Things are coming to a quick ending on the lakes, and we have just this week left to enjoy the upper Metolius, and of course the tribal side of the Lower Deschutes is also closing on 11/1, but the BLM side remains open for trout angling until 12/31. I will say watch the weather this week, especially on the high lakes because we have a cold storm arriving tomorrow and there is snow in the forecast, along with wind and cold days and even colder nights. I cancelled today’s trip due to the wind forecast, and I am hopeful for Friday but watching the weather carefully to see if we can go.
I had some good days this past week on the lakes and don’t want to see it end yet.
I think the game plan for fishing this week will focus more on the rivers and watch what happens with the lakes regarding wind, high and low temps and precipitation.

The Metolius River is going to be a great choice this week, whether we are heading out to fish for Bull Trout on streamers, or nymph for anything with fins, or chase afternoon hatches there is a lot going on still on this wonderful river.
Kokanee are still around but the spawn is coming to a close and the fish are definitely dying after the spawn. Eggs remain an important protein for all the fish that congregate below the spawning beds the little salmon use. Also, when fish are digging redds they kick out midges, caddis, stoneflies and mayfly nymphs that get washed down the current to the delight of trout and whitefish below. This is an example of catastrophic drift! The bugs didn’t choose to get washed down, an event chose it for them and they are vulnerable here. Biologic drift is when the same larvae mentioned above move voluntarily to get to new habitat. This occurs frequently, although slows some in the next couple of months as a lot of the nymphs that will hatch next spring and summer are in early instar phases (very small and immature) and as they mature later in the winter they get bigger and need to find new grounds to call home.
Over the next months flies that will be extra important are Eggs, Jig 20 Inchers #10, Golden Stones #6-12, Zebra Midges #18-24, Caddis Pupa including October Caddis #8-10, Tan #14-16 and Olive #14-16, Micro Mayflies and 2 Bit Hookers that look like Baetis nymphs #18-22. It’s always good to use Perdigons, Walt’s Worms, Pheasant Tails, Duracell’s, CDC Guide Hares Ear and Blue Prince Nymphs.
Hatches that are most important now are Blue Wing Olives #18-20, and PMD’s #16. Watch for Cinygmula which is another yellow mayfly hatch that overlaps the PMD’s at this time of year. I also think it’s very likely to run into some Mahogany Duns this week. Add a Quill Gordon or Upright Parachute Rusty #16 to match them. A Purple Comparadun is favorite of mine on the river and a #16-18 or 20 is one I’ll frequently tie on to match a ton of hatches now and throughout the year.
The Golden Stones and smaller Olive Stones are about kaput, but a Clark’s Stone is also a good fly to match October Caddis adults for the next few months, and those little stones can show up at the darnedest times too. Never count them out until it gets really wintery.
Add some Griffiths Gnats and Midge Emergers to the box in #20-22. These can be especially good in the eddies, and in the pool below Allingham Bridge now and for the next 4 or 5 winter weather months.
Don’t forget streamer fishing! You can fish Euro streamers on a tightline set up with your Euro Rod, or the big stuff on an 8 wt.

The Lower Deschutes has been having some very good trout days lately with small streamers, leeches, sculpins, 2 bit hookers, eggs and perdigons. Don’t count out October Caddis and Stonefly Nymphs (black #6-8 and Golden #8-12).
We will be running our November special again for float trips priced at $500. Let’s go!
I believe the fishing will hold up well into November and early December as long as we don’t get an arctic blast.

The McKenzie season is coming to an end for us, but this week and maybe next week there are some good float trip possibilities to enjoy.
Over the past week the fishing was pretty good on Duracell nymphs, Perdigons and Slum Lords.
Walk and Wade anglers can find access near many of the boat ramps and also down near the old Deerhorn Golf Course (sadly no longer there!). Golden Stone Nymphs, Sculpins, October Caddis, 20 Incher, Mega Prince and Possie Buggers are great from the boat or when wading.

The Crooked River remains at 38 cfs this week, and it supposed to bump to 50 cfs for winter flows on 11/1
There are some decent afternoon BWO and Midge hatches to be enjoyed, and a single nymph fished in the deeper runs and away from the weedy channels has a lot of game. Zebra Midges, 2 Bit Hookers, Micro May, Scuds, Midge Winker, Perdigons (especially the little Purple or Black ones), Fire Starter and Eggs. The whitefish spawn this time of year and they drop a lot of little bright yellow eggs that the trout love to eat.
I think the next 2 or 3 weeks will be a good time to be on the Crooked, and now the water is certainly a little lower than we like, but it’s very fishable and worth going there now.

