Metolius River, 16th-18th-report with pics

[GlobalFisher]

For most of the trip this was the case:
Weather: 85-93 degrees, muggy, clear skies
Water: Around 50 degrees, very clear

Day 1:
We ended up camping in an area that has walk in camping. A lot of people do not want to hike in, so there was a lot less people. By 9 it was already above 75 degrees, we suited up and set out. We walked down to the river and started down stream, fished a little riffle next to a grass bank. My brother and I both caught one small rainbow about 4" on a #18 zebra midge suspended below a stonefly. Then we headed down to our usual hole. It is about 8' deep and holds a ton of fish. I used the same rig as before and caught a nice bright 13" bow. When trying to get my camera out, he flopped around and got back into the water, so no pic... :sad: There was a bunch of stone flies out all over though, I got quite a few trigger strikes on a fly imitating them but nothing would stay on.

Later that day I switched to a # rainbow warrior below a strike indicator. I found this spot that had a bunch of rocks for the fish to hide behind and between so I cast upstream and soon enough I caught 3 bows from 4-7". Not big but very pretty fish.

Day 2 We went downstream above Allingham bridge. I again fished a grass bank with a rainbow warrior and caught a small bow.
ching nothing. My dad caught one small bow. I think he was using a zebra midge. We came back towards dark and fished a dry fly hatch. I am not sure what it was but I had a great fly that imitated it very well. Still nothing would bite. I talked to one guy that said most of the time it is very good fishing, but the weather has been very inconsistant, therefore making fishing not all to good.

Day 3 On our last day we only got to fish for about 2 hours. After that we went further downstream, my dad and brother were fishing a pretty big riffle while I was fishing downstream behind a log in the water. I ended up catching nothing, but when I got back to where my dad and brother were I had asked them if they caught anything. My brother said "no", but my dad had a large rainbow on. He had it on for a few minutes but it was a ncie fish. Around 16+ inches. It snapped his 3lb tippet right off! Then we headed back to camp and packed up.

Here are some pictures:






Above is the hole with all of the fish in it.

[Wahoo!]

Great pictures Geoff. I'm jealous! Thanks for the report.

[FishSlayer]

HOLY CRAP! thats a nice river, to bad they ruined it by allowing fly fishermen on it.

[1toughfish]

where is this place? its real nice

[GlobalFisher]

Originally Posted by rreck

HOLY CRAP! thats a nice river, to bad they ruined it by allowing fly fishermen on it.

LOL

1toughfish-
It is in central Oregon, about 15 minutes from the town of Sisters. About 3 hours from Portland. Very nice river, and holds a lot of big fish!

[jstcrzyengh]

I say you take the flyrod out there and put a big ol nightcrawler on the fly. That works for me! MAybe some salmon eggs, or best of all some powerbait!

Haha all joking aside that is a beautfiul river.

[DementedFish]

Remindes me of oregon a little bit.

[1toughfish]

o god thank you.... im going to oregon next month. im going to fish that river 24/7

[GlobalFisher]

Its fly fishing only most of the river, then the lower section is both. Goodluck on your visit 1toughfish!

[1toughfish]

wait i dont have a fly fishing rod though. if i just add the fly will i be able to fish there?

[FishSlayer]

Originally Posted by 1toughfish

wait i dont have a fly fishing rod though. if i just add the fly will i be able to fish there?

Place the fly on 2lb test a few feet above a clear plastic bubble and a Carolina Keeper, toss it up stream and keep the line tight as the current brings it back down. You can place a strike indicator just above the bubble or paint a small part of it a bright color. However if you have good eyes you will see the trout take a dry fly off the surface. This also works with wet flies and nymphs.

[GlobalFisher]

Not sure about that, I would think so.