In this video, Simon ties a great egg pattern for the winter and spring. This “Perdi-Egg” merges two proven patterns into one. The Perdigon is a european style attractor nymph that is known around the world. Whether you like it or not, egg patterns are productive for trout, especially when there are spawning fish in the system you are fishing. The whitefish spawn happens during the winter, and rainbows spawn in the spring. From about December through April and parts of May, trout are actually keying in on eggs and eating them. So if you’re a purist, between those months, fishing an egg is guilt free and you’re matching a hatch, perse. In this video, Simon uses a new rubbery chenille from hareline called Microflex Softhackle Chenille to make the egg. Using it sparsley makes for a great egg imitation. You could also use it for bugger bodies, crawfish bodies, eggsucking leech heads, your limit is your imagination. It is also incredibly durable, so you get more life out of each fly. Feel free to size up on this pattern for steelhead, or change colors depending on where you fish. If you tie some up or catch some fish on them and post them online, tag us in your post!
Join author and river advocate David James Duncan (The River Why, The Brothers K, My Story as Told by Water) and McKenzie River Trust for an inspiring and thoughtful conversation about the relationships between people and the natural world around us. Duncan will reflect on ideas from recent works, including his 2023 novel Sun House, which explores the American search for meaning and love, and a forthcoming collaborative book of essays, Going to See, inspired by Barry Lopez. Tickets are $15, and student tickets are $10. Purchase your tickets for Upstream online or in person at The Shedd.
Join us early to visit the Cole Gallery, where McKenzie River Trust staff will be available to share about our current and upcoming projects. You can purchase featured titles from J. Michaels Books and view the Arboreal Angler Collection.Doors will open at 6:30pm.
Following the presentation, David James Duncan will be available to sign books.
“Upstream” is a series of annual events hosted by McKenzie River Trust. These gatherings are designed to inspire conversation about the complex and interdependent relationship between humans and the natural world.
Topic: Join us for an evening covering Keep Fish Wet best practices as a way to get excited for the spring trout season and warmer weather coming our way!
This is an open invitation for all passionate river and fish advocates in the Eugene area (and beyond!) who are interested in joining a community dedicated to the revival of wild native fish.
We’re looking forward to seeing you in Eugene on April 9th! Bring a friend or two, and let’s have a great time!
With the March Brown hatch underway, we’ve collected a variety of past tying videos for some spring-time inspiration. We are seeing plenty of bugs on the lower river. Swinging wets is super effective for this hatch specifically. Plenty of fish can be nymphed up with “crawler” style nymphs. As things warm up a little more, it’ll be on for dry flies. Check out the videos below for some inspiration. Keep an eye on the blog or our youtube channel too, we will be posting some new tutorials for patterns that we have been testing lately.
In this video, Simon ties a new take on a classic pattern that has withstood the test of time. You can find some variation of a pheasant tail nymph in most shops across the world. It is a great attractor style pattern which is suggestive of a wide range of food from mayfly nymphs to juvenile stones. Tied in red, this version serves as more of a “searching” pattern; paired with a large bead, this fly is your friend in the winter, or when you need to get down deep quick. This fly is tied on a #14 Fulling Mill Jig Force Short Hook which has a wide gap, short shank, and a horizontal eye which allows for a surprisingly large bead to be paired with this hook. This can be tied in a variety of sizes and colors; black would be a great color to mimic winter stones which are currently hatching. If you tie some up tell us how they work or share some photos with us!
After a winter of high water, cold weather, and ice, it is nice to have some more mild weather and to see our river’s clarity and levels in a more stable state. Fishing lately on our local rivers the McKenzie and Willamette has been good. Nymphing remains the most effective method to bring fish to hand as of late. Isolated hatches of Baetis (BWO’s/ Blue Winged Olives) have been popping off mid day. Long awaited March Browns are right around the corner, and on everyone’s mind. Spring hatches are triggered by warmth so they will move from lower elevation up into the mountains at higher elevation as things warm up here.
