This week on the Metolius River saw some changes that define a true autumn shift. Notably the BWO’s now seem to be the best and most prolific mayfly hatch and they have shifted to being quite small. Don’t be surprised when we grab you #20 (shhhhh or even 22’s) instead of the 18’s that so often get put in your selection. PMD’s are going away fast, but there are still yellow mayflies around, they just happen to be a completely different species with a completely different life cycle from a habitat and emergence standpoint, and these Cinygmula mayflies will mix in with PMD’s for a bit, and then be the only yellow mayflies we will see later in November. Make sure you are carrying both #16 and 18 yellow duns and emergers now. Pop a Rusty Spinner in the dry fly box too. Warm evenings are over, so the at dusk spider fall is less likely than seeing them late afternoon and if fish are rising gently and you can’t tell to what, tie on the rusty spinner to your 6x tippet and my guess is they will eat it.
Caddis hatches have been good with tan #16, grey #14, orange #8-10 with Pupa and Adults being important at different times of the day. Flies to choose are tan and orange pupa in the appropriate sizes, Olive Missing Link Caddis, Weiss’s Caddis in both grey and tan with the hi viz top wing (so cool), Iris caddis, Orange Stimulator and a #10 or 12 Clarks Stone (my #1 pick).
Nymphing is exceptional, and of course eggs are important but the kokanee spawning has turned over to a dull roar. The salmon orgy is done for the year, but the aftermath with eggs and flesh are important to the health of the river, and to the trout. The Kokanee eggs will hatch in about 100 days and that will be a good time to nymph with a little silvery jig streamer. Put it on your calendar for early to mid February.
Streamer fishing for Bull’s is so much fun and this is the time of year it really feels like it is primed up. If you have a 7 or 8 weight rod, we have some good sized (long and heavy) articulated streamers. If you have a 6 weight, we also have some smaller articulated streamers like the Milk Shake (it brings all the bulls to the yard) and others. Also Jig stuff like the Sir Mix a Lot is a good one, especially now with the little egg head bead that weights the fly just right to get down under an indicator, or Euro jigged, or even swung on a floating line.
One misconception about Bull Trout fishing is every fly has to be on the bottom. Or I need a sink tip. Not usually. Some of the best Bull Trout anglers I know use a floating line and adjust leader length and fly weight to match where they need the fly to be on the drift. And remember, a predatory Bull Trout will chase the whitefish you have hooked all around the pool, and that fish is not only looking for a meal off the bottom.
FINALLY, it is November 1st. I mention this to remind you that the upper river from the Allingham Bridge to the Headwaters is now closed to protect spawning habitat until May 22nd.