The Metolius has had some brilliant days of fishing lately, and that is likely to stay the same, maybe it will even improve this month. The Flav’s #14 and Drakes #10-12 have been okay, nothing really earth shattering yet on their hatch activity but enough of both to get the fish looking up for them from the Canyon to below Candle Creek.
PMD’s and some early sightings of the Cinygmula already, so yellow mayflies in #16 and #18 are needed. Emergers, Cripples and Duns. And don’t forget the Rusty Spinners, really important for a warm evening outing.
Mahogany Duns are showing up in the afternoon hatch cycle, so a Quill Gordon, Upright Rusty, Purple Haze or Comparadun, Grey Comparadun are all good in a #16 to match these.
BWO’s are improving and important. #18-20 mostly and have the whole hatch cycle covered with nymphs, emergers, cripples, duns and spinners.
Caddis hatches have been awesome. Micro Caddis #20, Tan #16 and October Caddis #6-8 are the ones to really focus on. There are probably others that pop up, so an Olive #16-18 and Grey #14 won’t hurt to have in the box too.
Stoneflies are abundant, with Little Olive Stones everywhere and on the water, the fish love to eat these in September. Golden Stones are spread out in pockets of the upper, middle and lower sections of the Metolius, but the section from the Headwaters to Gorge CG is the best. This is Clarks Stone water. Cascade Stones and isolated Salmonflies round out the big stones so carry a big Chubby in case you are in a spot where the fish are eating one of these large Stonefly species.
Lot’s of fish being caught on the Fat Caddis, Soft Hackle PT, Walts Worm, Frenchie and Perdigons.
Certainly add some 20 Incher’s & TJ Hooker (peacock) for Drakes, Golden Stones and Eggs.
Bull Trout action is good to very good. Big streamers seem to be getting the most action, but a smaller jig streamer is a double duty contender to catch rainbows, browns, bulls and the occasional monster whitefish.