Greetings from Sisters, Oregon on this warm summer day. We have a lot to share this week, including many positive reports coming in from my sources around the local waters.
My own week included a day on the Metolius, a day on the Deschutes and 2 days guiding on East Lake so I have some good intel to share from those places on a personal level, and have great reports from our outstanding FFP guide team, and trusted fishing friends who are on the water all over the region each and every week.
A reporter has to have sources, even if it’s just for the report I share each week.

The Metolius River was a little better this week. After my successful outing on Sunday with Ron, Chester had a good evening Monday with caddis hatching at 5, and Spinners on the water by 8… How civilized.
I also heard from a few people who went out in the evening and saw very little going on. Timing is everything in life and in fishing, but I do believe as we move into August that we are going to see fish settling in to better rhythms in concert with improving hatches.
Afternoon action from noon to dinner time is worthwhile, and of course our upper river goldenstone hatch is a highlight there. PMD’s, BWO’s, Yellow Sally’s, Tan & Olive Caddis (Iris Caddis, X Caddis, Henryville, Missing Link ) plus the beginning of great things to come in regard to Little Olive Stones (Hemingway with the hackle cut off the bottom) which will make a massive appearance in about a month but they are around now in smaller numbers, and don’t forget the chunky (ameletus) olive mayfly #14 that will be improving over the next few weeks as well. We have 3 flies to match this well: a Hackle Stacker Sparkle Dun, a #14 Purple Comparadun and a Moore’s Parashuck Emerger in olive #14.
With the Fall Green Drake hatch about 5 weeks out, GD Nymphs are a good bet. Golden Stone Nymphs are always a staple. Caddis Pupa and mayfly nymphs to match the PMD’s (#16 brown) and BWO (#18-22 olive and black) will put fish in the net. Zebra Midges, Perdigons, Walts Worms and Soft Hackle PT’s are essentials for the Metolius Box.
Overall, Bull Trout fishing is okay, some fish are being found but I am wondering if a lot of the fish we were seeing a few weeks ago have gone to spawn? If so, it’s good they are in the protected creeks where no fishing is allowed and also, we should see them return soon enough for better fishing in the near future. Plus I think the main push of lake run Bull’s are yet to come.

The Lower Deschutes is fishing nicely, with better caddis hatches (Tan #16, Black #18, Olive #16-18) Pale Evening Dun #14, PMD #16-18, BWO #20 and with grasses drying out on the banks its time to think about grasshoppers there too.
Dry fly fishing is not just in the evening, if you are looking in the eddies, shaded bank lines, riffles and seams you can get fish on the surface at many times of the day.
Nymphing is excellent! use both Euro Style or Indicator Style rigs with Caddis Pupa, Stonefly Nymphs, Mayfly Nymphs, Perdigons, Frenchie’s, Soft Hackles and a Brown Mini Gulp or Brown TJ Hooker to look like a small Crayfish and hang on.
Steelhead fishing is improving, with the run looking quite positive for 2024! I highly recommend booking your fall guide trips soon if you want to get a chance on what some are saying may end up being the best run in many years.
At this time, most of the fish remain near the mouth up to Sherars Falls. As I write this, I get a buzz thinking about these great fish that come so far to run up our river. I can picture in my day dreams of a wild steelhead finning in the current of a tailout, and I think of this spot with so many memories of being there in years past, and what I remember most is the light. The light in the canyon so vividly creates art with the filtered sunlight and canyon walls turning the water into a kaleidoscope of pinkish orange, purple and silvery shimmers. I imagine my eyes wandering over the landscape as my little purple fly swings in through the current. I need the tug. I believe it will happen. I want to hold that fish briefly, admire its strength and be awestruck by its colors as I let it swim freely again. It’s been a long time for me since I held a steelhead like that. At one time in my life I spent every week at the mouth of the Deschutes swinging for steelhead and the memories from those summers will never be forgotten. I hope this fall I visit again.

The Middle Deschutes is fishing well in the morning with Euro Nymphs and some PMD’s, and gets good again in the evening to dusk on X Caddis, Missing Link’s, Yellow Sparkle Duns and Purple Haze.
Swinging a Yellow Soft Hackle, or greasing it up with Aquel to make it float as a dead drifted emerger is also a good bet.
I fished the Middle D last night after work and it was really good. I remember waiting on the trail for my friend Chester to come out of the river and join me on a spot we love to fish downstream and as he was walking up the bank he said to me that he never gets tired of fly fishing. I agree. I love the experience, and I’ve never felt burnt out of fishing. I jokingly tell people that Dry Fly Fishing is my religion and any chance I have to see a trout eat a dry, especially during a tricky hatch, I am in 100%.

The Upper Deschutes is still closed form Tenino Boat Ramp below Wickiup down to Wyeth and Bull Bend CG’s. The Wickiup fire is doing well thanks to some darn good fire fighting efforts, they kept it to 168 acres and it is now 75% contained. I would hope to see the Upper D in this area open soon. Lapine State Park to Big Bend, or Big Bend to Besson Camp could be fun floats to do in the drift boat with Hopper fishing starting now and going strong for a long hot summer ahead.
Last summer and early fall I guided 9 trips up there and for a good angler in the boat that has a good cast with a reach mend and knows how to feed line in to a downstream drift and work a foam hopper along banks and logs, there are some good fish to be had. Add PMD’s and BWO’s and an evening caddis hatch and this should be an area to add to the list for the next 2 months. Also, on this section of the Deschutes you can fish from the boat so this may be a good spot for folks who don’t like to wade to add to their guide trip list soon. Troy, Steve, Tonn and Mattias all know this water and are good guides up on the Bull Bend float.

