If you are in, or around Sisters you kn ow what a special day it is around town. It is the largest outdoor quilt show in the world and every building including the FFP building is adorned with quilts hanging from their walls and porches. Last year we had some really special quilts with a lot of fishing and outdoor motif, so the organizers really do a great job at matching the fabric art to the audience. If you’re in Sisters today stop on by and see what’s hanging. I can’t wait to see it when I arrive this morning.

On my way to one of my guide trips this week my customer Greg said something I wanted I wanted to share today. He and I were talking about the Metolius and he related that to him one fish on the Metolius was more meaningful than a dozen on any of the other local rivers. I pondered that for a moment, and I have to say I agree. There is nothing like a wild Metolius trout, no matter the size or the type.
But it’s important to take this profound statement with a little grain of salt, because later in the day Greg sprayed sunscreen on his socks, and when I asked him why he said he thought his feet might get burned. “Through your socks” I replied?
I laughed so hard, it was the funniest thing I saw all week and for the rest of Greg’s life he will take some crap for this. I guess you can’t be too careful with sunburns. But I think socks are enough to cover you for uv exposure on your feet. As are pants, a long sleeve shirt and all kinds of things that cover your skin. No joking now, all of that is important along with sunscreen on your exposed skin any day you are out in the sun, and more so on these long hot days. Keep protected and keep HYDRATED.

As I get to the lake fishing part of the report, I am going to post some very important water temperature warnings, plus fish handling recommendations for summer conditions. I’ll talk about where it is safe (and where it might not be) as we enter the hottest week of the summer coming up!

For now, as we usually do let’s visit that lovely spring creek 15 miles to the NW of our fly shop. We love the Metolius and all of us at FFP fish it often throughout the year.
I think it’s safe to say you won’t see any fishable green drake hatches this week, but they will be back in September so put that on your calendar.
The Upper river from Gorge towards the headwaters is seeing an increase in Golden Stones and that means a Clarks Stone or Norm Woods Special are going to be your best bugs. Don’t hesitate to run a Pheasant Tail or Red Copper John (there are many other nymphs to drop too) off the back of the high floating stonefly dries. There are some tight casts to the banks and logs that will be better without a dropper nymph, so be prepared to cut it off for some of that juicy stuff you know holds a nice rainbow but you won’t catch if your dropper is snagged up.
PMD’s in a #16 (especially sparkle flag or sparkle dun and film critic), Beetles, Ants, Yellow Sally’s and Tan Caddis #16 are all important on the upper river and equally so all through the sections down to Candle Creek on the lower river areas.
The upper river also provides some wonderful euro nymphing runs, and a split case PMD, yellow napoleon, jig PT, fat caddis, spanish bullet and olive with orange hot spot perdigon are great choices.
Middle River action has been good with PMD, BWO, Tan Caddis, Rusty Spinners and keep an eye on midges and toss a Griffiths Gnat in the box to fool a tricky riser you’ve shown all of the previously mentioned flies too already. Also make sure to have a 16 & 18 purple comparadun. Hatches can see waves of any of these more than once in the day but afternoon and evening is the most likely saving the morning for more nymph fishing times. Or early morning at dawn for a bull trout streamer through a good pool. Ooh la la. And there are a lot of bulls in the river now.
Nymphs to have this week = tan or olive caddis pupa #16, brown, olive and purple perdigons, split case pmd, soft hackle PT, tungsten 20 incher, golden stones, 2 bit hooker, olive micro may and zebra midge.
Dries to have this week = PMD KD dun, PMD Sparkle Dun, PMD Film Critic, Rusty Spinner, BWO in all the same patterns and add the CDC Parachute #20 to that. Yellow Sally, Hemingway, Clarks Stone, Norm Woods. Purple Comparadun. Iris Caddis, Weiss caddis, Corn Fed. Parachute Adams. Beetle and Ant patterns.

The Crooked River is running cold from the release of water at the bottom of the reservoir, so at least in the section of river form the dam down to about mile post 12 water conditions for safe fishing are going to be good.
There have been some good moments of dry fly action mid day, particularly when the shadows start across the river made by the tall ponderosa pine trees that are along the banks here. Try purple haze or purple comparaduns, upright rusty spinners and PMD’s. Small hoppers, royal wulff and renegades are effective now and can also be a good fly for a dry dropper set up.
Scuds, ray charles, perdigons, fire starter, spanish bullet, soft hackles, pmd split case and skinny nelson or some other micro mayfly type nymphs like 2 bits are simply excellent here. You can tight line, dry dropper, use an indicator like a small or XS Oros or NZ wool and do really well on the Crooked this week.

