Summer Steelhead
Oncorhynchus mykiss (sea-run)
The same species as the rainbow trout, but these fish go to sea and come back to the Deschutes to spawn. Summer-run fish enter the lower river from about July and are fished through fall.
Season status · as of Jul 31, 20262026: Steelhead and salmon fishing closed from Aug. 15 on reaches closed to steelhead, to protect a very poor wild steelhead run. Salmon fishing stayed open from Sherars Falls down to the upper railroad trestle through Oct. 31.Check current ODFW rules ↗