Oregon Fly Fishing for trout on the McKenzie River

The origin of the McKenzie River is high in the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range that divides the State of Oregon from north to south. The McKenzie River is on the west slope of these mountain, receiving more than it’s share of snow run off and rain from the frequent winter storms that roll in from the Pacific Ocean a 175 miles to the west. Even during the hot summer months much of the cold clear waters of the McKenzie River is fast moving with many white water rapids. The north bank along Highway 126 offers many access points for public fishing. The river’s south banks have Douglas fir, Red cedar, Alder and Vine Maple growing close to the waters edge making fly-fishing and wading more than difficult, it is just impossible. The solution for fly fishermen to fish the river about 75 years ago was the advent of the McKenzie river drift boat. The boat was developed to provide the fly fisher a stable casting platform while giving the boatman a craft that was very maneuverable and able to safely run the turbulent waters of the McKenzie River.

Methods of fly-fishing from a drift boat on the McKenzie River have developed in a some-what unique manner because of the caddis flies hatches that abound during the fly-fishing season. The Green Caddis seems to be the most abundant and is seen on the river through out the spring and summer seasons. There are also hatches of small black caddis in the spring and various sizes of brown, amber and tan caddis at different times during the summer months. All these caddis flies have one similar characteristic. They lay their eggs on the water by flying up and down just above the waters surface, sometimes actually touching the surface to drop their precious cargo into the water. This is when they are most venerable and also when they provide the opportunistic Rainbow Trout with an easy meal. During periods of the fly hatches, many trout seem to get keyed in on the up and down flying action of the caddis and will often take an imitation caddis fly fished in a similar manor better than a fly that is fished on a dead drift. To induce these fish to take the fly, the fly fisher must give his imitation the same up and down flying action that the real caddis fly does when it is laying it’s eggs on the waters surface. By using a two fly method of fly presentation on the McKenzie’s faster moving water, the up and down flying action of the egg laying caddis can be imitated.

Using a 9 to 10 foot tapered leader, a #10 weighted bead-head nymph is tied at the tip end of the leader. Then 5 to 6 feet above the weighted nymph a small loop knot is tied and a 4 to 5 inch long dropper leader is tied onto the loop and the caddis imitation is attached.

As the drift boat is held back by the boatman the fly fisher casts about 15 to 20 feet of fly line downstream to holding water. The fly rod tip is slowly raised up, lifting the fly line, the first 3 feet of leader and caddis fly imitation off the water 5 or 6 inches and then it is allowed to drift down stream a foot or two. As soon as there is drag on the dry fly, the process is repeated, the dry fly re-floated or raised off the water several times until another cast is made to new holding water. and then the re-float process is repeated. The weight of the weighted nymph provides a little tension that helps to holds the leader straight and lifts the caddis dry fly imitation off the water as the fly rod tip is raised. With a little practice and a good boatman holding back against the current with the oars the egg laying action of the caddis flies can be simulated to fool those weary rainbows to take the fly. At times I find this is much more effective than the dead drift method of dry fly fishing on the McKenzie River. Of course there is no "sure thing" in fly fishing so always be prepared to change your tactics.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. Please practice catch and release and protect our rivers for future generations.