Baetis are coming off every day in the window from 11-2
Insect activity has been ramping up with the warmer weather. I’ve seen that some Salmonfly adults that emerged during last weeks warm weather up river, so the nymphs are on the move subsurface. March Browns are now coming off on the lower river. The nymphs I’ve seined up are mature and ready to hatch with fully developed wing pads. Most days you can catch a small Baetis hatch mid day. Overcast days are great days for Blue Winged Olives to hatch; find the fish sipping emerging duns in the tailouts of runs. I’ve seen some Grannom or Mother’s Day Caddis too, so fishing a caddis nymph, or swinging a pupa can be be deadly. With an abundance of insects beginning to emerge, having a variety of flies is helpful.
Grannom Caddis are loving this warm weather. Grannoms hatching mean spring is in full swing.
Nymphing is by far the most productive this time of year. Several different types of insects are getting ready to hatch this time of year, so there are a wide variety of nymphs present moving through the water column. Fishing something heavy paired with something small can be productive; including an attractor style pattern can help draw a fish’s attention to your flies. For the salmonflies which are active currently, here are some proven nymphs: Sili Leg Stone #6-10, Mega Prince #6-10, or a Tunghead 20 Incher # 6-12. For small baetis imitations, try these: Craven’s Juju Baetis #18, Olsen’s Blowtorch #16, Roza’s Dark Neon Jig #16-18. With March Browns right around the corner here are some of our favorite nymphs: Hogan’s Clinger Nymph #14, Bead Head March Brown #14, or a Grilled Nymph #14. Lastly having some caddis nymphs can be helpful this time of year, these are some must haves: Ice Czech #14, or a UV Green Weenie #14. Letting any smaller nymphs swing at the end of your drift is suggestive of an emerging insect and can be a great way to pick up a fish at the end of your drift.
We’re seeing more and more Salmonfly shucks on the bank, make sure you have some large Sili Leg Stones
We are on the cusp of dry fly season. One more week of warm weather and we will see an explosion of insect activity, and the fish will notice and start looking up. Stock up on what you need now so you’re ready to rock when everything falls into place!
The Northwest Fly Tying Expo is sponsored by The Oregon Council of Fly Fishers International, Inc. Click this link for all the info you need: EXPO
Where: Linn County Expo 3700 Knox Butte Road E. Albany, OR 97322
When: March 8, 9 2024 Doors open at 8:30am
How to attend: General Admission day of $10, Vets and kids under 15 free.
The inaugural Northwest Fly Tyer Expo took place in Eugene, Oregon in 1989 with the aim of bringing together fly fishing enthusiasts and fly tyers to craft lifelike imitations of fish’s natural food sources using materials like feathers, fur, and thread, and to exchange valuable knowledge. Due to its increasing popularity, the event outgrew its original venue and had to be relocated to a larger facility. In 2007, the expo found its new home at the Linn County Expo Center in Albany, Oregon, and also expanded to include a dedicated fly fishing education component.
Fifteen Northwest Expos later (minus two years due to Covid), the event has expanded to encompass a significant portion of the western region. Exhibitors now not only sell products but also educate attendees on how to support the fly fishing industry. The event has evolved to include Fly Tying, Fly Fishing, Casting, Youth Participation, and Conservation Education as integral components.
The NW Expo offers a comprehensive experience for anyone interested in fly fishing. This event provides a social, educational, and networking platform for families, youth, and individuals keen on learning about this distinctive sport.
Caddis Fly Host Writers on The Fly April 27th 6:30pm
Popular fly fishing arts event hits the road for California & Oregon
Olympia, WA, March 1, 2024 — Writers on the Fly (WOTF), the popular fly fishing reading series and pop-up art show, hits the road again this April with their 2024 West Coast Tour. The Spring tour brings WOTF’s unique mix of fly fishing literature and art to Northern California and southern Oregon, kicking things off in San Francisco and finishing up in Eugene, OR, four days later.
Presented by Sage Fly Fishing, and with additional support from The Flyfish Journal and RIO Products, the 2024 West Coast Tour schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, 4/24: San Francisco, CA w/ Lost Coast Outfitters
Thursday, 4/25: Sacramento, CA w/ Fly Fishing Specialties
Friday, 4/26: Ashland, OR w/ Ashland Fly Shop
Saturday, 4/27: Eugene, OR w/ Caddis Fly Shop
WOTF began in 2015, establishing itself as one of the most unique, engaging and authenticin-person event series in the fly fishing community. Since its inception, the shows have cycled around the Pacific Northwest with the well-known Cascadia Tour—but this Spring the show expands down the West Coast.
