I call Him the Oracle

Josh, the “Oracle” of the Deschutes River and a master drift boat captain from Royal Treatment Fly Shop was our expert guide. Accompanying him was Spencer, "Multi-Colored Fruity Candy 2.0*," an unforgettable character whose humor added zest to our two-day fishing expedition. We gathered under a star-filled sky at the fly shop at 3 AM, our hearts thrumming with anticipation for the adventure ahead.

By 5:30 AM, we found ourselves at Max Canyon under a blanket of dark cloudy skies - the perfect setting for summer Steelhead fishing. Armed with Scandi lines and hand-tied leaders, the secret formula for which we got from Randy, we cast our lines into the shimmering waters.

Throughout the day, guided by Josh and MCFC 2.0, we navigated many famous runs, casting, and wadding in the rhythmic dance of fly fishing. The encounter with a rattlesnake added a thrilling twist, while Spencer, ever the Bass whisperer, found his signature catch in a river known for its Steelhead.

As afternoon loomed, we switched to Skagit heads and sink lines, adjusting our technique as the sun broke through the clouds. We camped at Stewarts for the night, where the sight of a flock of bighorn sheep against the twilight sky was a heart-stopping punctuation to our first day.

On the second day, Josh's wisdom, "Stephen, if we wanted to fish the other bank, we would go to the other bank. No need to wade to the middle," rang true. At the Water Tower, a renowned Steelhead hotspot, I experienced the exhilarating tug of my first Steelhead. Spencer wasn’t far behind; his success was mirrored by a beautiful catch of his own.

The journey concluded at Double Mountain Pizza with pizza, beer, a perfect mix of laughter, lessons, and the thrill of the catch, a homage to the serene beauty of the Deschutes River. Under Josh and Spencer's guidance, this journey became more than just a fishing trip; it was an unforgettable adventure, a testament to camaraderie, the thrill of the wild, and the enchanting allure of fly fishing.

*Editor's note: While our guest blogger is well-versed in the art of fly-tying and now steelhead swinging, his skill in assigning "Nick Names" needs a little work. Many of our readers will recall a former employee who functioned totally on caffeine and sugar, mainly a Muli-Colored Fruity Candy in a red "Taste the Rainbow" package. Our constant use of their copyrighted brand name in reference to said employee got us in hot water with their legal department and incurred a cease and desist order from a rather impressive law firm. So, to stay within the boundaries set by said law firm and in keeping with the spirit of the writer's voice, we have edited the nickname down to MCFC 2.0. The second edition always being the best; just ask Josh 2.0.