The Metolius continues to pump out good afternoon hatches

Metolius River - Metolius Springs, OR (Jefferson County)


by The Fly Fishers Place
10-31-2024
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The Metolius River continues to pump out good afternoon hatches of PMD’s, Cinygmula’s and Blue Wing Olives. There are also good numbers of the October Caddis and a #14 Grey Caddis and still a good enough number of #16 Tan Caddis. Hatches right now are mostly 1 to 4 on the mayflies, and extend that a bit later for the Caddis emergers. A good searching dry is an October Caddis so an Orange Rubber Leg Stimulator or Orange Foam Body Elk Hair Caddis can get hammered in an eddy or pool or favorite seam line. 
For the afternoon hatches get emergers that sit in the film, and emergers that float on the surface, cripples and duns. Examples of that are Film Critic, Winger’s, Captive Dun, RS2, KD Dun, Half Dun, KD Dun, Sparkle Dun, Parachutes. If you have these in Yellow #16 and Olive #18-20 you will have covered your bases like a pro. 
The nymphing is just outstanding, and eggs top the list for importance, but caddis pupa (Orange #8 and 10, Olive #14, Tan #14-16), plus mayfly nymphs, zebra midges and an array of perdigons and tungsten beaded nymphs like a Micro Mayfly, 2 Bit Hooker, Frenchie, BH Soft Hackle PT all in a #16-18. 
These lower light winter days offer a light bending possibility of a Blue Prince or Blue Psycho Prince. Years ago someone wrote about the color blue in a winter light period and how blue was really visible on a winters day under the water. It is curious and I love to play with possibilities like that, because who knows for sure, but if it works and we get a few fish to the net on something like this, it makes all of happy. 
Bull Trout are abundant and are in all areas of the river, but best from Canyon Creek to Candle Creek. My Bull Trout Boyz are getting after them with very large streamers, but you don’t always need to fish the biggest streamer, nor the heaviest streamer to get a Bull. A lot of the Euro Jig Streamers fish great on a 4x tippet and will get down easy with that. The other streamers that we are casting and swinging or stripping I recommend a 0X tippet or even 15# maxima. Sometimes a little sink tip of 3 or 4 feet of T8 is helpful or an Airflo Poly Leader that is a heavier sink rate. 
And remember that the river closes above Allingham Bridge from 11/1/24 until 5/22/25 so don’t be fishing in closed waters. It is done to protect spawning grounds critical for our redband trout to have success. I appreciate that.





More Reports

The Fly Fishers Place Reports
for Friday, October 25th

Metolius River: Lots to Love on the Metolius!
Deschutes River- Lower: Only a Little Time Left on the Lower Deschutes
Crooked River: Best Overall Trout Fishery!
Fall River: The Fall River in the fall is always a favorite!
Hosmer Lake: Good Reports From Hosmer!
East Lake: East Lake Updates!
Paulina Lake: No Better Opportunities For Brown and Rainbow Trout!
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Good Reports on Crane Prairie
North Twin Lake: North Twin Updates
South Twin Lake: South Twin Lake Updates
Chickahominy Reservoir: It is good to see that fishery back!


10-21-2024
Sign went up today at Mecca with this warning- WARNING DAM TESTING UPSTREAM 05 October 22-25 and October 28-31 Water Levels & Flow May Change Without Notice At this...... Read More