Four talented and inspiring writers and anglers are slotted to share some of their favorite work at each event, along with a featured artist and a local non-profit that will benefit from raffle proceeds and donations. Raffle prizes from Sage Fly Fishing, RIO, and more will be up for grabs.
Headlining the West Coast Tour is writer, filmmaker, musician, conservationist, and troubadour Nathaniel Riverhorse Nakadate. Poet and fishing guide Anne Landfield will join him, along with local writers at each stop. Artist James Sampsel’s work will be on display, and attendees will have the opportunity to support non-profit organizations through prize drawings and donations.
Announcing Fly Fusion’s Trout Tour! A well-formed excuse to get together with fly-fishing friends and take in an epic collection of trouty films from Gilbert Rowley, Phil Tuttle, The Braker Bros, Todd Moen, RA Beattie and Fly Fusion Films. Premiering in Sundance this March, the films will make their way around the American and Canadian West. Limited cities, limited tickets and monster trout. See below for tour dates and tickets!
Where: Richard E. Wildish Community Theater 630 Main Street Springfield, OR 97477
The Corvalis Trout Unlimited Chapter the “Bluebacks” are Hosting a Fly Fishing Film tour event coming up later this month. Details on the event are attached below.
In this video, Simon ties a proven pattern for monster Lahontan Cuttroat Trout in Pyramid lake. It is that time of year where anglers all over the world are gearing up with dreams of catching a massive Lahontan Cutthroat Trout while being perched on top of a ladder. Although some would argue that bringing a ladder to fish from shore is an unnecessary piece of equipment, many will agree this fly is indeed necessary, and an advantage to have in your box.
This fly is fished on a sinking line often sink rates 3-7 either full sink, or multi density. It behaves a lot like a traditional booby fly where on the strip the fly sinks and at the pause it floats back up. The Popcorn Beetle is often paired with a small streamer like a wooly bugger, or a balanced leech. The fly doesn’t necessarily imitate anything they eat, but it is well known that this fly and its action drives those giant Cutthroat nuts. They’re a quick and easy tie, which is perfect when you’re in a time crunch before your trip!
The fly is tied on a Gamakatsu B10S in size 6, although it can be fished in sizes 4-12. This hook has a wide gap and is phenomenal for aiding in more hookups. A marabou tail ads more action to the fly, but it is often omitted; having some with tails, and some “tailless” is to your advantage. Lastly, the foam featured here is the new Hi-Float foam from Hareline has larger cells of air and higher durometer which means it floats higher and is more durable to stretching, pulling, and the pressure of the thread. The foam comes in 2 and 3mm and this fly in particular uses 3mm. Using 2mm would be more appropriate for smaller sizes like 10 and smaller.
Stopping by your local fly sh0p to get water conditions, fly recommendations and information on tactics is still the very best resource for the angler. Chatting with a fly shop employee who was on the water recently will give you the best understanding of hatches, timing and location. We have been writing fishing reports on OregonFlyFishingBlog.com since 2008, so a quick search of fishing reports or specific rivers on OFFB will also be useful.
Online Resources:
Oregon Levels is a super useful site for a quick check of water levels for rivers in the state of Oregon. I use this site almost daily to check current and past river levels. This past trend helps me determine what to expect on the day I head out.
The screen shot above is from Oregon Levels and gives both a gauge height and a CFS (cubic feet per second), both are useful. It pays to check these levels frequently to understand what the numbers really mean. For example, the only, “low” reading you see is on the Middle Fork of the Willamette at Oakridge. This calculation is basically the release of water at Hills Creek Dam. 400 CFS is about as low as you will see it. It’s really nice for wading and really skinny for boating from the top slide near the dam to Greenwaters Park. The, “Below NF-MF” refers to the Middle Fork after the North Fork of the Middle Fork enters it, basically the volume of the river that you would see at Black Canyon Campground and the inflow to Lookout Point Reservoir (graph below.) This number is greatly affected by the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette. Late winter and spring flows from the North Fork can really make the river jump so keep an eye on the “Below NF-MF” as well. A good range of fishable levels for the Middle Fork at Oakridge are from 400-1200cfs, from Hills Creek or “Oakridge” and 1500-4500cfs “Below the North Fork.” 4500cfs is big water and wading will be limited but if the river has been stable for while we find the fishing to be just fine.
