Hello and happy Sunday from Central Oregon. If you enjoyed the warm spring weather over spring break last week, you were not alone. Holy cow there were a lot of folks at the Crooked and Fall River last week, but I would think with the vacation time over for students that this week will be a lot more mellow. And, certainly watch the weather and make choices as to your destination because some of the waters are going to be cold and windy throughout the week. In my mind, that puts most of the lakes on a watch list this week for a game day decision to be safe and comfortable. Rivers will be just fine one way or another, but bring your jacket.

The Metolius River offered a lot of good days again this past week, with Eggs, Caddis Pupa, Jig Napoleon and Green Drake Nymphs absolutely top producers. Part of the mystery of the Met is hatches. Why in the world are they not more consistent? But I will go back to the report I wrote 5 or 6 weeks ago and the expectation of a good hatch because the spring weather is good. It just doesn’t align like that, so I would put a buck on the fact that this week with the fronts coming through, cloudy days and even some spitting snow and rain showers we will indeed see better dry fly action.
For dry flies this week #18-20 BWO Film Critics, Sparkle Dun, Parachutes, #16-18 Purple Comparaduns, #14-16 Yellow Sparkle Duns, Soft Hackles, Drymerger, Softmerger, Comparaduns. Keep an eye on Caddis and a Tan Iris #16, Corn Fed #16, Henryville #16-18 and a Big Orange pattern in a #8-12 ought to cover you. That’s 10 or 11 dries or emergers that will match anything you might run into if the fish rise between noon and 6PM. Hmmmm, is the 6PM comment a clue. Perhaps. Look for Cinygmula hatches to be important as we slide into the 4th month later in the day, maybe around dinner time near Allingham Bridge.
Bull Trout fishing is quite good on larger jig streamers nymphed, or articulated streamers swung or stripped. This is an 8 weight game with those larger streamers and for the respect of the fish to battle them safely to the net and back to the river.

The Fall River was a zoo last week, and despite that it was decent to good fishing. Depending on the location crowds were terrible or tolerable, and mid-day was the worst. Remember not every fish lives within access to the hatchery parking lot. Live it up and explore the other places.
The headwaters to the Camp Ground were good with some good BWO and Midge hatches bringing fish to feed on dries. Down stream of the Camp Ground there are many small access points that don’t get the pressure other spots do so consider this as an option too.
The Falls up to the Tubes and above the Tubes is a nice place to fish now too, and getting there early will be good on nymphs and streamers and look for hatches to begin around lunchtime and last most of the afternoon.
Definitely a good spot to enjoy this week as the fishing is good with plenty of fish around.
*We are offering a half day spring special for $375 and full day for $400. Includes flies and rods. Bring your own lunch.

The Crooked River was also quite loved over Spring Break, but fishing was really good and there is a good opportunity to spread out and enjoy the river. Blue Wing Olive hatches this spring are awesome on the Crooked River and some of the dry fly fishing is reminiscent of some heyday years before all the high water springs we’ve recently had. Film Critic, Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, Knock Down Dun, BDE Dun, and the Purple stuff like Comparaduns and Haze’s will do you well.
We are about a month away from massive Caddis hatches and with that I would consider a nymph that appears as a #14-16 cased caddis.
Scuds, Zebra Midges, Rainbow Warrior, Fire Starter and 2 Bit Hookers are all must have nymphs this week. Also, with the wind it’ll be a hard time for a tight line euro rig approach, so switch to a small Oros or NZ Wool and you’ll be able to keep your drift. The other great option is swinging a Soft Hackle, wind or not it is a darn good way to catch fish in this river.

The Middle Deschutes is running a normal high until irrigation withdrawls begin in a couple of weeks , and just like last weeks advice, if you are confident in knowing safe areas to access the river you’ll be rewarded with good afternoon March Brown hatches, some left over but dwindling Skwala’s #8-10, BWO’s #18-20 and maybe a few Tan Caddis #14-16 and Pale Evening Duns #12-14.
Euro Nymphing and Streamer fishing will have a time and a place here this week. My #1 recommended fly would be a #14 Jig Soft Hackle PT, then a #14 Brown Jig Napoleon and a Slum Lord jig streamer in various colors but Cream is the one to start with.

The Lower Deschutes is still closed from access points including Warm Springs, Mecca, Dry Creek, Trout Creek and South Jct but it is open anywhere North/Down Stream of the Warm Springs Reservation. This means both upstream and down stream access from the thriving metropolis of Maupin will be great access places for good fishing.
March Brown hatches are generally good now, and with the weather this week I expect it to be quite good on the dries of emergers of this important spring hatch.
BWO’s can mask in hatch and be unnoticed, but I know you will look for them and make a good choice on fly section if the march brown you are using is not working over rising trout. Maybe the fish prefer the smaller mayflies in that moment?
Could be your tippet is too big, your drift sucks, you have the wrong fly stage on or the hatch hasn’t been matched. All are worthy of working on.
Stonefly nymphs are going to be so important this week and next, and the weeks after that until the emergence begins in what could be less than a month away if the warm weather continues in April, which it is forecast to be. Grab some Girdle Bugs, Kaufmann’s Stones, TJ Hookers and make sure to have black and golden stone versions ready to fish.
Walts Worms, PT’s, Hares Ears, Rock Worms, Perdigons, Caddis Pupa are all good nymphs to run too.

