McKenzie River

GAGE LOCATION

DAY/YEAR
GRAPHS

CURRENT
STAGE/FLOW

WHAT TIME

Blue River at Blue River

7 30 year

5.11 / 895

4 pm

S. Fk. McKenzie near Rainbow

7 30 year

2.73 / 1490

5 pm

Mohawk atSpringfield

7 30 year

2.27 / 297

4 pm

McKenzie at Vida

7 30 year

2.58 / 4740

5 pm

McKenzie at Leaburg

7 30 year

5.59 / 3650

4 pm

McKenzie at Walterville

7 30 year

3.10 / 3240

3 pm

CITY

Eugene

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

HATCH

NYMPH/
LARVA

PUPA/
EMERGER

DUN/
ADULT

EGG-
LAYER

Blue-winged olive

Spotted caddis

Green caddis

Golden stonefly

Salmonfly

Midge

The McKenzie closes above Blue River on October 31; the tributaries close then, too.

Between Armitage and Hendricks Bridge, trout fishing should hold up until the first hard freeze or first string of heavy rain storms. Then it will become "difficult" until the March brown season (which, despite the insect's name, can start in February).

As on other rivers, blue-winged olives provide the major bug action. Baetis Cripples and Sparkle Duns are good bets during a hatch. When there's no hatch, dead-drift a gold-ribbed Hares Ear near the bottom of runs that have a moderate flow. Cloudy days will be best for the blue-winged olive hatches, while sunny days could bring out the caddis. Nymphing can hold up through November, river levels permitting.

October caddis will be encountered early in November. You may also find some mahogany duns, small caddis, and flavs.

Steelhead should be available from Leaburg Dam to Leaburg, and a few above that. Rain should stir them to action.

For more on November tactics and flies, see the Rivers in General report.