McKenzie Report with Pics From 5-1-14

Last week I was out on the McKenzie and the fishing ranged from "hot as it can it can get" to "fair". I saw large McKenzie green caddis flopping around, and lots of lingering March Brown mayflies still coming off as well. There could have been an all time Carpenter Ant hatch last Thursday 5/1, but the wind did not rip enough to knock those large morsels of trout candy into the drink. I did see a few explosive rises on nothing I could see on the surface; so they were likely ant rise-forms since it is hard to see a black bug drowning in the surface film. Pale morning duns and a mixed bag of other random caddis were also hatching off the waters as we fished; especially on Thursday (the warmest and calmest day so far).

Fishing was good on various setups, and fishing a "dry and dropper" with a buoyant green caddis dry fly pattern and a Possie Bugger nymph proved to be all you needed for that type of a rig. Swinging wet flies in the surface film with a classic "down and across" presentation using double wet fly rig was rather productive as well. We fished a setup with a smaller yellow softhackle or various toned down/sparser green caddis or march brown tied at the end, and a large green caddis wet or March brown wet tied off a dropper tag about 3 feet up from the end of the leader. Plain old down and dirty nymphing was also very productive, and we fished a golden stone nymph with a large possie bugger. It was another setup that never needed changing because it was so effective out there; getting many consistent take-downs on the Thingamabobber.

Bruce on tight to a line ripping rainbow on a down and across swung wet

This fish took a heavily dressed green caddis wet while there were naturals bouncing on the water

Big Fish Double!! Notice the tight fly line on the middle left edge of the pic.

Bruce smiling during the double. Life's good when you have nice wild rainbows making your reels sing!

One of the fish that came from that double....

Bruce is also smiling about that fine fly rod he just picked up the day before at Orvis Portland

One of many fine fish that Bruce and Blaine caught on their great day of fishing....

Blaine on tight with another line ripping rainbow that was hooked up while nymphing.

That fine rainbow took a golden stone nymph. Too bad it didn't want to stick around for a pic.

First cast in the next spot down river, and it results in a sweet "tight line" grab while swinging a wet fly.

On tight to the nicest rainbow of the day while using the Olive Chubby Chernobyl & Possie Bugger

This acrobatic line ripping rainbow may be slender, but it was 20"-21" long on the "enhancing" Measure Net.

McKenzie River Fall Trout Fishing Pics - Pre-Storm Fishing Session

This past Friday, I had the opportunity to go on a short float with my wife Nikki after a morning half day guide trip. There was a storm predicted to wallop the area from Friday afternoon on, and it was not predicted to cease until at least Tuesday or so. The rain was starting, but it did not appear too intimidating outside, plus I had to wait around to see what the weather was going to do for the trips that I had booked for the next several days. The storm was predicted to dump many inches of rain with winds over 40 mph. We decided to go for the fishing session, figuring we could at least push to the takeout rapidly if the rain started to pound down.

"On Tight" with a nice dry fly dropper/nymph two fish double

 Two Fish caught on one cast - October Caddis dry with rainbow trout & Possie Bugger Nymph with cutthroat trout

Fishing was semi slow at the start of our mini float, but Nikki did manage to hook up with a cool two species double, and the cutthroat was a nice one. Several nice cutthroats came to drill her dry, and a few rainbows also decided to play. The nasty weather was definitely encroaching, and we got the vibe that we were going to have to head towards the take out boat ramp soon enough. Towards the end of the float, I ended up getting into a really nice rainbow that tore me up nicely making several line ripping runs. The fish decided to gobble up the #12 Possie Bugger nymph dead drifted under a foam buoyant October Caddis dry. 

On tight in landing mode for a nice McKenzie River rainbow trout

This McKenzie River rainbow trout took a possie bugger nymph fished off an October Caddis dry fly

I decided to fish one more spot quickly before departing from the river before the storm hit. This is an old school spot that my friends and I always swing softhackled wet flies in for some potential hoggish rainbows. Nikki already tore up the fish rather well on this day, and my pride would be dented knowing she whooped me silly in regards to catching on this fishing session. She was cool with me fishing this spot; especially since she was satisfied catching lots of nice fish prior to this spot, while I only had caught a few. I had a wet fly swing get intercepted by some insane fish that screamed across the river  towards the bank like a rocket. I could not tell if I was into a steelhead, because several of the runs took my entire fly line which confused me even more about what I had on the end of my line. I never got to see anything breach the water, but every time I reeled it in close, it would burn the whole fly line out in one steady run. The fish finally budged into the landing net with lots patience and finesse on my end. It filled the net showing a healthy body with lots of girth, and its length came to 22 inches long! It was not my longest McKenzie River rainbow trout ever, but the hardest fighter I have ever experienced. 

Swinging a #14 yellow softhackle resulted in the hardest trout battle experience in years

This hefty McKenzie River rainbow trout filled the landing net and came to 22 inches

Posing with a top notch McKenzie River rainbow trout that took a #14 yellow softhackle

Rainbow trout fishing never seems to yield all of its prizes. Just when you think you have experienced and seen all that a fishery can offer you; you get humbled and go for a ride on your rod and reel that makes you appreciate why we all fly fish.

Tight Lines!!!

McKenzie River @ Springfield Gauge for 9/29/13

By the way, the storm was insane and the river rose up, but the wind driven rain was too crazy to be out fishing from Saturday thru the next several days. The fishing was really great right before the storm hit; so remember that for your future fly fishing endeavors. You can sense that the fish felt something was coming and they were feeding hard right before the storm hit; especially when the weather was stirring up.

McKenzie River Mid Summer Trout Fishing Report

Recently we had a bit of cloud cover for a couple of days, and the fishing was really good during that time. It is amazing how silly the fishing can be when there are clouds with little bits of drizzle occurring during the summer months. Here are some pics and a short video from the cloud cover days on the river recently....

Fishing with a dry fly and dropper nymph takes hook setting when the dry fly dunks under - Success!!

Nice catch for someone who is out on his first day ever fly fishing for trout and doing it all on his own.

On tight to a nice "Redside" on the McKenzie River

McKenzie River feisty little 13" rainbows like this will pull line from your reel on your 5wt.

The Possie Bugger Nymph caught at least 90% of the trout on the last several days out.

Sun peeking through during a day where cloud cover dominated & the trout fishing was hot.

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