The Metolius is putting on a show with the Green Drake hatch in the lower sections of the river now. Activity is picking up daily and should continue to build into June. Expect the hatch some time in the afternoon into evening. Pale Morning Duns are frequently emerging as well.

It’s a smart move to approach the river with a full progression of patterns from nymphs in the morning, to emergers and cripples as the hatch ramps up, followed by duns when the bugs are coming off in force. Fish in the Metolius often key in on transitional patterns like emergers and cripples, especially in the slower seams and tricky currents.

Caddis activity is building across the board with tan, and olive  Little olive stones are active too, and Blue Wing Olives remain relevant in the upper river on cloudy afternoons.

For subsurface work, euro nymphing remains a go-to approach with excellent success on perdigons in olive, brown, and purple, Frenchies, and 2-Bit Hookers. Keep a few zebra midges and soft hackles on hand to cover the bases.