Mckenzie River

[BCobb]

is the river open right now and has anybody fished it.
thanks

[viigfish]

The lower river is open all year. Will get better in mid Feb if the water is at the correct levels. It's pretty high now, but will come down quickly in the cold weather.

RV

[mckenzieguy]

The river is pretty close to prime winter fishing. I would suggest you target off current water looking for BWO's during mid. day, and dredge the bottom with heavy nymphs.

Current water temps. are 39 degrees, so the fish won't move much.

Steve

[flyfishing24]

What Steve said.

He is an authority on the lower river.


Slow and low. Need a boat to really fish it right as the best flows this time of year are to high for much wading.

Fish are native on the lower sections of the river. Barbless hooks and lures along with catch and release is the rule. Up higher from Hayden Bridge up you can catch some taisty hatchery trout. This time of year on the lower river you also have a chance of hooking an incidental hatchery summer steelhead on the way back to salt, all be it rare.

If I were interested in the lower river I would be picking Steve's brain as I did about six or seven years ago.


Dave