

Trips are available for groups of 2-6 anglers. Every two anglers will have a guide boat to themselves and a tall spacious tent with two cots. Due to the nature of staffing this type of trip, we book groups in even numbers so that each guide boat has two anglers/passengers. If your group is an odd number, you will be charged at the rate of the next highest even number. For example, a group of five is charged the rate for the group of six. So, keep in mind when arranging your group size that an even number of campers gives you the best value for your dollar.