The Fall River is our other cold, clear spring creek we love so much. You know I write here often about beat the crowds and go early or late. And I know some of you are doing it. I did it myself earlier this week with an after dinner session around the Falls. I had the river to myself and caught several fish all on a beetle. I will say the next morning I ordered a simms bug stopper shirt and found my mosquito repellent to pack for a future trip.
FFP guide Troy is seeing some really strong afternoon hatches and consistent dry fly fishing on little stuff like PMD’s and BWO’s, and small tan or black caddis. Look for midges, yellow sally’s and little olive stone and always trust an ant, beetle, hopper and hippie stomper on a summer day on the Fall.
Michael was telling me last night he’s getting success from leeches and MOPS and small mayfly nymphs.
The streamer game is a lot of fun on this river as it can be a visual explosion of cat & mouse. Whether you strip streamers on floating or sink tip lines or tight line them on a euro rig it is a great way to catch nice trout on the Fall River.

The Lower Deschutes is good, but mid day can be a grind as the sun beats on you and the river. Best fishing is dawn to about 1PM and from 6 or 7 PM to dark, especially the last 60 to 90 minutes of the day is when the best hatches of pale evening duns and tan caddis are rolling. Water temps seem to be consistently safe in the Warm Springs to Trout Creek run, but check them if you’ll be down below, especially Maupin down to the Columbia.
This week’s hot weather coming up will be a good time to be on the water early in the morning, or from 7 to dark.
I had great sports from Mattias, Troy and Michael from their guide days down here this past week. Mattias was doing well with purple perdigons, tan caddis pupa and leeches, and Troy is always hot on tan caddis in the summer.
it is a good time to swing yellow soft hackles #12-16, or get out the trout spey 3 or 4 weight and a sink tip with a leech, sculpin, minnow or crayfish pattern and work the runs out deeper and farther than a nymph rig will go.

The Middle Deschutes needs to be watched for water temps coming up this week. Carry a thermometer. There are areas that will be too warm for ethical catch & release fishing, and there are areas that will remain good with spring rejuvenation. PMD, PED, caddis. Fish dawn to noon and possibly again in the evening toward dusk but take that water temp and if it is 68 or more don’t do it.

The Upper Deschutes float from Wickiup down was good for Michael this past week. As we move towards august I recommend a trip with him or Troy up there in later August and September.
This past week Michael had some good fishing on both PMD and PED hatches on his float.
Streamers, hoppers and evening caddis hatches are likely and keep an eye on rusty spinners and tricos morning and dusk too.

The headwaters stretch of the Upper Deschutes is a good bet. Not a bad idea to get in the habit of checking water temps, but this area is full of spring rejuvenation and should all be good for healthy fishing conditions. Lot’s of nymphing and small streamers. On the dry fly side a chubby is a good attractor and a great support fly for a dry dropper. Ants and beetles, parachute adams, light cahill, x caddis, corn fed caddis, upright rusty spinner and winna spinner are some good dries to play with throughout the day and evening.

Troy gave me a good report from the McKenzie River with positive fishing happening in the morning until about 2 or so, and then with the summer sun he is seeing water temps rise and the fish turning off. I would imagine evenings pick up again after the afternoon lull, but we are running all of our trips in the morning and afternoons. He’s been finding good fishing on stoneflies, caddis and leeches. We also like Pedigons, Possie Buggers, TJ Hooker, King Prince and Soft hackles. These are typical staples on the McKenzie for sure. I’d also grab some Squirrel Leeches and Sculpzillas for your next trip.

The Upper North Santiam River has been a good spot lately. It is producing good fishing mostly on small nymphs and small streamers. Several friends have fished it lately, and they are not getting many fish on dries, they are finding plenty of smaller and mid size trout and whitefish on the euro rigs. Marion Forks down to Idanha is a long stretch to explore and on weekdays there is not much fishing pressure at all.

