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On the Metolius River this week the nymph action was really quite solid, especially using tan caddis pupa, October Caddis Pupa, Silver Stripe Sedge Pupa, Perdigons, Zebra Midges, Micro May’s, 2 Bit, Golden Stones and Frenchies. Remember that in late winter a lot of the nymphs that were in tiny instar stages are now growing and maturing and drifting more before their spring and summer hatches begin. I believe February to be an excellent period on the metolius for this. As light intensity comes back, so do the bugs and the biological drifts they do before the hatch cycles really start rolling later in the spring and summer.
Some of the days this past week fish rose well to dries, and some of the days they rose poorly to dries, even though the hatches we saw were strong. A lot of time, the early spring like weather that we get in mid-Winter is a draw for us to believe “today is the day” for dries, but in reality, the winter hatches like today’s wet weather and next weeks snow better, and I think equally important to consider is the fish feel more confident eating when it’s darker out during a mid afternoon hatch. Embrace the grey in the sky and on your head.
Bull Trout fishing has been good. Leeches (try ’em under an indicator), Sir Sticks A Lot, Eggs, Pupa and big nasty streamers have all been good. It can be a grind, but it is worth it for a big 5 to 12 pound char!