The Headwaters stretch of the Upper Deschutes is a great summer spot, with wonderful opportunities for Euro Nymphing and terrestrials, attractors and small streamers.

The Fall River is fishing nicely throughout the day, meaning no matter what time you can get there or choose to go you should be able to find willing fish. I know from talking to our guides this week that small streamers continue be real fish catchers! Mop Flies, Zebra Midges, 2 Bit Hookers, Rainbow Warriors, Olive or Purple Perdigons and dry flies including Ants, Hippie Stompers, PMD’s, Olive Elk Hair Caddis, Henryville, Silvey’s Edible Emerger and the Hot Orange Missing Link is one they will often hit when there are Yellow Sally’s/PMD’s/Caddis, also it is a good attractor and is fun to see fish react to crazy colored but realistic flies. I actually tie a hot pink comparadun and use it on both our local spring creeks with fun and surprising success with a funny attractor.

The Crooked River is really good fishing and is a top spot we are guiding and recommending to our customers. A lot of nymphing, but now there is an increasing amount of good dry fly action with a BDE Dun, Sparkle Dun, Purple Haze, Parachute Adams, Renegade, Upright Rusty and add some Hoppers to the box for sure.
We continue to do well with a Frenchie, Fire Starter, Scud, Rainbow Warrior, Walt’s, Olive Perdigon and Micro Mayfly’s to imitate PMD and BWO nymphs.

Finally, The McKenzie River is a good spot for booking a guided day since the access to wading is difficult, and rowing your own boat won’t leave much opportunity to get to fish. Our guide team is seeing a lot of good days on the Mack! Sidedrift/Euro has been effective, small Stoneflies, Big Chubbies, Elk Hair Caddis and Parachute Adams and Cahill’s are getting fish up to the surface. There is a reason the Mckenzie is one of our most popular guide trips.

LAKES REPORT

Like I mentioned at the beginning of the report, I was on East Lake 2 days this week and the days could not have been more (surprisingly) different.
On Tuesday I had Rick and Jim in the boat for a Deschutes River Alliance donated trip and while we had a good day, we had to change tactics a lot to achieve the success I wanted for them. We switched up techniques using callibaetis emergers and duns on the surface, beetles, Hoppers and chubby’s, deep indicator fishing with chironomids under the indicator in 17-18′ of water and got the nicest brown there. We also wind drifted using the drogue and slowing the boat in the heavy wind. Rick had an intermediate line on and jim had a Type 3 line. On this day the Type 3 was the way to find the fish.
The next day with Skip and Sean started even more windy, and I had a hunch we would not find much for a callibaetis morning spinner fall, or lunchtime hatch in that weather so we immediately went to the Jiggy Twist Beetles along the banks and caught a bunch of fish right off the bat. The beetle worked all day but there was a time the fish were keyed in on Blue Damsel Adults and we had a great hour and half or so on Damsel Dries.
When the wind howls don’t fret the callibaetis will be off, just plan on Damsels and Terrestrials. The 2nd Brood of Callibaetis will be upon us and that hatch is often more intense than the 1st brood offering stunning dry fly opportunities for about 6 weeks.

Paulina Lake was good this week on Beetles and Hoppers and Red Tarantulas.
Fish the drop off zones with Scuds, Leeches and Red 2 Bit Hookers.
The Callibaetis hatch is early morning and again in the evening when the wind is not strong. I am looking forward to being there again this week.

Crane Prairie is good in the Deschutes and Cultus Channels for sure but watch water temps in the afternoon and fish in the morning and quit if it hits 68 or higher.
Leeches, Chironomids, Water Boatman, Red 2 Bit’s and Blobs are some good ones to hang on the indicator rig or strip on an Emerger Tip, Hover or Camo line.

Hosmer Lake is also fishing in the upper lake all day (and in the lower lake early in the day). Damsels hatches are strong here! Leeches, Boatman, Chironomids and some expected callibaetis activity including nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners.
Ants, Beetles and Hoppers can be magical at Hosmer on the reed lines and along the shore.

Three Creek Lake is fishing pretty good in the evening when the wind isn’t howling, but the problem is the wind has been blowing most nights the past few days and is expected to continue for another little bit.
We might even get some rain on Monday afternoon and overnight up there. I think Tuesday AM is going to be a good bite if that’s the case.
Callibaetis, Long Horned Black Caddis #16-18, Damsels, Ants, Beetles, Leeches, Chironomids, Squirmey, Blobs and Sheep Creek Special. By the way, we also have a jig style Sheep Creek Special to use under an indicator now. Check it out.

Travel

I have 4 spots for Belize in November and 2 spots for the same lodge in April
4 Spots in Chile in January.
Unlimited weeks in Argentina for the 2024/25 season opening 11/1/24 and going to April of 2025.
If you want some good fly fishing travel this winter let me know.

Thanks for the positive feedback on the reports and I enjoy hearing from you about your experience on the water too.
Also thanks to everyone who signed up and filled our Phil Rowley Clinics coming up in August. We wanted to welcome the Canadian fella to a full house and show him Oregon is full of people interested in being great fly anglers.

Jeff