the adventure continues as I write this report from the Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport in Belize City. My friend Joe drove me up from Placencia (about 4 hours door to door) starting in his boat to get to the rental car, then on a road through Belize I had never seen before. It was beautiful and always good to see parts of this planet you’ve never laid eyes on before.
We were surprised to get here and find the airport closed, apparently just for a lunch break. I am 2.5 hours early for the flight, as are a British couple who are flying to the same island today.

It is going to be a much cooler week around Central Oregon than here on the bonefish flats of Belize. Either way, there will be good fishing to be had here and at home.
It looks like at home more mountain snow will fall and Sunday and Wednesday look quite cool even for daytime highs in Sisters. Good days to plan a dry fly day on any of the rivers! They are all good now, and the Middle Deschutes and Fall River have had several great days of hatches lately.

The Metolius River continues to be well worth the effort no matter your pursuits. For trout and whitefish the nymphing action is by far the best. It seems like most of the best fishing for trout so far is below the hatchery and around Bridge 99. I don’t think that is uncommon for this part of the season, as the upper river is a spawning sanctuary and perhaps many of the fish in the Allingham to Gorge section have been up above Lake Creek doin’ their thing. That’s why that area remains closed until May 22nd. I would still recommend the Allingham to Gorge section and fish it well, but the reports are the bet catches are downriver.
Caddis Pupa in Tan #14-16, Orange #8-12, Olive #16, Orange Tungsten Eggs, Soft Hackle PT #14-18, CDC Guide Hares Ear with the Tungsten Bead #18, Zebra Midges and any kind of brown or olive nymphs that suggest mayflies, including Frenchie’s, Perdigons, Micro Mayflies and 2 Bit Hookers in #16-20. You’ll also be prepared for the river with Golden Stone Nymphs and Green Drake Nymphs in #8-10’s.
Hatches have been good enough and some days the fish are cooperative and look up and sip on emergers and adults. And other days you better have that nymph rod ready.
When the hatch comes off pay attention because now that mayfly hatch can be a mix of BWO, PMD and Conygmula all within minutes of each other. The fish usually won’t be indiscriminate, so you need the right fly and on the Met that is often a Sparkle Dun, Film Critic or KD Dun tied on my leader 1st. With such a cool week ahead I don’t think it’s going to be a hot cycle for caddis dries, but having an Iris #16 and Corn Fed #14-16 and Henryville #16-18 is a good idea just in case. And a few Griffiths Gnats.
A lot of nice bulls have been around and are eating well. 4 standout flies would be a White Dolly Llama, Sparkle Minnow Articulated Sculpin, Sir Mix a Lot Jig and our Tri-Color Articulated Streamer that is a mix of black/blue/purple. We’ve been out of the Milkshake but I know they came back in stock a few days ago, and our milkshakes bring all the bulls to the yard, so maybe add a 5th fly your box this week.

The Fall River has been getting a nice afternoon Blue Wing Olive hatch after lunch. A purple comparadun #18-20 or olive comparadun or sparkle dun in the same size mix is a good starting point. I love the KD Dun in #18 or #20 for picky Fall River fish.
PMD’s are about ready to pop on all of the Central Oregon rivers so add all of the above patterns in a Yellow #16 and a Film Critic too.
Midges and a few olive caddis have been on the menu at different points during the day. Usually midges are earlier in the day and caddis later afternoon and evening, but caddis tend to enjoy warm weather for their hatch days so this week might be slower on the caddis.
There has been some really nice fishing on a variety of heavy jigs, imitating leeches, minnows and nymphs.

The Crooked River has been good but not quite as red hot as it was 2 weeks ago. Water levels are creeping up to near 200 cfs now as irrigation needs are starting down river.
So far the only real hatches of note are Blue Wing Olives and Midges and most days you can get a good dry fly session to enjoy! Purple Haze #16-20, Adams #18, BDE Dun #18, Knock Down Dun #18, Film Critic #18 and Griffiths Gnats #20-22.
What has been a top producer on the Crooked is a Soft Hackle. It seems the color and size have been all over the boards, with Olive, Pheasant Tail and Hares Ear taking the top spots.
As a true nymph, Frenchie #16-18, Jig Napoleon #16-18, Zebra Midge #18-20, Scuds and Ray Charles #16-20, Cased Caddis #14-16, Fire Starter #16, PMD Split Case Emerger #16-18.

The Middle Deschutes is down to low summer flows as the canals have drawn water from the river to the farms. It makes wading a breeze in many places and warms the water faster making an early salmonfly hatch very likely. I think once we get past the cold week and hit our next warm week they will start on the middle river. Right now the March Brown hatch is going, and starting before the hatch with a Hares Ear Soft Hackle in #14 is good and then a March Brown Comparadun, Olive Haze, Parachute or Sparkle Dun will do the trick. In the evenings look for increasing emergences of Pale Evening Duns! This is one of my favorite Deschutes River hatches and #12-14 Parachute (often I use a Purple Haze) is great, or a large yellow soft hackle. Caddis are out too and a Sparkle Pupa and Fat Ass Caddis will match the pupa emerging to the surface and an X Caddis is the #1 hands down favorite for the Middle D for the Dry in my book. The other thing I love about the Middle Deschutes is the fish eat attractors like a Renegade and Stimulator and that is fun.
There is excellent opportunity to Tight Line nymph now from Bend all the way to Lake Billy Chinook.

