Hello everyone, if you’re reading this from Oregon you know the last several days have been amazing… Amazing if you like cool and wet weather that is. The type of weather that is game changing on the rivers and lakes. The type of weather that clears the air of smoke, dampens the fires around the west and makes us feel good about life in Sisters, Oregon. The type of weather that makes October Caddis start hatching on the Metolius and that pops Blue Wing Olives like it is already Fall.
Will it last? No. But do we love wearing a sweatshirt to work. Yes indeed. The best part of the year is just starting. Green Drakes and Flav’s return to the Met, along with massive hatches of Little Olive Stones. Steelhead funnel in the higher reaches of the Lower Deschutes, Bull Trout get more and more prolific as they get done with the seasonal spawn and compete for food. The lakes cool off so we see safe temp’s every day. Summer hatches march on for another month as Fall hatch cycles get a foothold and overlap for a while. Football returns to the TV, Baseball enters the finest phase of the year and my Padres slipped a little this week but seem like they are in contention for a playoff spot if the next month goes well. What could be better than all of that?

Starting on the home waters let’s wade in to the spring-fed waters on the Metolius and take a look at all the cool stuff happening there. Last night I had to miss my Friday after work session because we headed down to the Cowboy Dinner Tree for dinner. Chester was quick to fill me in on how good the hatches were last evening, with Blue Wing Olives taking the top spot yesterday. I am confident that as it warms back up this coming week the BWO’s will still be important but the #16 Tan Caddis, #20 Yellow Micro Caddis and #14 Dark Gray Caddis will roll better.
The Little Olive Stones are getting started and will become a major presence on the River over the next 3 to 4 weeks. Henryville, Hemingway, Olive CDC’s in #16-18 will be your best match. Even an Olive Soft Hackle with Aquel on it fished in the film is a perfect choice.
Golden Stones continue to spread out over more of the river so expect to see some around the Canyon, Bridge 99 and below. Still good in the upper river from Gorge to the Headwaters.
Lot’s of mayflies, besides the BWO’s look for PMD’s #16 mostly but think about adding some #18’s the mix in your box in the Fall, Ameletus #14 (robust) Olive Mayfly that look a lot like a Flav which are coming soon, Mahogany Duns #16, and don’t forget your Spinners in the evening at Dusk. Include #16-18 and 20’s in the Spinner selection, with #16 arguably the #1 pattern.
Nymphing is darn good with the Euro rigs! Also indicator work with Stones, Caddis Pupa and small Streamers in places you can’t wade and get over the fish.
I’ve been following the “shop boyz” and their Bull Trout Pursuits. To say the least, they know what they are doing and if you want great Bull Trout advice come and talk to Mattias and Gavin at the shop.
Here is Mattias with one from this week. He is a funny guy and edited the back drop, but you get the picture of the essence of why these fish are special.

The McKenzie River is on the drop and is going to be freaking awesome this week. Big Chubbies, Stimulators, Parachutes, Large Orange Elk Hair Caddis, Soccer Moms, Perdigons, Frenchies, Soft Hackle PT, Black Jig Leeches, Walts Worms and King Prince are all hot flies on the Mac now.
We’ve been mostly running Blue River to Ben & Kay and having nice days on the water, and it’ll be even better with a little extra flow although I think that won’t last long with warm and dry weather in the forecast coming in soon.

The Lower Deschutes is really good for trout on the Warm Springs to Trout Creek drift and below to the Locked Gate area for us.
Caddis Hatches have been great, with #16 Tan and #18 Black being the 2 most important caddis to match now. Still a fair number of PMD’s and some Pale Evening Duns too and they are collecting in the eddies for good dry fly action even mid day if you look in the right place. In those eddies add some spent caddis (the Dead Bug #16) and Rusty Spinners including my Sunset Spinner and the Winner Spinner as they have a low profile from the fish’s perspective but are really easy to see for us.
In the evening things pick up even more, add some Purple Haze and Tan X Caddis to the mix, and swing soft hackles.
I can’t emphasize how important Caddis Pupa are to your success there. Tan Sparkle Pupa #16, Grey #18 and also Primetime Pupa in both Green and Tan will add fish to the day. Perdigons, PT’s, Girdle Bugs will be great too.
Steelhead numbers were quite good over Bonneville Dam this week and we saw a good bump over the Dalles Dam too. To me, I know a lot of those fish are going up the Deschutes and we will love to see them soon. Our October and November in the day stretch is going to be a good one. Get on the schedule with Tonn, Troy and Steve if you want to do a Steelhead trip this fall.

