It’s a great time of year on the Metolius, and each week for the next 6 to 8 weeks is building in to what I always thought was the best time of year on the river. There are so many hatches to match for good dry action throughout the day and evenings (have you noticed how early it get’s dark now?….dang it!) and then adding the Bull Trout element to the equation makes me want to cancel all my guide trips and just stay on the Met. I wish.

Right now your hatches will be, PMD’s #16-18, BWO’s #20-22, Yellow Caddis #18-20, Tan Caddis #14-16, Olive Caddis #16, Ameletus (mayfly that looks like a Flav = Olivey-brown body, tall wings, 2 tails and about a #14 but maybe slightly bigger), Golden Stones #8-12, plus isolated hatches of Salmonfly’s can be found on the Metolius this time of year and we are talking the big bugs that are #4-6-8 size.

Is there a major stonefly hatch going now on the Metolius? no, not really. But as the hatch moves around the river in a fragmented way because of water temperature differences around springs and with different tributaries contributing to water temperatures that make the bugs want to hatch, you may find fish in places that will be happy to eat a big dry fly over the next few weeks. Remember, the Metolius is one strange place!

Grab your 8 weights and some big streamers for Bull Trout. It is a very good time to be fishing for these wonderful fish.

Of course Euro Nymphing is our choice for fishing for trout and whitefish under the surface during non hatch times.