Home Waters Fly Shop Fishing Report

Overview:

• Unlike last week with its cooler temps and rain, this weekend and next week look to have a steady stream of warm weather bluebird days. Morning and evening dry fly action will stay on the menu paired with nymphing through the heat of the day. Anglers should start looking to the deeper pools and faster, oxygenated water as temperatures continue to rise. River levels are on the drop and clarity for both the McKenzie and Willamette remain excellent. 
• All of our traditional summer hatches are in full swing now. Green caddis, PMD, Pale Evening Duns, Mahogany Spinners, and yellow sallies are all out doing their thing.
• Sadly, it looks like the steelhead season is gong to be a bust. We are 87% down on returns compared to 2022 over the Willamette Falls. If you need to scratch that spey fishing itch, both Jason and Will recommend a trout spey trip. Big bows and swinging the fly is always a thrill worth seeking.

McKenzie River:

• • Both the upper and lower river are fishing well. We’ve been having the most luck with chubby norms with a small pheasant tail dropper, and of course anything Euro. Skating a green caddis on the upper river, especially in shade pockets and through nervous water has been effective in calling fish up for the take. 
  • The mahogany dun hatch has been hitting in the cool of the evening. Both a basic parachute Adams and the Brooks Sprout in mahogany have been our go-to choice.

Middle Fork Willamette River:

• • Flows, clarity, and temps are in ideal fishing ranges. The Middle Fork between Oakridge and Black Canyon has been running a little skinny with flows out of Hills Creek remaining low. That said, this is still the place where you can have a lights-out, dry or die kind of day. Dexter up to D-Street has been fishing well. If kamikaze cut throat are your secret sauce, this is the place to be! 

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!
  • There is the potential for thunderstorms in the mountains this time of year. Make sure you check the weather and keep and eye to the clouds when headed that way. No one likes being in the middle of the lake with the skies open up out of the blue.