The Middle Deschutes is prime now, from Bend all the way below Steelhead Falls to lake Billy Chinook.
Most of the same hatch activity as the Lower Deschutes with BWO’s being added to the mix in a big way in the evening. They are mostly a #20 and you need an emerger, cripple and dun for that. PMD’s #16, Tan Caddis #16, Grey Caddis #14, Black Caddis #18 and don’t forget your Purple Haze and Renegades in a #14-16.
Nymph action is darn good whether you want to go Euro style or Indicator style. If you do the Indy, we recommend the NZ Wool Indicator for the ultimate sensitivity.

The Upper Deschutes float from Tenino to Bull Bend or Lapine State Park to Big River CG is good. Hoppers, PMD’s and BWO’s. I love to streamer fish the banks in this stretch.

The Headwaters stretch of the Upper Deschutes is a good bet, especially with Perdigons, Jigs and Jig Streamers. Mostly Brook Trout and Whitefish and some Rainbows mixed in. Ants and Beetles and some Hopper action along with Caddis and PMD’s and BWO’s and be sure to look for Mahogany Duns now too.
The Blue Hole is a cool spot below Little Lava Lake that you can hike in with a Float Tube and circle around. Possible to see some Callibaetis there, but I love a Red Ice Cream Cone, Red Copper John, Egg and Olive Soccer Mom under an indicator through there. All of this closes September 30th and the next month is the time to hit it.

The Crooked River continues to be an absolute standout for us and our customers. PMD hatches are on fire so you need nymphs, emergers, cripples and duns for that and we are seeing more BWO’s and Mahogany Duns in the hatch cycle now.
Caddis in the evening after about 4, mostly Tan #16, but like the other rivers #18-20 Black, and #14 Grey will be smart choices to have in the box as a pupa and an adult.
Scuds, Zebra Midges, Flashback PT, Rainbow Warrior, Fire Starter Jig, Perdigons are all good.

Stillwaters Report:

I’ll start close to home and say the Callibaetis hatch remains very good on Three Creek Lake now. Later afternoon seems to be the sweet spot.
Chironomids and Balanced Leeches under an indicator, Sheep Cheek Special, Wooly Buggers, Callibaetis Nymphs and Hot Head Damsel Nymphs stripped or trolled on a Camo Line.

Crane Prairie is good in the Deschutes, Cultus and Rock Creek Areas. When we went on Thursday is really picked up after lunch. We did best on Red Chironomids, but one friend of mine got them on Chromies the day before, and someone else I spoke to was doing balanced damsels and leeches under an indicator with success. The fish are in great shape and water temps are lower 60’s at the surface.

Paulina Lake is really good with Hoppers and Beetles along the banks and drop off’s and Balnced Leeches and Red 2 Bits and Black Double Down and Scuds on the ledges and Hanging with my Chromies and Assassins in the flats either under an indicator from 10 to 17′, or hand twist on an Emerger Tip (5′ slow sink tip) or Deep Dangle Type 7 in 20 feet or more with a Red Chrionomid on the bottom and a Pink Blob on the Dropper.

East Lake is getting a very good afternoon hatch of Callibaetis! You need nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners. The Nymphs should be fished one of 2 ways: Under the indicator with a Jig Style, or stripped with a 3 to 5 foot Midge (Sink) Tip.
Beetles and Ants and Hoppers are all good too and don’t hesitate to try some small Chubby’s through there, and try a Blue one if you see Damsels and a Red or Royal color any other time.
Chironomids under an indicator in 10 to 18 feet are good in the morning and after lunch.

Hosmer Lake continues to be awesome, and this week the fish started dissipating from all being in the Upper Lake to moving in to the Channel as well.
Damsel Nymphs are hot. Red Holographic Jigs, Chironomids, Water Boatman, Scuds, Jig Callibaetis, Zebra Midges and Ice Cream Cones.

For my Stillwater friends here are 2 things you really want to check out.
Last year me, Devin Olsen and Cheech and Curtis at Fly Fish Food were sent an Indicator System called a Drop Back Bung invented in the UK by former World Champ Howard Croston. Some of you got to use this indicator on a guided trip with me, and those of you who saw the sheer effectiveness of this cylinder type indicator wanted to buy them right then and there. Well, over a year later they have finally come in. Amazing indicators that detect strikes way better than a Sphere in most cases. These don’t work in a lot of wind (they blow over) but in calm conditions you will catch more fish for sure.

Also, when Phil Rowley and his friend Steve Anderson were in the boat they introduced me to this fly. We don’t sell the fly but for you fly tyers we have the materials to tie them. The last 2 weeks this fly has been good every lake I have fished. It’s great under an indicator, on a Emerger Tip and on a Deep Dangle Type 7.