Now the Fun Starts

The big bugs have moved on, so if you missed the hatch, you'll need to head to Montana to get your fix. Now the fun starts! Caddis and Mayflies will set the pace as we transition into full-on summer, and that action has already started.

The Fly Czar took a chilly drift down the Deschutes this past Sunday, and while the Salmonflies were missing in action, the PMDs and Caddis made up for it by providing red-hot surface action when it was least expected. Trout fell for the old Quigly Cripple behind a PMD comparadun. The Czar reports the action was silly, with fish rising right under the rod tip. Lucky for the fish, the Fly Czar is winging his way to Alaska this morning to chase Salmon, thus giving the rest of us the chance to score on the D.

With the warming trend moving in this week, Caddis will take center stage in riffle water and your evening meal, with PMDs and misc. Mayflies feeding back eddy sippers in the morning as the carcasses gather in the swirling currents. If nothing is pulling fish to the surface during the day, check out the Rewind section in the newsletter for a viable option. I'm going to make you work for this one.

If you want to stay closer to home, Shad flies have been flying out the door this week, and the action has been steady on the Willamette. It's an excellent time to stock up on Crab bait for the months that end in R if you like Crabs. 6-7 wt. rods, 150-250 grain streamer lines, and a handful of Shad flies will get it done. Shore-bound anglers will need to find a seam close to shore, while boaters have a few more options. You can always get in touch with Rob at Water Time Outfitters for a chauffeured Shad experience. Tell him you'll share the Crabs you catch...