The McKenzie River is going to be on our radar late this week and for the rest of the month of April. I am nervous that after late July we won’t be able to get the drift boats down the river due to low water from the drought. So it might be a good idea to get on a McKenzie trip early this season and do April, May, June and into Mid-July and then let’s see how it looks. March Browns and Caddis will be the expected hatches for the month. Michael and Steve are ready to go now, Troy is waiting for a boat repair to be done and he’s ready to roll ASAP.

LAKES

Haystack Reservoir has given up some large brood stock rainbows lately. Most anglers I talk to are not catching a lot of fish, but one to 3 big ones per day. So far, it’s a balanced leech game. When are the callibaetis going to pop?

North and South Twin Lakes are good options for some wade access, float tubes, pontoons, kayaks and drift boats with no motors allowed.
Damsel Nymphs, Chironomids, Leeches and Callibaetis Nymphs, and consider an Olive Scud on both lakes too. My freind Sean who lives down near the lakes reported to me his fly de jour was a Black Wooly Bugger with Silver flash in the tail.

Chickahominy Reservoir has been quite good on Olive Chironomids, small Damsel Nymphs, Balanced Leeches and Water Boatman. Access for boat launching is fine, and wade fishing is just as good. The wind is going to howl on the high desert much of the week, so watch the forecast and decide the best day to go. It’s a 200 mile round trip from Bend.

Diamond Lake is fishing really well and on Balanced Leeches and White Soccer Moms with a Pink Head this week. Camp Sherman Dad had a little spring break trip with the family and they had a heyday. However, the next 5 days are going to be a challenge with wind and snow and after that I think it looks great.

Justesen Ranch Private Lakes were on fire for the Fly Fisher’s Place group trip earlier in the week. Chironomids and Balanced Leeches rules the day for sure. We saw some Callibaetis hatching! Next week ought to be $ on the lakes. I wanted to do another group trip this week before I left to Belize, but I am running out of time. But that doesn’t stop us from helping you get booked for the day! Let’s get you out there in April.

Lake Billy Chinook is good for Bull Trout in all 3 arms, but this week with the wind is going to be rough boating. By next weekend I think it’s good to go. Big streamers on Sink Tips are always a go to, but Balanced Leeches and Balanced Minnows under an indicator are a good way to fish the edges too.

I am wondering what April will offer from Paulina and Lava Lake? Will they open early? I hope so. I am ready for both.

I’m taking the boat in to my friend Miles at Sculpin Marine in Bend on Friday to have the cleats taken off and retractable cleats installed. Hard to believe the big boat is 9 years old this season. I should have done the retainable cleats year one! I am adding a 5th cleat on the port side bow area to accommodate the large drogue I use on the windiest days. It will be in a better place to spread the ropes apart to utilize the drogue to slow the boat on a breezy day better than ever.
I realized at Justesen this week I need to get the Yeti Load Out Box cleaned up for the new season. So that plus finishing tying chironomids and callibaetis nymphs to balance a Crostons Bung Indicator for the new season on the Cascade Lakes.
Finally, on my type 7 lines for the deep dangle, I am going to mark them every 5 feet with nail knots up to 35 feet so I have a better visual on where to keep the line length set for this method. A quicker and easier way to measure it to the correct depth for maximum results.
I am now 100% booked for 2026. Thank you to all the repeat clients and friends that make this dream come true.

TRAVEL

We are looking forward to having Esteban from Southern Loops Fly Fishing here in Sisters may 12 to the 18th. We will be announcing some events together for learning more about this great and more economical trip to fish in Patagonia than any others that I know.

And I am already filling rooms at the Patagonia Baker Lodge in February and getting some interest in the Magic Waters trip the next week. Don’t wait too long if you want to go to one of these lodges with me in 2027. I will continue to call the lodge at the Baker the finest lodge I’ve ever been to.

I am not one to toot my own horn, but I believe with the work I have put in to this part of by business that I am one of the best people to talk to about Patagonia and South America Travel, and Belize travel. I have spent a lot of time in both places, I know the people, the cultures, the best places and the fishing. I can make your trips really special and strive to do that. Let’s talk about one of my trips or just getting you down on a week that is good for you.

Guide Trips

From April 5th to the 15th we have good openings on the Fall and Crooked for the spring special, and on the McKenzie (regular priced but a great trip) .

In June we have a 2 or 3 day camp trip available for a group up to 6 June 22 to the 26th. We can do Warm Springs to Trout Creek for one night, or Trout Creek to Harpham for two nights. Prime Pale Evening Dun and Caddis times!
The WOMENS ONLY Camp Trip is scheduled for June 30-July 1 and July 2. This is a wonderful time to come as an individual for angling and camp vibes with other like minded women. It has been a wild success in all the years we’ve offered it.
In July we have Camp Trips available 7-8-9 or 14-15-16 or 21-22-23 or 29-30-31. This is great camping weather and some quality hatches, especially caddis, but PMD’s and PED’s and Rusty Spinners.
October is another good time for the Camp, and we have all but the 6-7-8 open for you.

Thanks as always for reading the report and supporting the shop and the wonderful FFP guide team. We all appreciate each and every one of you.

See you on the water or in the shop!

Jeff “bugs” Perin