Category Archives: Lower Willamette

Extended Body Golden Stonefly: Fly Tying Tutorial

Golden Stoneflies are arguably the most important summer stonefly in the Western United States. This large insect hatches consistently across much of the West, and provides steady fishing with large attractors for most of the summer. In the Western United … Continue reading

Posted in Aquatic Insect Hatches, Entomology, Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Oregon Fly Fishing Tips, Proven Summer Trout Patterns, Trout Patterns By Season, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Early July Fishing Report

Despite our subpar winter, we have made it through several popular weekends without any serious local fire flare ups. We have our fingers crossed that we can make it through this holiday weekend without any new fires. Fishing has been … Continue reading

Posted in Fishing Reports, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Proven Summer Trout Patterns, Trout Patterns By Season, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

USACE ANNOUNCES OPERATIONAL UPDATES FOR WILLAMETTE VALLEY DAMS

From: Native Fish Society June 2026 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, posted a press release on Tuesday outlining its plan for operating Willamette Valley Dams. Immediate actions include a deep drawdown for Detroit Reservoir as well … Continue reading

Posted in Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Oregon Conservation News, Oregon fly fishing links, Oregon Fly Fishing Tips | Leave a comment

Simple and Effective Jigged Yellow Sally Nymph for your Summer Dry-Dropper Setup

Yellow Sallies are a small, yet important summer bug in the Western US. They are often overlooked as other warm weather stoneflies are much larger like Salmonflies, Skwalas, Gold Stones, Shortwing Stones, Etc. These bugs come in a yellow, more … Continue reading

Posted in Aquatic Insect Hatches, Entomology, Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Fly Tying Tutorials, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Proven Summer Trout Patterns, Trout Patterns By Season, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Egg Laying Snowshoe Grannom Caddis

Fishing dry flies for the grannom caddis hatch can be a lesson in patience. Some would say it is a fool’s errand entirely. If you know what to look for, and can time it right it can be extremely rewarding. … Continue reading

Posted in Aquatic Insect Hatches, Entomology, Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Fly Tying Tutorials, Lower Willamette, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Oregon Fly Fishing Tips, Patterns By, Proven Spring Fly Patterns, Proven Spring Trout Patterns, Trout Patterns By Season, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Articulated Jigged Salmonfly Nymph Fly Tying Tutorial

Every spring, giant insects make their emergence from our rivers that they called home for the last 3-4 years. Many know these insects for their winged adult form, which brings fantastic dry fly fishing each spring. This hatch typically kicks … Continue reading

Posted in Aquatic Insect Hatches, Central Oregon Fishing Report, Eastern Oregon, Entomology, Fly Spotlight, Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Fly Tying Tutorials, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Proven Spring Fly Patterns, Proven Spring Trout Patterns, Trout Patterns By Season, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Our McKenzie Green Caddis Makes Its Spring Appearance

Author of “Bugwater“, long time shop customer, and member of Mckenzie River Fly Fishers, Arlen Thomason, wrote a fantastic update on one of his favorite hatches: The McKenzie Green Caddis. “For those who might not have noticed, one of my … Continue reading

Posted in Aquatic Insect Hatches, Entomology, Fishing Reports, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jigged Grannom Caddis Pupa

In this video, Simon ties a productive Jigged Grannom Caddis pattern. This fly will work fantastic on a euro rig, indicator rig, or a dry dropper setup under a large chubby. The Grannom or Mother’s Day Caddis hatch can be … Continue reading

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Fly Tying Tutorials, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Proven Spring Trout Patterns, Trout Patterns By Season, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Late April Valley Fly Fishing Report

Our long strange winter has come to pass and things are feeling a bit more on time. Flows are stabilizing, insects are hatching, flowers & trees are blooming, and trout are rising once again. Despite a seriously low tide in … Continue reading

Posted in Fishing Reports, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Oregon fly fishing links, Oregon Fly Fishing Tips, Proven Spring Fly Patterns, Proven Spring Trout Patterns, Trout Patterns By Season, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

March Brown CDC Bubble Back Cripple

We are still seeing phenomenal hatches of March Browns into April, which isn’t too uncommon. On especially overcast days, March Brown Duns can be found emerging in longer pools with fish sipping them in the tailouts. When these hatches are … Continue reading

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Fly Tying Tutorials, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Proven Spring Fly Patterns, Proven Spring Trout Patterns, Trout Patterns By Season, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fly Spotlight: Fulling Mill’s Tactical Western March Brown Parachute

The March Brown hatch is known around the whole world, anglers and trout alike want patiently for the first large insect hatch of the year. Locally, in our Willamette Valley, that hatch can be prolific with fish carefully choosing which … Continue reading

Posted in Fishing Porn, Fly Fishing Gear Review, Fly Spotlight, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Oregon Fly Fishing Tips, Proven Spring Fly Patterns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Jigged Dinnerplate March Brown Tying Tutorial

Our weird winter and correspondingly strange spring have thrown our hatches off big time. We are full swing in the March Brown hatch; strange enough, the bugs seem a little late to the party. A few days ago, I was … Continue reading

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Fly Tying Tutorials, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Renzetti Comprehensive Buying Guide & Review of the Finest Vises on the Market

As winter rolls around each year anglers retreat back to the solitude of their tying bench. A sudden surge tying posts flood social media, and boom fly tying season has begun. For those who aren’t tiers yet, seeing this larger … Continue reading

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fly Spotlight: Croston’s Jigged Full Metal Jacket from Fulling Mill

There few flies that are developed as general attractor patterns, but happen to really work for a very specific hatch. One of those patterns is Howard Croston’s Full Metal Jacket from our friends over at Fulling Mill for use fishing … Continue reading

Posted in Fly Fishing Gear Review, Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

CDC Loop March Brown Wet Fly Tying Tutorial

The long awaited March Brown hatch each spring is notorious for having fantastic fishing swinging soft hackles. In this video, Simon ties a simple March Brown using one of Ahrex’s newer hooks, the LE880. March Browns have a tendency to … Continue reading

Posted in Fly Tying, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment