Fishing Reports

 Spring is definitely happening here on the Metolius! We've been enjoying some pretty consistent sunny, warmer weather and the insects are responding. Water clarity has been excellent. Water levels have been consistent as well.  Remember, don't worry so much about river levels. My mantra on The Met is, "if it's clear, have no fear!"

RAINBOW TROUT fishing has been good albeit we really earn our rainbows here.  I recommend 6x leaders & tippets for dries and 5x for nymphs. These fish see a lot of naturals. Hatches have been good on sunny days. Keep an eye out for midges, BWOs, Caddis (tan, brown, blk), and even some lingering October Caddis. The Met's version of a March Brown is called a "cinygmula" & hatches under similar conditions. We’ve been noticing the very beginning of PMD hatches. Most exciting for us here in the shop is the approaching Green Drake hatch...definitely can’t be missed. We’ll let you know when these huge mayflies show up. However, use a dry Drake as a searching pattern and see what happens!
Shop Secret... the first few 80 degree days usually bring out a nice flying ant hatch...shhhh!

BULL TROUT fishing is consistent. Pay special attention to deep pools, tailouts, and where riffles dump into deep water. Indicator nymphing and traditional swing tactics produce fish.  I love spot fishing for these guys with a floating line, long leader, and streamer.  Get the fly to bottom, aim it toward the fish, give a couple of strips in front of the fish’s face…wham! Loads of fun! Articulated, bunny-strip patterns with lots of action on 10-pound test (at least).
Remember… Bull Trout are RARE! We’re lucky to have them on The Met. Please be gentle. Keep these guys in the water at all times!

 

Hello anglers and friends of the Metolius river. 

I was on the river this past Weds. the 29th of Feb.  The river is in great shape,(clarity/height as usual) hit the section between the hatchery and Lower Bridge.  Lots of little black stones size 14-16, some BWO small 18-20's, and lots of very large Caddis bugs 6-8, not sure of the species, out and about.  Did not see many rises, so fish were mostly caught on B.H. P.T. nymphs size 16-18, small B.H., hares ear and little black stone nymphs, a few anglers were hooking into Bulls with large streamer patterns, overall was a great day.

**(come by the store/fly shop Fri-Sun. to get the Metolius Bull trout streamers designed by the locals).

I am looking forward to another great season on the World Famous Metolius River, see you at the shop.

Warren

Hello anglers of the Metolius, today the current conditions are;

A little wind, cloudy day, rained over night, expect a temp. high today of 67 deg.

Some of the things I have seen in the past 48 hrs.........................

• BWO with cooler air temps. these duns should be on the surface water for long floats.  a size 12 BWO extended body good choice, parachute BWO size 14 and 16.
• October cadddis still going strong sofa pillow size 8 or 10.
• Little olive stone (come in we have a hot pattern for this bug) size 14-18.
• Midges,  zebra, griffith nat, emergent midge., black my favs.

 
Yes, Bull Trout are feeding on the Kokanee,

The Dolly Llama ginger/brown size 2. articulated leeches large, and larger.  flesh color with some red tied in, and some crystal flash.

Enjoy your time on the river, be present and trust the process..................
 
Lower Deschutes:  The steel head are moving and hot, with the recent rain and the colder air temps all I can say, is get there.

 Hello fly fishers things that I have seen on the Metolius today;

Not a lot of fly fishers throwing lines today.
No wind, and partly cloudy warm air temp.'s, perfect.............
 
The Kokanee are not in the river in large numbers yet, just a few at select places on the river.  Bugs of all three major flavors (mayfly caddis & stone) are going off...........
 
More specific bug activity;

Caddis, Caddis, and more Caddis........................

Fall/October Caddis 8 - 6 (sofa pillow), Golden stones(yes still going off, amazing isn't it) size 8 - 6, small Olive stone's size 14-16, PMD's  16's (Q's Spider variant cripple, or compara Dunn, these are my favorite style for the PMD, for this time of year)

a Brown Caddis size 14 (X-caddis) Keep in mind spinners for the PMD's BWO's and various other mayfly's.

Midges early morning, and large leach patterns for the Bull Trout all day long......
 
Nymph with heavy weighted October Caddis pupae size 6-8's top bug, and drop a Copper John, PT flahback size 14-16, Micro mayfly 18-14's black or brown, Rainbow Warrior size 16, Gold BH Hot G-spot, Lightning bug 12, Morrish's Hot wire Caddis tan size 16 just to get you wet...........
 
Slow down, be respectful of the other fly fisher's near you, be present in the moment, Trust the process, Namaste.
 

Finally.......We are having warmer than we have had, but still unseasonably cool weather.  We haven't had frost in the mornings for a week and a half.  At this point the weather man is saying nice weather for almost the next week.  We are still around 70 for the highs but with a small chance of showers.  Even when we do have those "showers" the ground is dry an hour later.  The green drakes are on and finally dependable.  Mid to late afternoon is the happening.  Once again, be there and be prepared.  If you see one there are more on the way.  The PMD's are on also.  There have been a couple days where there are very good numbers of bugs.  Cloudy days (we don't want them) they start in mid-morning.  BWO's are the everyday hatch.  Lots of mixed species caddis also.  Now is the time in the upper river where the golden stone nymph is the go-to pattern.  They are migrating and are getting tumbled regularly in their quest to find an area to crawl out of the river.  The golden stone dry is now becoming a realistic pattern also.  I haven't seen a real golden yet, but soon.  Saturday was 72 and beautiful.  The ants couldn't wait for that 80 degree day and have started hatching.  It is not the "wow, they are everywhere" hatch, but they are out. 
Roger