Happy summer, and just as a reminder we are closer to Christmas than we are to last New Years Day.
Let’s see if this report is a gift for your fishing plans.

First, I have 4 spots open for Augusts 4th Fly Tying with Phil Rowley here at the shop. Phil will be demonstrating 18 of his special stillwater flies in a morning session, a break for lunch and then an afternoon session. We’d love to get these last 4 spots filled this week so email me or call to add yourself to this special event.
The all day seminar at the Sisters Library could be full, but I also could squeeze a few more attendees to this event which is going to be a PhD. level on Lake Fly Fishing.

2nd, the mention of the lost fly box last report was a bit crazy. Holy shit there a lot of people losing fly boxes on the river. I probably heard from well over 20 people, and none of you matched the description of the box. That said, I finally got the details and a photo of the box and its content and this was not a high end collection so to speak. Some of you sadly lost some special stuff and I am bummed for you! When people drop a Wheatley full of Drakes, or a nice box full of gorgeous Soft Hackles, I feel for you. Deeply. An Amazon collection….oh well.

The Metolius River gets a mixed review from me this week. Some people are doing well, and others have reported last week they never caught a darn thing. That doesn’t necessarily align with angler skill levels. Fishing is fishing, we take the bad, we take the good, and usually the more you put into your craft, advancing important skills (start with the consistent drag free drift with slack line presentations) and not being stuck in your ways because something worked 3 years ago. These will pay off when the going get’s tough.
I can also tell you from hanging out around this river for 30+ years that July is a time that just kind of feels “off”, and while that doesn’t apply all the time, you may have a good afternoon or you might have a slow one. Usually as we march towards August we turn a corner in the quality of the hatches and catching. Talking to Chester at dinner last night he and I both compared notes of past experiences and agree that an uptick happens in August.
Moving forward to what you should expect: Goldenstone hatches in the Upper River from the Headwaters to the Gorge. Add PMD’s and a fair number of Tan Caddis and some Yellow Sally’s to the dry fly mix, and think about how to fish the cycle of the hatches with the nymphs or pupa or emergers if possible. And hey, when in doubt on the Upper River a Golden Stone Nymph with a Zebra Midge Dropper is hard to beat.
The Middle River and below Bridge 99 is the biggest head scratcher for a lot of us. All of the upriver hatches are here too, but the Golden stoneflies will be in isolated pockets.
Even my friend Chester who fishes here more than anyone I know these days is wondering where in the Hell the evening hatches are! Every few nights or so, it happens like it is supposed to, or we keep our fingers crossed that it will. But if you’ve been on the river after work and are used to seeing a PMD hatch and some Caddis hatching enough to get fish rising from 6 PM to 8 PM or so, and haven’t seen it either, all I can say is you’re in good company.
That was the bad. Things that have been producing more consistent action include streamer fishing for Bull Trout, especially in the early morning, and nymph fishing either Euro Style or Indicator tactics. Tie (or buy) flies to fish the cycles of the hatches. Caddis Pupa in Tan #16, Grey #18, Olive #16, Mayfly nymphs that are brown #16-18 and Olive or Black #18-20, Green Drake Nymphs #10-12-14 (the fall hatch is just about 6 weeks out), Midge Larva and Pupa #18-24 in Black, Brown and Red, Stonefly Nymphs for Goldens, Yellow Sally’s, Little Olive Stones and Salmonflies…..and then there are the Euro Nymphs! Use your skills to pick colors and sizes to match what is in the drift.

The McKenzie River is a highlight, with a lot of good days from our guide boats last week. The guide team has been doing a Chubby with a Perdigon Dropper, swinging soft hackles, fishing Euro Streamers and occasionally matching hatches of gorgeous yellow mayflies, various stoneflies and caddis. Water is cold and overall running okay, but river levels are dropping some and we are starting to bang the bottom on some of the riffles and bars.

The Lower Deschutes is also better than expected after the heat wave. I guess the worst of the heat wave broke a while ago, but it continues to be hot, but the river is cold. It appears the bottom releases of water from the dam have begun as the water is in the mid 50’s. Fish are happy, and both Caddis and Pale Evening Dun hatches are good.
Personally I am all for taking the boat down the river over walking in from Mecca or Dry Creek. If you do the walk in way, bring a lot of cold water to drink.
Reports are coming in from the Mouth that steelhead are being caught! Watch temps, and keep fish wet (especially the wild ones by not taking them out of the water for a photo). Swinging traditional flies and skating wakers are both taking fish this past week.
We also want to encourage our friends who love the Deschutes to take a stand for it. You can help the river be healthier by checking out this link and writing a letter to protect the river from poor water quality standards that PGE violates at the dam far too much. Check it out https://www.deschutesriveralliance.org/advocacy101

The Middle Deschutes is faring about the same as last weeks report with the places to go being around Riley Ranch in Bend/Tumalo area and down by Steelhead Falls where water temps are rejuvenated by springs. Pale Evening Duns, BWO, PMD, Tan Caddis, Purple Haze, Renegade, Float & Fool,Rusty Spinner, small Chubby’s and Purple or Olive Stimulators are all fun dry flies to fish. Soft hackles, Caddis Pupa, PT’s and Perdigons will round out the selection just fine.