Stillwaters reports-

sadly I am seeing dead fish laying on the bottom of many of our favorite lakes. things that contribute to this include fishing for fish when the water temperatures get to 68 or more, fighting the fish too long because people don’t put enough pressure on the fish to get them to the net quickly. A good rule of thumb for trout is fifth them for a minute per pound. So most of the trout we re catching in the local lakes you need to tame in a minute or two. Learn to use the butt of the rod to powerfully lift the fish to the net.
Keeping fish out of the water too long. Photos are a killer now. A good photo of the fish in the net, cradled in the water is an exceptional way to document your wonderful catch. A video of the fight to the net is fun too and something I like to do for my clients instead of the old fashioned lift it up and hold it for a photo, also known as a grip and grin. I’m not saying I never do the grip and grin, but in the summer conditions we are going to see this week (and likely in to August sometime) this is not healthy for the fish. The use of barbed hooks. I know people do it, because they don’t want to lose their catch. It is not necessary! The same techniques I talked about landing fish apply to fighting them too. Learn to use the butt for power, and the angle of the tip section for shock absorption on the tippet, keep good pressure on the fight and do it quickly, with the goal of a minute per pound.
A fish should not be allowed to keep making a dive under your boat. Maybe once, but not twice (or more). You need to be better. Learn to skate that fish with its head up to the net, unhook it in the net and revive it for a minute before letting it swim away.
AND, if you are not using a thermometer in july and august that is simply irresponsible angling ethics if you intend to practice catch and release. Almost every one of our mountain lakes will have good water temps in the morning. How long that lasts is dependent on the lake itself, the wind and weather, the altitude, influence of springs, deep water reserves of cooler water that can circulate when the wind blows, plus creek or river confluences that bring cooler and oxygenated water to the lake. It is possible some areas of the lake are not good, while other areas are safe.
*as I write this our casting instructor Doug is just coming in to meet customers for a lesson and he mentioned exactly what I am writing about and I punched him in the arm and said thank you Doug! You’re awesome. He was any one of the local mountain lakes near sisters yesterday and by 2 PM the water temps got to 68 and he and Rick left the lake. Very responsible. Cheers to Doug, Rick and all the people doing what’s best for the fish.

East Lake was good to very good this week. Tuesday we had to leave early and just got some morning nymph action. Wednesday and Thursday we saw good to very good callibaetis dry fly fishing between 11 AM and 1:30 PM
Beetles and Ants were both good this week before and after the mayfly hatch. Not much on hoppers for my boat, but Michael had some good action on a yellow hopper, where I stuck with my favorite pink hopper.
Nymphing with a callibaetis cate, red jig PT, poxyback callibaetis, assassin and chironomids have been productive under an indicator or stripped with a ghost tip, hover or intermediate, and if you have a sea anchor/drogue you can wind drift from 30′ to 10 or 12′, covering a lot of territory usually with good results.
Bank angling has been fairly good. Keep an eye peeled for damsels too.
I will rate East lake as our best (or tied for best with its neighbor) lake at the moment.
Water temps are 62 in the morning and I have not seen more than 65 yet. Troy said he saw 68 to 70 on one part of the lake. I worry a little about the upcoming week so I hope all of us will watch what happens after lunch.
I have not had a tremendous amount of success with deep dangled presentations. I see them down there moving on my live scope, and sometime there are a lot of fish and I can even tell they are swirling and circling the flies….but eating it. Not so much. Not yet.
I would also recommend anchoring in 16 to 18′ and fishing a slip strike indicator with 2 chironomids. Usually red on the bottom and black with a red rib on the tag 2 feet up from the point fly. Olive chironomids, assassins, chromie and blobs are good flies to cycle on your line too. Change the fly after 15 minutes with no takes.

Paulina Lake was also good this week, and the beetles were there for the win. Add ants, chubby’s and hoppers. There are a lot of hoppers “clicking” in the hills next to the lake now and for the next 2 1/2 months there will be a lot of opportunity to use a hopper.
Callibaeits are getting better, mostly in the morning, and in July and August this is normal at Paulina.
Indicator fishing with an assassin, red 2 bit, CB cate, ice cream cone and hanging with my chromies, and red holo jigs.
Damsels are increasing in importance now too and both the nymph and adult will be important.
There are 3 important leeches to fish now, Vampire which is all black with a chartreuse bead, brown with an orange bead and a watermelon leech with a gunmetal bead. Typically fish these under an indicator and along the ledges but also the marl spots in the weed beds.

Little Lava Lake is a good choice now, especially from dawn to about 2 or 3, but watch that surface temperature, especially after noon.
Callibaetis hatches have been good. Fish the poxyback nymph or schrantz’s callibaetis nymphs on a sinking line (ghost tip, emerger tip, hover and intermediate + a type 3 if you want to get down below 10 feet). Callibaetis Cate and croston’s callibaetis are good under a drop back bung, NZ wool or oros indicators. When the emergence is on fish the captive dun and a brooks sprout or almost dun, and a sparkle dun is often very effective. For duns, purple haze, olive haze, tilt wing and cut wing/extended body patterns are great. And don’t forget a good spinner to round it out.
Leeches and chironomids and damsels are all in full summer mode now. Plenty of good moments can be spent with those on the end of the line.

