Hello my friends, I hope you have had some opportunity to get out and fish in the good weather. It is pretty crazy and a lot sad how good the weather has been in Oregon this winter. We need it to dump in February and March and April to make up for what has not yet been shared by Mother Nature.
I don’t have any way to know, but I hope we get some good back to back storms and erase all or most of this deficit for snowpack! Will we hit 90%? 75%? 110%? Or stay at 30 something? Any improvement is welcome Ma. Be good to us river lovers, farmers and the wild things that rely on enough water to thrive.

As I check in to the shop with Aaron, Mattias, Gavin, Gavin and Sequoia I have heard it is pretty busy. Lots of people going fishing, and lots of our returning customers are booking trips for the summer. Thank you!

One of my main guys for fishing updates is Phil, and a lot of you know Phil from the shop, he started working there last summer after Drew(who) moved to Washington, Phil retired quite a while ago from his career and has been a regular on the Metolius and someone I trust big time to give me good reports to share. Well, that guy is fishing with our guide friend Ollie in New Zealand and from what I see he is catching some trophy browns on his Euro Nymph rod, and that is not a surprise since Ollie is one of the highest ranked competitive fly anglers in the world and I know a lot of you had a chance to fish with him or take a class with him a couple of years ago when he spent the summer here in Sisters with us.
This week I have reports to share from the Metolius River from my good friend Jesse and from Sequoia who has been putting in the river days out there. I love this!
Sequoia has been doing a lot of nymphing in the upper river, using both her Euro rod and an indicator rigging with good luck and some nice fish to her net. She is using small Jig Streamers mostly! Stop in the shop and visit with her about her favorites.
Jesse has been fishing more on the Middle and Lower River areas, and had a lot of good luck finding Blue Wing Olive hatches and fishing emergers during the hatch, and midge pupa as nymphs.
This week the nymphs to carry are Tan Fat Ass Caddis (either the original or my improved version we sell), Midge Winkers, Zebra Midges, October Caddis Pupa, Stalcups Amber Caddis Pupa because its the ringer for the Silver Stripe Sedges, Brown, Olive and Blue Perdigons, Eggs, Golden Stones and Orange variegated Girdle Bugs. On the Dry Fly side, Blue Wing Olives like a Film Critic, KD Dun, Sparkle Dun, Parachutes and Comparaduns in Purple and Olive. With a good number of big orange caddis #8 and amber caddis #12-14 you’ll want to match them too. It’s not a bad idea to have a midge dry like a griffiths gnat in the box too. In some of the eddies and even places like the Dolly Hole, midges can be what they get keyed on.
February is a good month to get after the Bull Trout on big streamers, jig streamers or nymphs. A lot of winter Bulls come on a Red Ice Cream Cone or a Slum Lord, so it’s not just about your 8 weight rod and an articulated streamer the size a Barbie Doll. But it can be, and that is the beauty of those predators.

The Fall River is fishing well and of course with the lack of winter weather access to the tubes and the headwaters are excellent, so spread out from the hatchery and see more of the river.
This is a good time of the year to enjoy the afternoon and very early evening hatches of BWO’s, Midges and even some amber Caddis #14. At our latitude we gain 70 minutes of day light in February so you’ll really start noticing it this month that more fishing time is available.
Perdigons, Eggs, Zebra Midges, Slum Lord, Micro Minnow, Walts Worm, 2 Bit Hookers and Pink MOP’s will be great nymphs for you this week. For Dries a Film Critic, KD Dun and Purple Comparadun would be my top 3, with a Midge Winker and a Griffiths Gnat with a Pink Post to see it easier (i’m old) and I’d fish them on a 7x nylon tippet (I use Rio Suppleflex usually, as the soft compound adds another dimension to the drag free drift). 6x is good, 7x is better.

The Crooked River is perfect now, with a nice average winter flow (98 cfs today) and no icing issues to worry about. I’d roll out there about 9 am and fish until about 4:00, and maybe until 5:15 if you see the fish rising to midges along the mile post 12 area on the way out. I know a lot of people come from Bend through Alfalfa and go back home over the dam and don’t see that lower reach of river, but this time of year after 4 it can come alive on a calm evening with midges.
During the day fish some scuds, BWO nymphs and zebra midges, and a small Black or Purple Perdigon. In February it is possible to get a decent BWO hatch once in a while during the afternoon so put some Film Critics, BDE, EP Sparkle Dun and Purple Comparadun.
Poking out to the Crooked on a February day that offers some warmth and good light is a gift. I like to carry my 9′ 3 weight for the dries, and my 10′ 3 for nymphing, and use the nymph rod with a tight line sighter or a NZ wool indicator.

It’s certainly a good thing to put the Maupin area of the Lower Deschutes on your radar now. With spring like temps for the time being there is going to be a lot of good opportunity to be on the Lower River this week.
I have fished an incredible BWO hatch on Super Bowl Sunday below town years ago, and that may be for you to find this week. Currently I am about 6800 miles from Maupin and hope to watch the Super Bowl somewhere in Buenos Aires.
If I was in Oregon and had a day to go to the Lower D, I would. Besides the potential for Baetis, Black Stonefly nymphs, Girdle Bugs, Golden Stones, Green Rock Worms, Berry’s PCP, Walts Worm, Blue Perdigons (thank you Amy Hazel), Brown, Olive and Pearl Perdigons, Pheasant Tails, Micro Mayfly’s and small streamers like a Busta Seamz and Slum Lord.
Access up to the Locked Gate and down to Mack’s Canyon gives with MILES of water spread out on and enjoy.

I just spent another incredible week in Patagonia and feel lucky to have been there with such a cohesive group of guys who fished well, laughed better and set the record for bottles of wine consumed at the farewell dinner at Estebans on Friday night. Mary Ann’s all women’s group had the previous record, but it has fallen.
My friend and great guide trip client Milt was here, along with his old boss Bob who is one of the funniest dudes to spend a day with on a boat or at a dinner table, Mark and Howard, John and Doug and me and Ted. Each person contributed something amazing to the positive (or at least entertaining) dynamic of the group. I’d travel with all them over and over.
I am going to put dates in San Martin de Los Andes together for early December of 2026, and early January then off Chile in February and March. I am also going to look at some Peacock Bass and/or Golden Dorado options in January and February but don’t have that pinned down quite yet.
I certainly would like to spend the winter back here in South America. I find this to be quite lovely, the weather is awesome, the living is great, the fishing and food and friendships are exceptional.
I hope to have some of you joining me next year on these trips. And in Belize in the Spring.

Esteban and I really try hard to make the Argentina trips a complete cultural experience. I think all of our guests have found out that this trip is really living a great experience, that is unexpected to so many that join us.
In Chile Eduardo and Sebastian are completely set up to deliver more luxury and service so each trip can be fit towards your needs and I am always willing to talk about the best options for you to join us here.

Thank you to all of you who wrote me this year to say hello, and share your fishing trips with me. I love hearing them, and I love hearing from you!

Until next week, I will be here in Buenos Aires writing, tying nymphs for the Cascade Lake season ahead and eating good food.

My best to you~
Jeff