Category Archives: Lower Willamette

Articulated Jigged Salmonfly Nymph Fly Tying Tutorial

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

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

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

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

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

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

Posted on April 22, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

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

Posted on April 20, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

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

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

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

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

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

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

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

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

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

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

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

The Most Durable Squirmy Worm Material to Date: New Trinas Squirm Material from Montana Fly Co

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Everyone knows squirmy worms work whether you like them or not. Silicone squirmy material has a serious Achilles’ heel. The silicone the worms are made of is extremely fragile. If you crank too hard with thin, but strong thread it … Continue reading →

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

Realistic Blue Winged Olive Weightless Nymph

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Blue Winged Olives or Mayflies from the “Baetis” are a staple in trouts diets all over the world during the colder season. Many places only have a good BWO hatch in the spring and fall, but our weather is mild … Continue reading →

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

Jigged Rabbit Collar Pheasant Tail Nymph

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

In this video, Simon ties a unique variation on the traditional pheasant tail nymph. With winter conditions, a heavy tungsten bead on a jigged hook was a must. Simon kept high flows in mind while designing this fly and aimed … Continue reading →

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

Last Shot Stone: A Large, Versatile Searching Pattern for Trout

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

In this video, Simon ties an effective large profile searching pattern. The fly is versatile in its imitation of several different types of large calorie food items for trout. The fly effectively imitates stonefly & salmon fly nymphs, crawdads, hellgrammites, … Continue reading →

Posted in Eastern Oregon, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Proven Spring Fly Patterns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

BWO Hot Tag Wet Fly Tying Video

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

In this video, Simon ties a wonderful BWO soft hackle. Soft hackles are traditionally swung, but their sparse design allows them to be so much more than a swung wet fly. Simon developed this pattern for a late season trip … Continue reading →

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