Below is another screen shot from Oregon Levels, this one gives the key data for the McKenzie. When you click the CFS number, a graph expands so you can see the past 10 day trend (following image below).
Starting from the top of the screen shot is, “Above Cougar,” is the inflow to Cougar Reservoir. Anglers generally want to see this number pretty low for the best wading opportunities. 200-800cfs is a nice range, but the time of year is also important when speaking about the South Fork above Cougar. Early season runoff can be really cold so we look at this one a little later in the year.
The next reading, “SF McKenzie nr Rainbow,” indicates the flow leaving Cougar Dam, or the South Fork below Cougar Reservoir. The South Fork can be a significant contributor to the overall flow of the main-stem of the McKenzie, as is the case at 2700cfs. The South Fork is not a “boatable” river and waders will have a much easier time when flows are between 300-800cfs.
The next line “McKenzie River” “Trail Bridge” refers to the very top of the McKenzie, this is the water level from the dam release at Trail Bridge Reservoir. This number tends to be lower in winter as runoff is curtailed with cold temps in upper elevation. Spring flows can increase the outflow but the river remains clear. As the season progresses, June-October, there is a steady decline of water down to sub 600cfs. The lower the river is in this upper section the easier it is to wade. The elevational drop from Trail Bridge to McKenzie Bridge is considerable so the river is fast up here regardless of flow. Gorgeous pocket water and beautiful fish occupy this section but access is tough as the banks are tree lined and the fast flows make it difficult to get around. The McKenzie River Trail does follow the river most of the way and anglers can jump off the trail to find fishable water.
The “McKenzie River” at McKenzie Bridge includes numerous tributaries below Trail Bridge including Horse Creek which typically kicks in a decent amount of water especially in spring. You can see how the water can start to add up and we have yet to get down to the dam release from Blue River. The McKenzie at Vida includes all of what we call the, “upper river.” This is the majority of the McKenzie and the gauge I use the most. The next line, “Leaburg Dam,” is basically the same as Vida as they are super close to each other.
Next in the table, “Walterville,” flows are actually less. How can this be? Well, the Walterville canal diverts water for a minor hydro project and then kicks it back into the McKenzie between Hendricks and Belinger Boat landings. Hence the reading at “Springfield” of 6490 in the table. At this point, you have virtually all the water that flows to the Willamette north of Eugene. Some reliable flows to fish and float the McKenzie are 1-3ft in terms of gauge height at and 1500-6000cfs at Vida. Of course, stability is key, so I don’t love fishing the river if it’s rising from 2000-4000 in a given day. It’s likely that your results will be poor. At 6000cfs you need to be really careful as the water is high, cold, and not something you want to be swimming in at anytime of year.
Northwest River Forecast Center is a super useful site for examining potential changes in flow. I use this site a lot in the spring and less during really stable times. We have a prime example currently. As you can see the past 10 day trends have been on the decline (graphs above). As a matter of fact, this Wednesday and Thursday nymphing was excellent on both the upper and lower McKenzie and Middle Fork of the Willamette. Anytime you have this downward trend in water, you have a good shot at solid spring fishing. However…. (observe graphs)
You get to the graphs above on the NRFC site by searching a given river and then clicking down to each gauge site. Not every gauge has a predictive hydrograph, but we can certainly make some deductions by using this info. According to this graph, the McKenzie would definitely be out 29 Feb to March 3. The Willamette must jump on the Middle Fork, North Fork, and Coast Fork in order for the water increase at the Eugene gauge. We can assume a challenging week ahead for fishing around Oakridge. The exception might be the release right at the Hills Creek dam. Of course you would be able to check that gauge before you make the trip. Anglers looking to trout fish next week in the Willamette Valley should probably head east to the Metolius, Fall River, and the Crooked… I will add, that these predictive hydrographs tend to be exaggerative. Meaning, checking them each day during wet weather in your area can lead you to find a given river returning to shape sooner rather than later.
