The Metolius River is on fire right now( (not literally) and is sure to be a top choice for the rest of the season with the way it has fishing. As far as literal fires go, its been one of the better rivers to escape the smoke from. Nymphing is particularly effective—try a double nymph rig with a golden stone or October caddis as your lead fly, and pair it with a smaller caddis or mayfly pattern below. Be prepared for a range of hatches, so stock up on caddis, BWOs, PMDs, and rusty spinners which has been a fantastic late afternoon to evening hatch to hit as of late. For the caddis hatch which has been great as well, we recommend tan, green, and grey variants of elk hair and X2 Caddis sizes 14 to 16. If you’re after bull trout, stripping large streamers is the way to go, and swinging leeches, sculpin, and crayfish patterns can also lure in some hefty rainbows. The Metolius is a breathtaking place to spend a fall day, so grab your gear and hit the water!
Metolius River Update. September 20th, 2024
September 20, 2024