AndyK
05-27-2005, 08:34 PM
I’m just back from four days on the Metolius (well, two half days and two full days). Water temperature ranged from 45 to 50 degrees, depending on the time of day. As the water warmed up during the day, the fish got more active. Mornings were slow.
I fished with dry flies Tuesday evening and caught nothing! There were some Green Drakes hatching and some caddis, but no takers on the surface.
On Wednesday I started fishing nymphs and I started catching fish! Lots of fish! Same for the rest of my stay.
The rainbows ranged from 15 to 18 inches. I hooked larger fish, but light tippets, small flies and big trout spell frequent break offs or thrown hooks!
This is a typical (and colorful) rainbow:
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/3472rainbow1.jpg
I also caught a few white fish; they averaged 10 – 15 inches.
On several occasions I had very large Bull trout chase hooked fish. However, even though I tried several streamer patterns, I hooked no Bulls (guess I need some streamers that look like 15 inch rainbows!). I know of two bulls that were caught while I was there, both large fish (eight pounds or larger).
Based on my success and the stomach contents of the fish, they are taking small may fly and caddis emergers. I do mean small: like a #18 Hare’s Ear.
While there were sporadic Green Drakes hatching, the trout were not targeting them. I did see an occasional surface rise, for both caddis and green drakes, that was not a productive way to fish.
I fished with dry flies Tuesday evening and caught nothing! There were some Green Drakes hatching and some caddis, but no takers on the surface.
On Wednesday I started fishing nymphs and I started catching fish! Lots of fish! Same for the rest of my stay.
The rainbows ranged from 15 to 18 inches. I hooked larger fish, but light tippets, small flies and big trout spell frequent break offs or thrown hooks!
This is a typical (and colorful) rainbow:
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/3472rainbow1.jpg
I also caught a few white fish; they averaged 10 – 15 inches.
On several occasions I had very large Bull trout chase hooked fish. However, even though I tried several streamer patterns, I hooked no Bulls (guess I need some streamers that look like 15 inch rainbows!). I know of two bulls that were caught while I was there, both large fish (eight pounds or larger).
Based on my success and the stomach contents of the fish, they are taking small may fly and caddis emergers. I do mean small: like a #18 Hare’s Ear.
While there were sporadic Green Drakes hatching, the trout were not targeting them. I did see an occasional surface rise, for both caddis and green drakes, that was not a productive way to fish.