Fall like weather has prolonged trout fishing, and made fall and winter steelhead available to the fly angler all of November and amazingly into December. Today you will find water levels on the Mckenzie, The Middle Fork of the Willamette, main-stem Willamette and North Umpqua in fine shape, summer levels really.
Mckenzie: Fish lower in the river, water temps are dipping down in the low 40s and more activity has been seen in the Belinger to Armitage area than above the dam. Soft hackles will catch fish mid-day when a few midges and Blue Winged Olives are around. Fish slow, soft edges and when your swing is over slowly retreive your emerger pattern. Best success will be fishing medium to small nymphs, Mega Prince, Possie Buggers, Prince, Copper John in sizes # 8-14.
Middle Fork of the Willamette: Flows are not down as low as they can go but they are very wadable in the area from Oakridge down to Black Canyon. Fish nymphs similar to the McKenzie, but you may want to roll a larger stone in faster water. The Middle fork will be a bit warmer than the McKenzie and you may see some Blue Winged Olives. Patterns #18-20 imitating Blue Winged Olive emergers and adults are worth having.
Willamette Main-stem: The town run has been producing a few steelhead and trout. Swing Moal Leeches on sink tips in the tail outs between Island Park and Valley River Center for steelhead. Black and Purple seem to be the best colors. For trout swinging soft hackles and fishing small Blue Winged Olives has been productive in slower runs and edges.
North Umpqua: Fishing pressure has been light. The bulk of the winter run is still out in the ocean, at least we have to hope so. Currently there are still summer fish in the system and a few winter fish. Recently I have had several reports of bright winter fish being caught in the fly water, the first of what should be a good year for winter steelhead on the North Umpqua.
Other opportunities are the state include the Metolius, Crooked and Fall river. South Coast salmon and a few steelhead are available as water conditions remain excellent.-CD