Hosmer Lake in the upper lake is holding water temps in the safe zone. So far. It should continue but check it every day.
Lots of damsels! Nymphs and adults are very important to match.
Callibaetis is okay, with the August brood probably the next big hatch to look forward to and we will take what we get for the rest of july.
Watch for traveling sedge hatches, usually in the evening but could be morning too. A #10 Goddard caddis is so fun to twitch across the surface. Also small black X-caddis is a good fly for evening when the black caddis are hatching.
Ants and beetles are good along the reeds and over the weed beds.
Scuds are pretty common in the lake and show up often, along with leeches in the throat pump samples.

Three Creek Lake sitting at just shy of 6500 feet is a good bet to find cooler water, but even up there this small lake can warm to 68 and more. Watch for it. We’ve been seeing really good hatches of callibaetis with spinners hovering the lake before the hatch, and waves of duns. Usually there are 2 emergences a day.
Ants, beetles and hippie stompers (both red ones or all black ones) are great dries when the mayflies are not present. At dusk there are a number of black caddis and a size #16 black x-caddis is a perfect fly to match it. Watch for emerging chironomids at dusk. If it’s windy the dry fly bite is not as good as if it’s calm.
Balanced leeches have been amazing, especially bruised with an orange bead.
CB cate, red pt, crostons chironomid, crostons cb, crostons leeches and damsels are great under his bung style indicator. Of course you can fish any indicator with success, but the cylinder style ‘bobber” is more sensitive than a sphere. In shallow water I prefer NZ wool, in 8 to 15’ a bung, if its windy an Oros, and in deep water over 14 feet a slip strike is preferred. This is true for all the lakes and is my goal in choosing an indicator.

There are plenty of mountain lakes to explore around Sisters and Bend that can get you in the high country for some good summer fishing. Like all the lakes in the region, callibaetis, damsels, leeches, black caddis, scuds and chironomids are staples. Could be traveling caddis and caenis mayflies on many of them too. And when in doubt go ants and beetles in the lakes. Many of these lakes require a hike, some a 4X4 truck with clearance and a few you can drive to easier than others. ODFW keeps a lot of these stocked with rainbow trout, but some are brookie lakes , a few have cutty’s and some even have browns. There is a lot to explore out there. My friend Jesse and I just bought new Outcast Scout Boats, and my hope is to do more of these little lakes this summer and in the future.

I think Crane Prairie is off my own list for a while. Super warm surface temps on most of the lakes. Yes, the channels at the bottom can be much cooler but during the fight you still have to drag them through the warm stuff and release them back through it to return to the cooler areas. I just can’t compute how this is safe for the fish?

Our guide Adison was at Diamond last week and as he left he said he’s going to hold off on going back until water temps cool with fall weather.
I would say watch it, and fish mornings and rest it for the remainder of the day.

I am curious to go try for some smallmouth at Suttle Lake. If I get some time I am going to throw some streamers at those rascals. Have any of you gone to try for them? Certainly a warm water fish that can handle some hot summer day fishing.

I have been getting a fair number of calls on Davis Lake. I don’t really know much other than it is very low. I don’t think it is fishing well but would be curious to hear from you if you’ve been lately…

Travel-

Argentina December 6-12 5 spots open. January 9-16, 2027 4 spots open and January 16-23, 2027 2 spots open.
Chile February 19-27, 2027 4 spots open and February 27 to March 6 9 spots open.

Belize May 1 to 7 is 1/3 full +/- so now is a good time to get on the list for this special trip.

Kids-
I have been happy to see the young guys getting so exited about the fly fishing opportunities around here! We are getting the next generation of anglers getting serious about fishing. These amazing kids like Hunter, Levi, Dillon and Vince who keep hitting it week after week. I am inspired to see this generation love the sport that took me so far in my own.

Speaking of youngsters, here is my good friend Ron with his grandson’s 1st trout caught a few days ago on his new Echo Gecko outfit. This is why we protect our trout and make sure places like this will exist for future generations.

Buy a thermometer and use it over the next few weeks. Fish early and quit earlier if you need to. Support conservation like Trout Unlimited and support kids who need a little help with the Mayfly Project.

Thanks for thinking of the trout and the people who love them.

Jeff