The lower McKenzie River is fishing well with nymphs and is on the verge of it’s annual March Brown emergence. Blue Winged Olives are hatching daily and the March Brown nymphs we have sampled have been very mature. Water temperatures today, a rather cold and nasty one, reached 46 degrees. Showers and warming daytime highs should improve fishing on the lower river this week.
For your go to nymphs use, Mega Princes, Hogan’s Clinger, and Pheasant Tail Bead Heads. Blue Winged Olive patterns include, Tilt Winged Duns, Sparkle Duns and Quigley’s Hackle Stacker Flag Dun all in size #18. Swinging wet flies always works well this time of year, check out Blooms Soft Hackle Brown and Quigley’s Faux Hauk.–CD