Guided Fly Fishing Trips. The Caddis Fly Angling Shop has been running guided trips on Willamette Valley rivers since 1975. We provide an instructive guided trip that aims to help you gain knowledge of not only our area, but of specific tactics that will help you catch fish anywhere. Book your trip by calling the shop at (541) 342 7005.
Introduction to Fly Fishing Courses. Since 1975, The Caddis Fly Angling Shop has provided casting instruction to burgeoning anglers. Our 6 hour course will hone your casting skills, speak to tackle and knots, and give you an idea about ideal gear for your pursuits. Zero experience required. Call (541) 342-7005 to book your spot. Click here to see the 2024 schedule.
McKenzie River Map with Hatch Chart. We have developed a map with river access via walk and wade, boat launches, and hatch charts for the McKenzie and Middle Fork of the Willamette. Call or stop by The Caddis Fly in Eugene to grab a map.
Shuttle Services on the McKenzie River. For 2024 The Caddis Fly Angling Shop and Caddis Fly Guide Service recommend “McKenzie River Shuttle Service” Casey Chafin can be reached at (541) 912-0044. For the Middle Fork of the Willamette Dan Craft, Dan can be reached at (541) 600-5094.
In this video, Simon ties a killer attractor flats fly. This fly would work great anywhere in the caribbean for Bonefish, Permit, and anything else cruising the flats. It is tied using Hareline’s new painted brass eyes. The tan painted brass eyes work perfect for shrimpy or crabby flats flies matching the body colors. This fly also features some polar chenille legs for additional movement. This fly would also work great for Pacific Surf Perch on a more clear day where the fish will key into a smaller, more delicate pattern. Tying these in several different weights is helpful especially when fishing flats as the tides change. Having some unweighted, some with bead-chain eyes , some brass, and some lead will help you cover the board for all tidal situations. Colors and size can be adjusted based on your needs as well. Tie some up and send us some photos of what ate this fly!
In this video, Simon ties his secret winter nymph that he doesn’t leave home without. The Bubble back BWO is tied to imitate an ascending Baetis nymph surfacing to hatch and is one of his most productive BWO nymphs. When mayfly nymphs get ready to hatch, their exoskeleton fills with gases and they rise to the surface. Sometimes they deliberately swim, sometimes they uncontrollably float to the surface. Regardless, their bodies transform and get a lucent or “shimmery” appearance.
The glass bead bubble imitates this perfectly, and is also suggestive of the dun breaking through the old skin. The body is thread, wire, and resin, so it is durable, and the glossy finish helps drive the point home that this is a mature Baetis nymph that is hatching. The legs are Flouro Fibre, which is used on Charlie Craven’s Juju Baetis, it makes great legs on especially small nymphs. This fly excels at getting picky fish to eat, especially those older, smarter fish. Tied on a stout Ahrex 563 #18, it is strong enough for when that big fish decides to eat. For a small fly, it is especially good at putting large fish in the net. It is also light enough to tag behind a small dry fly.
The general blueprint of this nymph can be sized up or down and colors changed as the seasons change to imitate different mayflies. This is a fly you don’t want to leave home without this time of year, especially right now as we’ve been seeing Baetis hatches mid day. Tie some up this one can be a day saver!
In this video, Simon ties a proven Bluewing Olive (BWO) Emerger. Bluewinged Olives generally hatch on cloudy, overcast days. Because of the cooler, sometimes wet conditions, it can take them longer to emerge and dry their wings. Due to the conditions, the insects also often hatch in a short window and there are a lot of bugs. The fish key in on this and particularly target the insects breaking free from their shuck. Fishing this fly is so productive because it imitates the easy meals that the trout key in on when there are an abundance of naturals on the surface. Times like this its important for your fly to stand out.
This fly uses a newer dubbing from our friends over at Semperfli called Kapok dubbing. It comes from the seed pods of a tropical plant and is extremely hydrophobic. Semperfli claims it can suspend 30 times its own weight! We like it because of how tightly it dubs for small dry flies; this helps you reduce bulk and create a natural taper on the body. Snowshoe rabbit is naturally hydrophobic, and sheds water quickly. Due to those animals having to live on snow for most or at least a portion of the year, the fur on the bottoms of their feet is extremely hydrophobic. This makes for a great dry fly wing material.