The Upper Deschutes float from Tenino to Bull Bend is currently closed due to the fire near Wickiup. Seems like this one the fire fighters are tackling the best they can and we don’t expect this closure to be too long.

The Upper Deschutes from Crane Prairie to Little Lava is a good place to be, fishing is good with some hatches, decent terrestrial activity, and very good euro nymphing.

The Fall River is another spot that is fishing quite well, with good fishing throughout the day mostly on nymphs and small streamers and add in some terrestrials (ants, beetles and hoppers) and hatches of midges, olive caddis, PMD’s, Blue Wing Olives and look for Rusty Spinners at dusk.
The headwaters, camp ground, hatchery, tubes, falls and all the other little pullouts in-between those spots are good to explore.

Finally, the Crooked River is a standout right now. So many good reports from here it warms my heart to see it bounce back from losing the reservoir just 2 seasons ago.
Walts Worms, Scuds, 2 Bit hookers, Micro Mays, Flashback PT, Rainbow Warrior, Perdigons (fire starters and jig napoleon are 2 we love), caddis pupa and soft hackles.
Purple Haze and Upright Rusty Spinners have been awesome on top, as well as PMD Comparaduns and Sparkle Duns, Film Critics, Quigley’s Half Down Dun, X Caddis and Missing Link Caddis.

LAKES REPORT

East Lake is fishing quite well with Callibaetis and Damsels in all stages. Beetles, Ants and Grasshoppers are also producing well. Take your pick on the wade option or boat option, as both have been good.
Seems like a lot of fish near the shorelines from a foot deep to 12 to 15 feet.
Fishing damsels nymphs near the shoreline and over the weed beds in deeper areas is good.
I like wind-drifting with a drogue to keep the boat controlled and use an intermediate line and a damsel nymph with a flashback PT or Poxy Back Callibaetis in tow.
The Callibaetis Cate Jig under the indicator has also been good for us.

Paulina Lake is also good and nice to see the Callibaetis hatch in the mornings when we launch the boat and persisting until the winds come up. Callibaetis hatches at Paulina are SO DIFFERENT than East Lake. Way less prolific, and really shuts off in the wind. It seems so odd to me that East is Callibaetis City for months and at Paulina they kind of trickle for a few weeks, and in just a few areas of the lake.
This week we had marvelous success on the SA 5′ emerger tip line and a callibaetis nymphs stripping it over weed beds.
Balanced leeches and red 2 bit hookers have been good under the indicator for me. Chironomids, CB Cates, Black Double Down, Scuds and Flashback PT’s are all staples for Paulina in my book.
Ants, Beetles and Grasshoppers are excellent. Red Tarantula is a favorite of mine too. If you have not tried a Pink hopper, do!

Hosmer Lake is fishable in the morning from dawn to about lunch in the Upper Lake but PLEASE watch water temps carefully and be careful with the fish handling by keeping them in the water even for the release. Damsel Nymphs, Callibaetis Nymphs, Scuds, Water Boatman, CB Cate, Soft Hackles, Watermelon Leeches and Red Chironomids.
The Lower Lake is likely too warm to be safe to fish. You can check the temp and decide, but watch that carefully.

Crane Prairie is the same, with some areas of the lake seeing surface temps in the mid 70’s which is lethal for trout. BUT, there are some spots in the morning near the confluences of the Deschutes and Cultus Rivers that are cold.
Balanced Leeches, Black Double Down, Red Ice Cream Cone, Damsels, Scuds, Blobs and Waterboatman.
Please be a responsible angler and don’t fish water too warm for trout. I think justifying the bottom is cold enough but dragging trout up to the surface that occasionally may be warmer than 68 is a risk of killing valuable fish.

Todd Lake is a good one to take the short walk to either wade the edges or take a float tube. Callibaetis hatches are strong and the brook trout are rising well to them plus damsels, ants, beetles and hoppers.

Three Creek Lake is good in the early dawn to 9 or 10, and then from about 3 or 4 to dark. Mid day continues to be a little slower but has picked up from the lat report.
Callibaetis are coming off well in the morning and evening. Black Caddis are in the evening with a Black Headlight Caddis and X Caddis killing it when the hatch is on. Ants, Beetles, Hoppers, Hippie Stompers are good dries too.
Sheep Creek Special, Damsel nymphs, Hot Head Leeches, Flashback PT, Callibaetis Nymphs are all good to strip, troll or dangle under an indicator.

All is well in Sisters, and we look forward to seeing you on the water or in the shop.

Jeff