The Metolius is transitioning from Drakes (see you again in September), although for a few more days or so you might see some stragglers and definitely fish will want to eat the big bugs.
Speaking of big bugs, we are really in the early stages of the golden stone hatch on the Met now, and this will last all summer and well into fall. In July it is very common to see some salmonflies hatching too, but they just don’t make up the important numbers the goldens do and you usually won’t get the same excitement from the fish because of that. But tie on a Clark’s Stone or Lady Stone or Norm Woods Special and that is summer livin’ on the Metolius kids.
PMD’s (remember to fish the whole cycle from nymph, emerger, dun and rusty spinners), BWO’s (late afternoon to early evening and don’t forget some #18-20 spinners too), caddis (iris, missing link, corn fed, egg laying and elk hair caddis). Little things to not forget- Griffiths Gnats in summer can be quite a good hatch buster on tough fish. Little Stoneflies. The little olive stones are 2 months away from the “mega hatch” but they are trickling now and mixing in with Yellow Sally’s. I’ve had evenings in July that the fish would take nothing but Yellow Sally’s. Put some in the fly box.
Nymphing is really important, and if you want to add some numbers to the net bring your Euro rig and get after it with your jigs and perdigons.
A lot of us don’t have Bull Trout on the mind this time of year (seems like a cold weather thing I guess?) but it is just as good now as any other time so grab an 8 weight and some streamers and a sink tip and fish low light hours for the best results.