The afternoon mayfly hatch on the Metolius River has been strong for 3 or 4 days in a row.

Besides BWO’s in about a #18, there have been good hatches of Cinygmula’s in a #16 and fish want to eat both when either hatch is prevalent. It is always great to see a good dry hatch any time of the year, and it has certainly been going off now.

Besides the 2 mayflies, there have been 3 or 4 caddis out, and some black midges and a few stragglers of the little black stones. Caddis seem to be preferred by the trout in the Pupa stage and fished as a nymph near the bottom, however I would try orange stimulators #8-10, orange elk hair caddis #10-14, corn fed caddis #14-16 and missing link caddis #14-16 on the dry fly side.

Nymph action has been very good on several different patterns, some are the usual suspects and some are new discoveries. Mattias has some really good fishing on big hares ears (#10) and walt’s worms this week. Zebra Midges, 2 Bit Hookers, Caddis Pupa, Balanced Leeches, 20 Incher (green drake nymph!) Perdigons, Yellow Soft Hackles, CDC PT’s, Orange Eggs and Golden Stones.

Most of the Bull Trout being caught in the last week have come on smaller streamers, and often under an indicator. Not saying that is what you must do, that was just the trend I was hearing in the shop. Never hesitate to power through a day with a big boy streamer. Or big girl streamer if you prefer.

Water flows have not jumped much at the Allingham gauge today. About a 20 cfs increase from yesterday. However, the gauge above Lake Billy Chinook bumped about FIVE HUNDRED cfs this morning and still rising. Canyon Creek and Candle Creek are going to be significant contributors to the run-off, so watch that for the next few days. I think today and tomorrow continue to be wet weather and then it dries out and get really warm and nice for a bunch of days to follow and you can fish the drop like a pro from mid-week on.