The Metolius River hatches have been impressive this week with a good mix of Cinygmula #16 and BWO #20 in the afternoon cycle from Allingham Bridge to Wizard Falls, and also down to Bridge 99 and below. These afternoon hatches can be great opportunities to catch a fish or 2 or 3 on a dry fly while the duration of the hatch is getting fish to look up. I also recommend fishing dries for October Caddis (Clarks Stone, Stimulator and that new rubber legged one I was talking about 2 weeks ago), Tan #16 and Grey #14 caddis, Corn Fed and Missing Link Caddis as “Searching” dries. Let them drift (drag free of course) in a pool or eddy even when the fish are not really rising. You can think of all the times you’ve been to this river and seen a sudden and surprising rise, so this is the reason for flies we call “searching” patterns and a caddis can’t be beat for this.
On your mayflies use this as a reminder to fish the whole hatch cycle from nymph to emerger, a cripple and a dun and spinner and do not forget the spinners will fall mid-day to evening now and can cause a nice feeding pattern.
We are seeing wonderful nymph fishing opportunities on a Euro/Tight Line rig, or under a Strike Indicator. The patterns are the same so take your pick on how you present them. Those patterns include some of my favorites with Orange Girdle Bugs, Golden Stones, October Caddis Pupa, Tan and Olive Pupa, Zebra Midges, Eggs, Mayfly nymphs and Perdigons that trend in the Brown and Olive tones in #12-20, Walts Worms, Soft Hackle PT, and flashier nymphs like a Purple Perdigon, Red Lighting Bug, Blue Psycho Prince or Rainbow Warrior and don’t hesitate to add some Ice Cream Cones to your winter nymph box, Bull Trout like them and more than a few rainbow trout have had a white bead removed from their lip and released. Trend small for the rainbows and don’t be scared of a big Red Ice Cream Cone for Bull’s. Everyday is different but build a box with confidence flies and these are some of the best on the river.
Bull Trout fishing is better now with streamers so that is how I would try to wrangle one today. Our Black/Blue/Purple and all Black (maybe we should call it the Rugby Player? hmmmmm!!!) are triple articulated and have a big profile despite being tied with marabou so they are now unruly to cast. The Milk Shake and Grape Shake, Circus Peanut, Sparkle Minnows and some really really cool new Kelly Gallop streamers are the other good Bull streamers we can send you out there with. And you can add some Euro Style Streamers like a Slum Lord and Mini Gulp and Jig Minnow, and don’t be surprised at the range of fish species that will eat these. Bulls, Brows, Rainbows and even Whitefish. How fun is that? I’d love to hear from anyone that gets all of these species to the net in a single day this week. It’s been done, I know SC Phil has done it, I think Chief of Security Eric has too. How about you?
Remember the upper river from the Head Waters to Allingham Bridge is closed in the winter until May 22, 2026 to protect spawning rainbow redds.