Trout fishing on the McKenzie and upper Willamette has stayed steady through the summer. Despite low snowpack producing low summertime flows, the middle to upper sections of our rivers have remained cool and productive. We have been fortunate and continue to dodge a spell of 90+ degree days. Lets hope it stays that way! As summertime conditions persist this is a reminder to: fish SMARTER not HARDER.
Over the past month and especially over the next 6-8 weeks the best time to fish is early or late. Simon wrote a great early July report – the second half covers hatches and fly selection all of which holds true now. I wanted to touch on “timing”, something that might be more important than fly selection as summer progresses. Trout fishing tends to slow down around noon, really lull from 2-5 and then catch fire from 6 (or whenever shade hits the water again) till dark. On hotter, sunnier days the slow window starts earlier and ends later.
What does this mean for you? A smart angler should either wake up early or do something else with most of their day and fish late. My favorite trout fishing window in the summer is 6 till dark. A close second is whenever you can make it to the river till about noon. Both fish differently. In the mornings trout will be pushed up shallow looking for terrestrials, soon nocturnal stones. This is super fun attractor dry fly fishing – casting to targets not rising fish. General “good looking trout water” fishes great with chubby dropper and nymph rigs. If you keep fishing through midday your best bet is euro nymphing pocket water, pour overs, and seams where the hungry fish collect to hide from sun, predators and collect easier meals. In the evenings aim for bends and runs that have shade. You can catch more fish in a prime shaded run in 30 minutes than you did the last 4 hours. After 7:30 or so is when you can start looking for rising fish.
Lots of short evening floats are available on the McKenzie thanks to its many boat launches. The MF Willamette has more roadside accessible evening dry fly flats. Hangout, read a book, have a beverage and wait. That’s what the summer is for! You don’t need to be patient while fishing but be patient for the fishing to get good. The last couple months of summer are a great time to take advantage of Caddis Fly Shop’s half day guided trips – call 541-342-7005 to book. However you get out enjoy the summer! -Robbie
