This report has some optimism (finally) for the Crooked. Read on….
It also has some reports of plenty of good fishing, all around the state from Eugene to Burns.
So please take a moment to read on.

As always we begin on the “home waters” down the road on the Metolius River. Here is a crazy story, and believable mostly because I know the source.
What is the earliest date of the season you can guess trout being caught on a Green Drake dry?
Carolina Phil (who is also a new shop employee after years of being one of our best customers) rose 3 and landed 1 on a #10 Drake DRY on April 3rd. Last year, on April 7th he had a similar experience.
I wonder why?
It is possible a few “sentinels” come out early, on the lookout for species survival and in doing so early assures that some species success is more assured in the event of catastrophe at the time the majority of the species hatch from mid-May to late-June. But even that scenario seems far fetched this far out. I personally remember fishing a strong Drake hatch on the Metolius on April 22nd with a good friend from Murren Switzerland. He loved it, I did too, but was more floored by the date than the actual hatch.
Would I go all in on Drakes this month? No I would not, especially with a dry. But I would do a search through some seams and eddies with one late in the afternoon from time to time, and put more focus on a GD Nymph.
Most of the past week did not seen very good Cinygmula hatches (there are trickling hatches around mid afternoon). Blue Wing Olive hatches have been very good this week and the fish are looking up for emergers, cripples and duns. Keep an eye on Spinners late in the day/early evening. It is going to rain Monday, and I am going to guess that the mayfly hatches will be good.
There ar plenty of caddis around and I would use Corn Fed Caddis, Iris Caddis, Orange Elk Hair and Orange Rubber Leg Stimulator for the top, and corresponding caddis pupa in colors and sizes appropriate for the hatch. Without doubt a #8-10 Orange, #14 Amber, #14-16 Tan pupa will match most of what the fish are seeing in the drift.
other nymphs of course are Golden Stones, Drake nymphs, Perdigons, Eggs, Frenchies, 2 Bits and Micro Mayflies are some of my favorites.
My shop kids were out in force this week on the Bull Trout. Gavin landed 3 yesterday, so yes, it is good. Big streamer season is upon us.
Every once in a while I get to talking with a customer who are on the way to the river, and through small talk, they mention something about their own fishing history that piques more interest. In this case I just had an inspiring conversation with Herb after he mentioned he fished a lot on the Delaware River back East. The Delaware is the birthplace of one of my favorite flies. I asked him if he knew Al Caucci and Bob Nastasi who were legendary anglers from the Delaware River, and who invented what I consider one of the top 5 dry flies of all time. Do you know what it is?
Bob and Al invented the comparadun, and back in the day they dubbed their bodies using dyed beaver fur in a process they called spectrum dubbing which they used the color wheel to blend colors to create the illusion of the natural shade of the mayfly they were matching. Blending dubbing colors, like an artist would blend oil paints to create the desired shade of the insect being matched was ground breaking at the time. In the modern world a comparadun remains one of my very favorite dry flies, but I am awfully happy to use Natures Spirit dubbing dyed to match any hatch we will encounter.

The Fall River is fishing really quite well, from the Hatchery down to the Tubes and also up near the camp ground and headwaters.
There have been good hatches of Blue Wing Olive and Midges, a smattering of March Browns that may provide a fishable session, and the same can be said for some caddis. As our days warm, so does the forest, and with that the ants and beetles are becoming more active. Consider a Hippie Stomper and a Quigley Flag Ant for the rest of the spring and summer.
Euro style streamers and fairly heavy beaded 3.0 to 4.0 beads on your Perdigons and Eggs and run your smaller Zebra Midges as a dropper. Don’t forget our spring guide trip specials here at $350

The inflow levels on the Crooked River dropped A LOT in the last couple of days, giving me some indication the main part of the Ochocco Mountains runoff is behind us. For the 1st time in weeks and weeks, the outflow from Bowman is under 1000 cfs. I am hopeful the river might be at a level to fish in less than a week! Stay tuned.

I spoke to 2 people who came from Maupin and thought the Lower Deschutes water was too high to fish…
Maybe the case, and the water is running pretty high, but I do think it is fishable now. Stonefly nymphs and euro Streamers and big beads on the Perdigons.

Haystack is good. Olive Chironomids and Balanced Leeches continue to be very good.

Chickahomony is good, the water has about 2 feet of viz, and water boatman, prince, leeches and chironomids are good.

Our awesome Casting Instructor Doug P went to Ochocco Reservoir earlier in the week and he had some really good fishing! Easy access from the main ramp to fish even in a pontoon boat, or with an electric motor. Balanced Leeches and Phil Rowley’s Balanced Baitfish are the 2 main recommendations for this report.

Justesen Ranch is still rollin’ hard. Such good fishing so far on all the lakes which include access by drift boat, tubes, pontoons or even a few with good wading access. Leeches, Chironomids, Boatman, Callibaetis Nymphs and hopefully Beetles and Callibaeits dries will increase in necessity as we march further in to spring. $150 per person per day, and if you call the ranch to self book (as opposed to having me/the shop do it for you) please tell Amanda I sent you.

Lookout Reservoir in Eugene is good for Smallmouth. My longest fishing buddy Chester and I went on a guide trip with Adison Rook (541)570-3621
$300 for 1 or 2 people in the boat, so chester and I spilt it $150 each (+ tip)
We hammered the bass on Adisons recommendations. He knew the bead size, the body color, the tippet and what shape indicator was going to be the most sensitive for the bite, and we benefitted greatly from that. Book this guy, he’s worth it.

Don’t forget our spring guide trip specials at $350, right now only on the Fall River until 4/22. If we can start going to the Crooked too, it will also apply until 4/22.

All of the 50 cent flies are now Free. Seriously. Free. Come and grab some. Bring a kid and help them fill up a box.

If you want to be included to get info on the December 6-13, 2025 Argentina trip where we will do a 3 day/2 night camp on the Rio Caleafu and then go to San Martin de Los Andes (my future home???) to fish the Collon Curra, Alumine and Chimehuen let me know. I am going to send out a blast to some good travel customers about it this week. It’s under $5000 for the fishing week making it a bargain for patagonia destinations.

See you on the water or in the shop.

Jeff