Fishing Report
McKenzie River Fishing Report June 16, 2023
Overview:
The last few weeks here in the valley have been warm and bright. River levels and clarity for both the McKenzie and Willamette have been excellent. Water temps are in that ideal, dry fly fishing range. The fish are hungry and ready to take that well presented fly!
We have seen several hatches in the area including, green caddis, PMD, Pale Evening Duns, Mahogany Spinners, and stone flies. Emergers, nymph patterns, and of course dries have worked well for our customers and on our guided trips.
Sadly, it looks like the steelhead season is gong to be a bust. With counts just over 500 in the Willamette River System, we are hoping that next year—or even the winter season—will bring us better luck.
McKenzie River:
Both the upper and lower river are at ideal flows and clarity. We’ve been having the most luck with chubby norms and chubby Chernobyls with a small pheasant tail dropper, and of course anything Euro. Will has had some luck swing and stripping streamers through the deeper pools and has been slaying with a skated caddis in the fast riffles.
A source (one who will be named Dr. Vida) reports Pale Evening Duns are the trick for getting after those larger natives in the evening when all else fails.
We do have weather coming in this weekend, so be prepared for rain on the river and snow at higher elevations.
Middle Fork Willamette River:
Flows, clarity, and temps are in ideal fishing ranges. The Middle Fork between Oakridge and Black Canyon has been boney lately but it is still the best place to dry-or-die wade or float. Dexter up to D-Street has been fishing well. Salmon cutthroat, and bigger bows have all been reported. Same hatches here as the McKenzie.
Lastly everyone in the shop has been swinging flies. Our go-to choices have been the pocket rocket, make it rainbow, and the sculpzilla #8 in olive.
Cascade Lakes Update:
Gold Lake is open and so is the gate to get there! We confirmed with the Forest Service on June 15.
Crane Prairie, East Lake, Wickiup, and Linton Lake are all open for fishing as well. We have reports of people doing well fishing streamers and emergers in the shallow flats. The fish are hungry and on the move!
