Oregon Cascades Trout Part III: The Flies Trout Love

Oregon Cascade trout flies. Simple, really. These trout eat about everything that we throw at trout, generally, and seasonally, in other rivers around the western United States. I just wanted to note some of my favorites with a few notes in case it proves useful.

Dry flies.

Heavy Hackle Adams Parachute – rough water is where this high floating fly shines. The parachute adams is a must-have anywhere you toss flies at trout, and this fly Adams parachute floats in the roughest water when you need it to. This is definitely a late May, June, and September dry fly.

Irresistable Adams – a buggy Adams, who knows what the trout think when they see it, but trout like this fly.

Royal Wulff (#12-18) – attractor pattern that is one of my key go to flies during early season. I fish the big sizes in May and June, small sizes in July and August, and then back to the larger sizes in September.

Peacock Caddis – peacock and grizzly are a great combination in any fly, and with a caddis wing, this Dry Caddis fly is a winner all season long. Fish it dead drift, skitter it against the current, and let it sink before swimming it to the surface.

Spent Partridge Caddis – not as high floating, but this is a dry, twitch, and swing caddis fly worth putting in your box.

Renegade (12-18) – This silly little dry fly is one of my most favorites. Trout take it wet and dry, dead drifted and twitched and swung. They take is as an attractor and during a hatch when they are keying in on something or other. Make sure you have some. This dependable trout fly is typically a late June, July, and August in the Oregon Cascades.

Terrestrials.

Idyl’s Deer Hair Ant – when the trout want an ant, and they often do, this is a great dry fly to probe under brush and trees. Fish this in the largest sizes you can find in May, also, when the Carpenter Ants make their migration.

Spun Hair Hopper – do trout eat grasshoppers? Yes. I like the natural look of this fly, because it reminds me of a muddler, a fly that I and trout LOVE.

Morrish’s Hopper – I have never really liked these foam gizmos, but the trout do, so I carry these and fish them with success. Sorry.

Soft Hackles.

Peacock Soft Hackle – all soft hackles are an important part of our Cascades trout fly box, and the peacock and partridge is one of the best.

Nymphs.

Possie Bugger (#6-16) – gotta have these in various sizes. This is a big bold buggy nymph that draws trout in most any waters. An all season long nymph to give a try, all day long. Ya never know when a trout will eat a Possie Bugger

Bead Head Copper John (# 14-18) – like the Possie Bugger noted above, the Copper John and all of its many derivative fly patterns is a magical fly. Fish it in its original copper color on any variation that has evolved with different color wire or rubber legs or what not; these flies catch trout.

I hope these little reminders give you confidence that many if not all the flies you already have tucked away in your fly boxes will work wonders on trout in Oregon Cascades streams. If anything here is new to you, get yourself hundreds of dozens of the cute little things.

JN