The Metolius River is always a special place to visit in the spring, and Meteorological Spring is March 1st! My friend Phil sent me some good reports from this past week to share with y’all (he talks like that, haha) and I love that he takes the days to fish, and the time to share the info.
Here is the report:
So Monday fishing sucked.  No bugs again…damp and cool.  One fish that got off.  Today was a different story. Fished with Camp Sherman Dad…he did well on dries from the jump….before I even got wadered up.  I rose 4 got one on a dry purple comparadun size 18.  Saw Oct caddis, caddis, BWOs, cinygmula’s, and some little stones. Gavin said he saw some Skwala’s.  I switched over to euro when the hatch died off.   Whacked several nice rainbows…3 on an egg and one on a soft hackle PT.   Beautiful sunny day…lots of fun.
I also really appreciate the reports from Matthew and his son who are pretty darn successful and often mention their love of the soft hackle PT’s but last time said Brown Elk Hair Caddis for the win!
This is indicative of what you should expect now on the Metolius. Hatches are improving, but might be fickle some days. Always go to the nymphs if you can’t find hatches, and some days when you do find the hatch there is no guarantee the fish will be “up” on the emergers or dries. They usually are, but I have seen spring days (seems more common in the spring) to get a strong hatch with no interested fish, and go back another day with a light hatch and every fish is looking up. Only the fish God’s know why and I am not the fish God, believe me.
I would also add Golden Stones and Tungsten Jig 20 Incher’s to the Nymph selection, as both flies are imitating the biological responses of the bigger stones and drakes waking up and getting bigger for their upcoming hatches. I have to say it is exciting to write about spring! It is so full of hope.