Despite the hot weather and low water fishing on the McKenzie has been good of late. The best quality fish seem to be in relatively fast water with at least 4 feet of depth. Many of the nicest trout I have seen in my boat lately have been in what you might call “steelhead water” more than classic trout water. I would love to tell you they are swimming up out of 4-8 feet and crushing the dry fly, but that isn’t the case. Of late I have been fishing nymphs off of dry flies that are very slender and have excellent sink rates. Believe it not the Possie Bugger has not been the primary bug of late! Using a large dry fly, Chubby Chernobyl or Half Down Golden as the “indicator fly” and using the tag end “hopper dropper” method (see link) I have been fishing a “jig fly pattern” and even tying a smaller nymph like a Copper John or Pheasant Tail above it for a three fly rig. Two nymphs off the dry about 4-7 feet. If you tie the nymphs “in line” by using the eye of the first fly for both leader end and tippet end tangles are reduced.
The Jig patterns come in several varieties and they have all worked. The three best patterns for me have been the Jigged Prince, Jigged Hares Ear, and the Euro Jig Nymph.
CD
Awesome update! Cool pictures as well!
I too have noticed the possiebugger not working as well durring the summer heat recently, thanks for the jig nymph info, very interesting.
When you say “the first fly” in your description of the rigging, do you mean the floating fly or the first subsurface fly?
Looks like a great day.
Yes, big dry, nymph then tippet in that nymphs eye then to a jig nymph fly. The dry off a tag is critical for ease of casting. (See hopper dropper set up)