The best is still coming!

Metolius River - Metolius Springs, OR (Jefferson County)


by The Fly Fishers Place
8-9-2025
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On the Metolius River, August is always a good month for me, because it’s the month the summer doldrums that plague us a bit in July finally end. And the best is still coming. 
Now we are seeing good Golden Stone and Yellow Sally dry fly fishing in the Upper River from the Headwaters area to Gorge Campground. 
The entire river is seeing good #16 PMD hatches, #16 Tan Caddis, #16-18Little Olive Stones, some #20 Blue Wing Olives and the beginnings of an explosion of Yellowish Micro Caddis #18-20 in the Middle River. Any of these hatches could occur at any time of the day from about 11 AM to Dusk, and at Dusk you’ll want a good Rusty Spinner pattern tied on your tippet if you want to add a fish to the end of the day total. 
We’ve had a lot of really good nymphing action, mostly with Perdigons, Frenchies, Walts, 2 Bit Hookers, Caddis Pupa (Fat Ass Caddis), 20 Inchers (Green Drake Nymphs for prematch bugs that are getting restless) Soft Hackle PT and Micro Mayfly to meet the needs of BWO and PMD pre hatch drift. Add some Zebra Midges to the box and fish them deep and some Stonefly Nymphs, usually I would say Goldens about 90% of the time, but with the Cascade Stone hatch coming up in a few weeks also roll some large black stonefly nymphs under an indicator. 
There are plenty of big Bull Trout around now and we’ve seen some good catch rates, using mostly big steamers like the Milk Shake (it brings all the Bulls to the yard) and all Black Articulated, Black and Purple and Olive and White. Rolling them along dead drift under a big strike indicator is a good bet, and swinging them is also a great method. Give some of your presentations a strip across the currents too. Also some of the bigger Euro Jig Streamers like a Sir Sticks A Lot is quite good for Bulls.




More Reports

The Fly Fishers Place Reports
for Saturday, August 2nd

Metolius River: Metolius River Updates
Deschutes River- Lower: Morning and evening has good success
Deschutes River: Middle Deschutes River Updates
Fall River: The Fall River was pretty good
Crooked River: Crooked River Updates
Hosmer Lake: Hosmer Lake was good to us
Crane Prairie Reservoir: Fish are being caught
Little Lava Lake: Little Lava Lake Updates
East Lake: East Lake is fishing well
Paulina Lake: Paulina Lake is also fishing really well
Three Creek Lake: Three Creek Lake is good

The Fly Fishers Place Reports
for Friday, July 25th

Metolius River: The Metolius River is fishing well
Deschutes River- Lower: The Lower Deschutes is fishing well
Deschutes River: Keep the Middle Deschutes on your list!
Deschutes River- Lower: Lots of space and fish!
Crooked River: The Crooked River is fishing great
Fall River: The Fall River is getting mixed reviews
McKenzie River: McKenzie River Updates
Tumalo Creek: Good time at Tumalo
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: Good Euro Nymphing Options!
East Lake: Strong Callibaetis and Damsel hatches
Paulina Lake: Paulina Lake was really good this week
Hosmer Lake: Fishing is super good
Little Lava Lake: Little Lava Lake is very good
Three Creek Lake: Three Creek is getting better