The Fall River is one of the best places to fish now and should be a top choice all week and well into November.
The Blue Wing Olive hatch is strong, midges are important, and those gorgeous #14 Amber Caddis that hatch there in the autumn . Here are the dries I’d take if I was going this week: Olive KD Dun #18-20, Sparkle Dun BWO #18-20, Film Critic #18-20, Purple Comparadun #16-18-20, Orange Elk Hair Caddis #14, Orange Mssing Link #14-16, Silvey’s Edible Emerger #16, Midge Emergers and Adults #20-24.
Nymphing a small Euro Jig Streamer, Mop, Egg, Purple Duracell, Micro May BWO or Perdigons has been highly effective. Leeches, even Balanced Leeches we usually save for the lakes are awesome out there. You can use it under an indicator or on your Euro Rod.
Pick up some 6 1/2X tippet. It’s a compromise on invisible and strength for some of the big stocker trout that are being caught now. I prefer Fluorocarbon and use it for dries and for nymphs here.

Lakes Report.

Paulina Lake was tough a couple of the days this week, and out of the 3 days I was there one day was really hard.
Yesterday was interesting in that the fish were really responding to streamers. I had Rob and Steve on a 7 foot intermediate sink tip and stripping Rowley’s Balanced Minnows, Soccer Moms, and Zonkers. Rob had a streamer called the Bleeding Minnow (or something) and got one on that. They had a lot of chases, but not as many takes for how much interest the streamers stirred up. Fun to watch the fish respond like that though.
All the days we got fish on Beeltes but last Sunday was the last warm day that I saw a really good beetle bite, so it is slowing down with the cold.
Water temps are 40’s in the morning and hitting 50 to 51 in the afternoon. Still good, but dropping fast.

East Lake shoreline wade fishing is the best bet now, but getting off shore in your pontoon boat or drift boat is a good option too.
Browns are active in the shallows and a Platinum Soccer Mom or Balanced Minnow are great choices, and for those of you wanting to throw at some some big fish with bigger flies, try a Sparkle Minnow.
Hanging a Balanced Leech under an indicator in 4 to 10 feet of depth is good. I’d put a dropper fly of a Blob on there too. If anything, it draws them to look and they might prefer to eat the leech but wouldn’t have seen it otherwise.
Scuds and perhaps some chironomids and callibaetis nymphs to round out an arsenal.

Hosmer was a highlight with John and Mike this week. We again had success here with the Rowley’s Balanced Minnows and Platinum Soccer Moms. On a weird hunch that morning I grabbed a couple of Chartreuse and White Clouser Minnows on the way out of the fly shop and had Mike strip it on a camo line. It was quite good too.
At the end of the day, we hung a Croston’s Callibaetis Nymph under an Oros Indicator at 2 to 3 feet and absolutely hammered them for the last hour of the day.
Fish are occasionally jamming on Water Boatman, and hitting them hard on top as they are readying for flight.

Crane Prairie was good last week I heard from a few folks. Anglers I talked to went mostly on the flat out form the resort, and some back a little ways up the Cultus Channel but said it was too hard to get to the inflow of Cultus so they didn’t go back that far.
Balanced Leeches and Rickard’s Stillwater Seal Buggers were their successful flies. You can fish them with an indicator or on a Hover or Intermediate Line now.

Little Lava is slower, but I think still worth the trip this week. Being a smaller lake it wont get hammered by wind as much. The best reports I got recently were on Olive Leeches.
I would add some Red 2 Bit Hookers, Ice Cream Cones and a Red Hippie Stomper to use as the indicator and fish the edges with that combo.

Three Creek Lake is a wild card this week. It’s likely to be pretty snowy and windy most of the week. If you go, wade the edges and fish an Olive Leech and a Micky Finn on a Hover Line. I’d try a lot of other minnow type flies as the Brook Trout are aggressive in protecting their spawning grounds. Watch the weather and make smart choices on your safety going to the mountains this late in the year with a storm brewing.

Justesen Ranch was red hot again this week. Skip and Dave, and Dave L and his son Mack were all there and reported awesome days. It may be where I pivot my last guide day Friday to get out of the mountains and to slightly warmer and dryer conditions . Book a day over the next 2 or 3 weeks. You’ll be glad you did.

Travel

May 1 to 7 Belize at the Blue Bonefish Lodge. A great trip to do as a couple and the couples package is one we sell a lot of. Or just the regular angling package for the week is great too. Everyone loves this trip. Join Jeff next may and see why it’s his favorite saltwater destination.

Hey, why haven’t “you” taken this last spot for Argentina January 9-16th? Do it.

Don’t forget Baja with Mattias. I wish I could go on that one too. End of May 2027.

I had a great day here at the house today after nixing the guide trip at Paulina due to whitecap conditions forecasted. I am so close to being all moved and settled. Countertops get installed the next 2 days. All but a couple of pieces of art are up and it feels like home. Today was a good day to putz around and get little details done. I watched the 49’ers lose (boo) and the Seahawks dominate (hooray) and almost never stay home all day and watch football but today I did. I also took the 1st ever nap in the new house and that’s probably the only reason I am still functioning writing this report and blog at 10:25 PM because normally by now I am fast asleep.

I’ll be in the shop a lot this week, so I hope to see you there.

Be well and dream of fish. I am going to bed.

Jeff