Fall fishing remains excellent on local waters

The McKenzie and Willamette rivers are in great shape and producing well for trout and summer steelhead. We have had some great weather the past couple of days and fall sunshine is far from over. Don’t let a little rain this weekend dampen your fishing spirit. It’s good out there and there is a lot to do.

Upper Willamette above Hills Creek Reservoir: Low water, highly accessible and fishing well. October Caddis, Parachute Adams, Tungsten Ice Prince and Pheasant Tail nymphs to name a few of the productive patterns.

Middle Fork of the Willamette Below Hills Creek and above Lookout Point Reservoir: Super low water, almost not float-able, great for wading. If you have ever wanted to get a look at some new water on foot on the Middle Fork this is the time. You could probably walk the entire river. Again October Caddis patterns, small elk hair caddis, Parachute Adams, Possie Buggers, and Pheasant Tails.

Willamette Below Dexter and on into Eugene: Steelhead fishing has been outstanding to say the least. Water levels are great and there are plenty of fish. Moal Leeches, Green butt Silver Hilton’s, Hobo Spey’s to name a few. Floating line or short sink tip have been getting it done.

South Fork of the McKenzie above Cougar Reservoir: Best mid day to late afternoon, excellent water levels and good hatches. Be prepared with Gray Drakes, Blue Winged Olives, X-Caddis and October Caddis for the surface and standard Possie Buggers, Princes subsurface.

Upper McKenzie above Blue River: On cool nights 40s fishing has been best as things warm. Warmer nights fishing has been great all day. Half Down Golden Stone with an Orange body, Morrish Foam October Caddis, Gray Drakes, Parachute Adams, Possie Buggers, Tungsten Ice Prince Nymphs. As we get deeper into fall Blue Winged Olives as well.

Lower McKenzie Below Hendricks Wayside: Water conditions are good. Lower light conditions have the bigger rainbows back in action after there summer lay off. Swinging Soft Hackles on wet days, nymphing early in the day with October Caddis Nymphs, Possie Buggers and Pheasant Tails. Rising fish will take smaller Elk Hair Caddis Orange and Brown, smaller mayfly patterns and attractors like Royal Wulffs. Enjoy.–CD