In this video, Simon ties a fantastic Jigged March Brown nymph. March Browns are the first insect of the year which hatches in abduncance that is larger than Blue Winged Olives. For that reason, they are an important food source for trout and become a spring fishing staple. March Browns belong to the clinger family of mayflies. These mayfly nymphs inhabit in the faster water in the river and have flat, aerodynamic bodies that allow them to grip to rocks in fast current feeding on detritus and algae in the current. This time of year, these mayflies have fully developed dark wing pads on their backs. Their wing pads are dark and bulging with fully developed wings inside. For this nymph creating a wide, flat profile is key to mimic these nymphs. Using lead or lead-free wire is a great way to bulk up the width of the nymph. Using cinnamon tip turkey coated in medium thickness UV resin is a great way to mimic a mature March Brown nymph’s wing case with fully developed wings. This fly uses elk hair to create the wider profile towards the head with the “clinging” legs which are characteristic of clinger mayfly nymphs. The mottled brown bead is suggestive of the nymph’s wide head, and facilitates getting your fly down deep. This blueprint is effective for all mayfly nymphs in the clinger family. Others include: Quill Gordon, Pink Quill, Grey Fox, Light Cahill; most of these are from regions East of us on the West coast. Sizes and colors can be adjusted accordingly. The March Brown hatch will continue its way higher in elevation as spring progresses, so there’s still plenty of time to fish these higher up river this spring.
Here is a mature March Brown nymph harvested a few weeks before the hatch began. Note the wide/flat profile and developed carapace/wing pad
In this video, Simon ties a great March Brown Soft Hackle. Swinging soft hackles is a long forgotten art in the trout world. With the rise of euro nymphing, dry droppers, drop shotting, etc. swinging classic wets is sometimes seen as a thing of the past. Wet flies are incredibly versatile, and especially important for the March Brown hatch. Fish key in on ascending mayflies during every hatch, but for the March Brown hatch, especially it is important. March Browns can actually shed their nymphal shuck subsurface as they are ascending to the surface. This means that sometimes their vulnerable state is actually on their way up as opposed to in the surface film like many other mayflies. For this reason, swinging a wet fly is a fantastic way to catch fish during the March Brown hatch. Fish this fly solo, tag it behind a heavier nymph, or use it as your point fly on an indicator or euro rig and let the flies swing at the end of your drift. Tying some and omitting the hidden bead is advantageous when fish are eating on the surface. On slower days, or before the hatch is in full swing, the beaded versions are great. This pattern can be tweaked for different hatches to suit your needs. Have fun out there!
This past fall I had a chance to test the new Thomas & Thomas Avantt II before it was released. It is their high end fast action rod; which is a functional showcase of their beautiful craftsmanship. The rod is fast without sacrificing “feel” while casting, which allows you to still have some feedback while you cast it.
I paired the Avantt II with a Sage Trout 4/5/6 reel which balanced the rod well. I fished a Scientific Anglers Amplitude Infinity Textured WF5F line on it. The slightly more aggressive taper of this line really brought out the power of this rod. I did not use a longer taper such as the Scientific Anglers Trout Taper or the RIO Technical Trout. My assumption with these longer taper lines is the rod would do very well with 30+ feet out of the tip. The Avantt II has enough power to pick up an “extended” taper line for sure.
Some of the rod’s strong suits include its: fast action, beautiful craftsmanship, accuracy, ability to load with little effort, and it being a great all around rod. The rod really excels in many of the places a rod should in this price point. Most importantly that it is a well rounded rod that can be your “do it all” rod.
I only really ran into two shortcomings of the rod. Both of these shortcomings are likely fixed by different fly line tapers, but for this review I am speaking to the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Infinity I used. One, being its action is so fast that it wont lay a size 22 BWO dry like a feather as delicately as a “dry fly rod”. The fast action does not deliver as delicate of a presentation of small flies that a slower dry fly rod is capable of. This would not be my first choice of rods if I were fishing a trico hatch on a crystal clear spring creek exclusively casting dries to wily browns. Fortunately, T&T has a solution to this being their more delicate dry fly rod called the Paradigm. Second, due to its fast action, it also does not roll cast as well as a deeper loading rod. This could be greatly improved if the rod was fished with a longer headed nymphing line such as the Scientific Anglers Anadro Indicator.
I covered the board in terms of techniques extensively when testing this rod. I fished small dries, large dries, light and heavy nymph rigs, fished streamers, and swung wet flies. Across the board, this rod preformed extremely well. My most notable takeaway was the feel and power that is built into the taper of this rod. If you are looking for a beautiful, “do it all” fast action trout rod this may be the one for you. We have some in the shop, so if you want to see it, give it a wiggle, or cast it out back swing by and we’re happy to help. If you’re out of state, or looking online, feel free to give us a call we’ll answer any questions you have.
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.