The Lower Deschutes is still only open in the Maupin areas, not Warm Springs, Mecca, Trout Creek or South Jct.
Those open in 11 days on 4/22/26. Hooray.
Fishing is good on the Lower D and Stonefly nymphs can’t be missed as the hatch is just days away from getting a start. Will we see big bugs at Mack’s Canyon by the end of April? Could be. The cold week ahead might be the thing that slows that progression a bit.
March Browns and Caddis have been the main two hatched and some smatterings of BWO’s and Pale Evening Duns.

We’ve had an early start on the McKenzie River and it’s been fun to be on the river and the fishing is pretty good with some larger caddis and March Browns so far.
I know a few of early guide trips have been 100% nymph.
The river conditions are good now, but by mid-summer we expect to see some pretty low water conditions so get out there in April, May and June.

LAKES REPORT

South Twin Lake was one of the standouts this week, with Balanced Leeches and Chironomids.
I didn’t see any new reports on North Twin, but it should be pretty darn good too.

Davis Lake is open and the Bass bite is decent down the lava cliffs. I have not heard any trout reports, but the access to the lake is good at the moment.

Chickahominy is still fishing well, either bank access or with a boat. Balanced Leeches and Damsels, Scuds, Blobs, Chironomids.

Haystack I have not heard a new report from any of my friends or customers this week. This is the time of year it shines best so I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t be worth the effort. Bank access and boat fishing are both good. Even on the colder and windier days walking the banks from the handicapped access platform towards the dam and fishing an indicator rig near the drop off zone is a great bet.
Callibaetis should be hatching by the camp ground side for some dry fly options, and certainly nymph options.

Justesen Ranch is really good. The Justesens have there fish dialed in on the lakes on the ranch and the ones near Shaniko. Callibaetis are increasing, but still best on chironomids and leeches. Damsel nymphs and scuds on most of the lakes are a great bet.

Our guide Adison is hammering the bass on the lakes near Eugene and if you can get over and fish with him for a day in his boat you’ll be glad you did.
Call him at (541)570-3621 to get on his schedule,. He will also be guiding the Cascade Lakes with us this summer. He is a super good addition to our lake team as he is one of the addicts of stillwater here in the Pacific NW.

Diamond Lake was slower on the last report I got, but still super worth the effort to get there and fish. Overall the early bite on little white streamers was so good. Balanced Leeches and Ice Cream Cones and Damsels stripped or dropped under the indicator will be smart technique approaches too.

TRAVEL

May 15th from 1 PM to 3 PM my friend and outfitter from San Martin de Los Andes Argentina will be here with me in Sisters to do a free presentation at the Sisters Library Community Room. If you want to learn more about the fishing down in Northern Patagonia and why I think this is one of the most incredible trips we offer, please come and learn more about it. RSVP with Jeff at greendrakehatch@gmail.com

We will be doing group trips to SMDLA in Argentina in December, and January and possibly early February now as well.
Chile trips at the end of February and beginning of March.
Belize is next April but waiting to see if the lodge can bump it to early to mid-May for my group .

SHOP NEWS

I’ll admit I thought this was spam when the notice first came in so I ignored 3 previous notifications, and then one of the trusted news guys on TV out of Bend contacted us and said he wanted to come to the shop and interview us, it turned out what it was about is quite an honor.
https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/local/central-oregon-fly-fishing-guides-usa-today-top-10/article_6fe22766-dd52-4449-a020-af3a3ad05f0d.html
The Fly Fisher’s Place (and Fly & Field in Bend) were both nominated in the top 10 of fishing guides across the country. I know Scott has some darn good guides on his staff and at the Fly Fisher’s Place I am absolutely blessed with a crew that is knowledgeable and works hard, understands the service needs of guiding and create warm and friendly atmospheres for our guests, day after day. Steve, Troy, Michael, Sequoia, Mattias, Gavin, Eric, Shad, Aaron, Adison and me love what we do, and we would be honored if you click the link and vote for us to be the winner. Voting is good until 4/27 and you can vote once a day, but really I hate that stack the vote thing. If we win because some of you agree that your experience with an FFP guide was outstanding and you vote once, that means the world to me and seems more fair and honest than my mom voting 16 times between now and then. So stop that mom.

I started writing this at the airport this afternoon, and since then I flew to the island , transported to the lodge and met my group here, got fishing gear set up for an early start tomorrow and I am the last person in the lodge awake I think.
I guess I will hit the hay and dream about salty fish and seeing my backing.

Until then, stay fishy too. Enjoy the week and I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you in the shop or on the water in Oregon soon.

Jeff