Springing ahead means after work fishing is here. This week also looks like some good spring weather will arrive with a gorgeous stretch of weather starting mid week and lasting through most of next week looking at the 10 day forecast.
It is good fishing weather for sure.

I just returned from the well run and excellent Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo in Albany, Oregon where people shared info, taught classes and celebrated this amazing sport we do.
I taught 2 classes on Friday and one on Saturday. The topics were Technical Dry Fishing, Euro nymphs that match naturals, and my personal favorite presentation to deliver, Stillwater Fishing techniques for Central Oregon lakes.
If you’d like to see that Stillwater presentation this month, you can do so for free in 2 locations. The evening of 3/18 I’ll be at the Sisters Fly Club monthly meeting, and on 3/28 I’ll be coming back to Eugene for the Cascade Family Fly Fisher’s monthly meeting. Whether you are a member or not, either club will welcome you as a guest, and I’d love to see anyone there interested in learning more about how to be a better stillwater angler.

The Crooked River bumped back up to 700+ and I am a little bummed to see that because that is going back to what I consider to be high flow range. Is it fishable? yes it is, but wading it tricky and the waters are murky. Let’s hope the river levels retreat back under 400 later this week.
Leeches, Buggers, Mini Gulp, Rainbow Warrior, Pink or Orange Bead Jigs, Orange Scud. The trend is brighter flies and some bigger flies so they can see them easier in the darker waters.
I do expect to see excellent BWO hatches coming on strong now and for the next 6 or 7 weeks. So unless the water levels from the dam get really wild, get ready for good dry fly opportunities on the Crooked.
Don’t forget our spring special guide trips from now until 4/21/24 for $395 for up to 3 anglers on the Crooked and Fall River.

The Metolius is running at the perfect flow, 1400 today going in to LBC, and the river is fishing well from Allingham to Gorge CG on nymphs, and from the Idiot Hole to the Big Eddy on nymphs with some afternoon hatches of BWO’s #18-20, and any day now we should see the first emergences of Cinygmula for the spring. These Yellow Mayflies at about a #16, but sometimes #14’s will be a better match. Comparaduns, Parachutes and Soft Hackles (all yellow or yellowish tan) will do the trick.
Caddis hatches are pretty darn good for this time of year with a wild mix of October Caddis, Snow Sedge, Silver Stripe Sedge, Grey #14, Tan #16 and somedays other surprises show up too. The Pupa’s in a #10 orange and a #14-16 tan have been great nymphs for us most of the winter and they are still great going in to spring. Is 2024 the year of the caddis?
Bull Trout Fishing has been good on streamers and nymphs. It is cool how “trout” the bulls get late winter and how many are caught on small nymphs.
Speaking of small nymphs, have you tried the new Oros indicators in the small size yet. WOW, they are so perfect if you want to nymphs a perdigon up to a 3.5 tungsten bead for delicacy. Highly recommend these things in Small and Medium sizes.
Here is a tidbit that will blow your mind. One of the students in my class yesterday was on the Met 2 weeks ago and got a fish he was sure was a steelhead. After seeing the photos yesterday afternoon, I concur! Then, last night while browsing Instagram one of the good young anglers I follow (Trout Plug) showed a couple of impressive fish he was releasing from his net. One was a tagged Steelhead.
Certainly the Steelhead that are brought around LBC do end up in all the tributaries of that Reservoir, and I recall my friend Rod Bonacker showing some radio tag data a few years ago when there were 13 steelhead sitting in an area downstream of Bridge 99.
If you catch a steelhead, I would sure love to hear your story too.

The Fall River is seeng afternoon BWO hatches, with midges around that will be important at times too. Carry some KD Duns, Knock Down Duns, Sparkle Duns, Mother Shucker, Winkers, Griffiths Gnats and Century Drive Midges and get it done with 6.5 or 7x tippets. Dry Fly Fishing opportunities are to be had with those 2 hatches alone, and your nymph choices will be dictated by these as well. Zebra Midges and small small brown, black and dark olive mayfly nymphs are excellent choices. 2 Bit Hookers, Micro Mayfly’s and Skinny Nelsons are great flies, and for some reason in the spring the old Flashback PT is a good one on all of our rivers.
Eggs and Micro Streamers ought to round out what you’ll need on the Fall. Still a fair bit of snow around there so access is a little more limited due to parking and access now. With sun and weather in the 60’s coming in 3 or 4 days, this will improve soon.
Spring Break is coming, so don’t forget our Spring Guide Trip special rate for $395 for up to 3 people until 4/21.

The Lower Deschutes water levels over the last few days are slightly on the rise at the Warm Springs Gauge, and that tells me it will really be rolling and coming up in the open fishing areas near Maupin.
I’m sure it is still fishable, as this is not a flooding event so far as I can predict, but we are seeing rain over snow last night and today in the basin and all the little drainages are flowing now.
Just watch the flows if you plan to go. Is it stable? Great. Go. Is it showing signs of higher and higher flows. Pick another river or choose another day next week.
Stonefly Nymphs, Hares Ears, PT Soft Hackle Jigs, Green Rock Worms, Tan Prairie Dog Pupa, Perdigons and Euro Streamers.
The next hatch to look forwards to will be March Browns but we are likely 3 to 4 weeks away from any meaningful hatch at this time. A trickle of BWO with occasional importance, a few midges and perhaps a sighting of Skawla’s could create moments of dry fly fishing, but I would not expect much for a another few weeks on the Lower D.
Don’t forget the Warm Springs, Mecca, Dry Creek, Trout Creek and South Jct areas remain closed until 4/22/24.

Lake Billy Chinook Bull Trout Fishing has been picking up. I have not been yet, hope to soon! I’ve seen some social media posts of fish being caught. Don’t forget your tribal pass for the Metolius Arm!

Ochocco Reservoir ought to be a winner now. Water levels are at 77% which should be easy access to the ramp for launching a boat. A month ago a friend told me he was already catching fish there, my assumption is it will be way better now, and even better after this warm up hits this week.

I have not heard a report from Haystack. Anyone been there? Should be good bank access by the dam. Balanced leeches are often the hot ticket off that drop off zone just wading the shoreline.

You want really solid Lake Fishing now? Private access? The lake all to yourself? Justesen Ranch is an hour and 15 minutes North of Madras and is fishing great. $150 per day. We can get you set up. Call Jeff (541)549-3474
So far it is mostly leeches, but the warm weather this week will no doubt get the chironomid hatch going, and I would guess a good moment for water-boatman too. Overnight accommodations are available here, or do a day trip from Central Oregon or Portland easy enough.

Our Phil Rowley Clinic is about 85% full so if you want to get in on the August 6th all day clinic sign up soon.
The Sunday Fly Tying Clinics have more open spots at this time but they too are filling up to about 40% so far.
Call (541)549-3474 to sign up now.

This was a fun report, more waters are opening and opportunities abound over the rest of March.
I hope to see you on the water or in the shop.

Jeff