Mckenzie help

mandinga · 03-23-2005, 10:04 AM

A friend and I are planning on drifting the mac this weekend...hoping for some overcast weather in the 60's...This will be a 1st time for both of us...

Where would you all reccommend putting in and taking out? I am assuming the march browns will be coming off, but what is a secondary pattern?

Thanks

MacFish · 03-23-2005, 10:47 AM

I've been down the river a few times, always above Leaburg. You have a better chance at natives up there but the the drift is tougher with places like Martin Rapids to negotiate. I'd probably go with a guide the first time. Elk hair caddis in about a 12 produce well, but I've never fished this early.

wade · 03-23-2005, 11:34 AM

Hayden or Harvest Lane to Armitage Park. The river above there is really bony unless these rains raised it which I haven't checked. If the Mohawk river is spitting mud anything below there will be effected by visibilty, I haven't checked that either but if its raised much there recently it will be an issue. If you're an expert at the oars and don't mind hitting a rock or two or dragging your boat some then anywhere above Hayden is fair game. Alot of folks have been hitting the Willamette instead.

Kevin

wade · 03-23-2005, 11:37 AM

I forgot about patterns. The EHC as recommended above is good, but I'd go much smaller, like a 16 or 18, there are some really small black caddis coming off, and BWOs also.

Kevin

mandinga · 03-23-2005, 11:46 AM

what about subsurface patterns?

wade · 03-23-2005, 02:09 PM

I swing a modified #14 or 16 MB spider:

Thread: red
Body: beaver dubbed, include guard hairs and underfur
Hackle: quail

I think it represents either a BWO or MB but it'll work early or late in either hatch. If you don't have beaver then any dark to tan dubbing should work but add something like the guard hairs also- long thin fibers that look like the legs that extend at least as long as the shank past the bend. If you're inclined its also a good trailer while drifting a dry. Something else to try that is easy to tie and works as well:

body: dubbed hares mask
wing: hare or rabbit fur, tie a pinch at the head like a hairwing.

Kevin

O Tshawytcha · 03-23-2005, 04:16 PM

PM sent!

GRIFF

drbfish · 03-23-2005, 08:24 PM

hayden to armitage is an easy drift, but kinda long. Sunday I did Bellinger to Hayden, there are some skinny spots but there were plenty of hard boats making it with no problems. I think that the fishing is better on this drift. Just pay attention, there are lots of side channels with log jams so stay on the main channel with the boat but stop and fish the side channels.

Redsider · 03-24-2005, 08:49 PM

I've got to agree with drb on the bellinger to hayden drift.

As far as fishing goes, the little guys tend to be jumping all day with the big'uns rising around the 12-3 area, depending on hatch conditions. Any MB imitator or a tan bodied caddis should do well. I like to fish a hares ear or pheasant tail undreneath the dry when they're not readily rising. Good luck!

Slow and Low · 03-28-2005, 08:05 AM

Fished Hendricks to Bellinger Saturday. Absolutely mugged them. There were some skinny spots no big deal. The boat ramp is a big deal with the two boulders on each side. All the dry action was on March Brown patterns, there were also midges and those big caddis coming off, also crane flies and on big stone. Nymph fishing was poor with 3 white fish. The trout count was 20+ plus got half them to the boat. Took one fish 17" and change. All fish were plump and fiesty.

No need to worry about skinny water for the forseeable future.

Sam

mandinga · 03-28-2005, 09:23 AM

Thanks for the help guys...we did pretty well this weekend. March browns were swarming about 2-4pm...

O Tshawytcha · 03-31-2005, 01:21 PM

NICE!
GRIFF