Metolius River (Upper), OR

My Grandmother might kill me for posting this river. It is a family treasure and one of the most best kept secrets in the world. If you ever do go here let me know how it goes, or even let me know before and I might give you extra pointers. Probably my favorite river to fish in the entire country, this river is challenging but extremely rewarding. The Metolius is a crystal clear spring fed river, with a consistent flow, and water ranging from 38-42 degrees annually. Once stocked (until 1996) this river is protected and is catch and release only. Fish found on this river are rainbow trout, brown trout, bull trout (dolley varden), kokanee salmon, and white fish. I have fished this river since before I could walk and now 20 years later I have experience the rivers ups and downs. The years after stocking of trout was no longer allowed fish were found few and far between on this river. Now over 10 years later the population of fish has made a comeback and with the right now-how you can certainly catch some fish. These fish are big and beautiful too. 100% native the average rainbow is around 18" and bulls easily reach 8-10lbs. There are certainly many ways to fish this river, it all depends on what you are looking for. In the summer months I recommend nymphing the day with and dry fishing at night, but a golden stone will work through out the day for dry fishing.

Fishing wet flies:
Over the past 5 years  I have learned what holes produce big fish and what holes do not produce any fish. Also that if you want to have fun you can catch a bunch of smaller fish ranging from 6-10". My strongest fishing and best technique for this river is nymphing. There are two main ways to nymph this river as well. The first being to catch fish and the other being to catch trout. If you want to catch fish and when I say fish meaning white fish use a black stone nymph (size 6-10) with a dropper about 12-16" below tied directly to the hook of the stone. The white fish like bugs with flash; red copper johns, red or black serendipity, zebra midges, rainbow warriors, most any small bug with red, silver, or a bright bead will catch white fish when fished below the stone. If you want to stay away from the white fish I recommend hears ears, emergers, prince nymphs, green drake nymphs, and an other traditional cold water nymph below your stone. Smaller is better too. I have caught 4lb bulls on size 20 emergers.All this should be done with a 5x tippet from your fly line to your stone and either a 5x or 6x leader from stone to dropper. Switch your dropper periodically as the fish will begin to recognize it too. Rainbows will strike the same flies the white fish like but choose your dropper based on if you want to stay entertained with catching mostly white fish or if you want to try and catch mostly trout. I often use a sinking tip but have had success using a floating line and strike indicator. Put the indicator about 8' above your stone fly.

Fishing Dry Flies:
The water is clear and the fish are smart. I have seen fish waltz up to my fly and bump it with there nose knowing it was fake and turning around back to the bottom. I would recommend using the smallest tippet you are comfortable with. In the day time between 11am and 4pm during the summer there is generally a strong stone fly (salmon fly) hatch. Fish this fly and with its size you can get away with a 5x but I have always fished a 6x tippet on this river. Before 10am or after 4pm the river air is cooler and much smaller bugs are out. Switching to or still using a 6x tippet you can fish green drakes, may flies, pmd's, blue wing olives, parachute adams, and various other small bugs. Pluck one out of the sky and look in your box for a similar bug. You can fish these smaller bugs during the day but they will generally only produce smaller than average fish. Smaller fish will hold near or under fallen trees, merging waters, and what not.

Bull Trout:
Being as this river is protected mostly for its bull trout population I recommend a sturdy 6 wt rod but also for safe measure bringing a 7wt or 8wt rod. Go ahead and put some heaver tippet on you rod with about a 8-10lb test. Fish half rabbits, mice, and other big streamers. Good bull trout are found by canyon creek or below the fish hatchery. Below the hatchery is actually Dolley Hole, where what looks like a small log under the water is actually a giant fish. Be patient, fish for long periods, and big fish can be caught.

Holes:
I don't plan to give away too much but will tell you general areas to try. Above the store where the road runs out is blue hole, just above the Camp Sherman bridge (protected 100yds both directions) is Cabin hole, below the bridge is popcorn hole, there are two holes in the Camp Sherman camp ground, one off the road before Allingham Campground, above and below the Allingham bridge, two holes in the middle of Smiling River Campground (one being Granddad's hole), Pine Rest Campground, between Pine Rest and Gorge Campground, and Gorge Camp Ground. I have caught fish in everyone of these holes this summer. Generally you are looking for the river to drop to 6-12' of depth and/or cut under some brush. There are loads of other places to fish but these hole consistently produce for me.

This Trip:
I came down to the river for a day. My Mom was camping with four friends from California that had there doubts of the river and to that point no fish. Within 20 min on the water Sue (So Cal) landed a white fish. She proceeded to loose a trout and land other white fish.I should mention that was her first fish ever on a fly rod. I fished minimally but in the two holes I tried on Sunday I caught 3 white fish below Pine Rest, and 1 white fish in Cabin hole fishing a total of 2 hours. I also lost an 18" rainbow in Cabin Hole and had several trout rise below Pine Rest. Two of my buddies caught there first fish and trout on a fly rod in the Gorge hole; one this summer and the other five summers ago. The river is slow in the morning but picks up around 11am when the sun hits the water and the stones start emerging. As mentioned above I would nymph as long as there is some sun on the water (6pm or so) and use dry flies in the morning or evening. Stone fly will work fine in the middle of the day. I forgot to mention that a Clark Stone is probably the best pattern although switching to a Rogue Stone, Cat's Vomit, or Simulator can through the fish off and get more strikes. A few summers ago I started a hole with the Rogue and watched a fish look at it twice. Switched to each of the other three bugs, each getting a look of there own, but finally switching back to the rogue landed a 19" 3+lb rainbow. They are beautiful too. They have a green back, with a solid dark red band, and black speckles. The single most beautiful rainbows I have seen in my life.

Summary:
Location: Metolius River, Camp Sherman, OR, located about 100 miles (2 hrs) east of Salem, and 20 min from Sisters, OR
Time: 9am - 7pm
Rod: 5 wt w/ floating line, 5 wt w/ sinking tip
Tackle: 8 black stone nymph, 18 rainbow warrior, 18 zebra midge, 18 copper john hybrid, 10 Clark Stone, 10 Rogue Stone, see above for other flies to use and go ask the guys at the shop.
Fish: 4
Species: White Fish
Biggest Fish: 19"
Smallest Fish: 14"
Rating: 9/10 (Should be a 10 but I didn't get to fish all that I wanted to and with no trout today that hurts)