McKenzie River

GAGE LOCATION

DAY/YEAR
GRAPHS

CURRENT
STAGE/FLOW

WHAT TIME

Blue River at Blue River

7 30 year

2.60 / 55

9 pm

S. Fk. McKenzie near Rainbow

7 30 year

1.52 / 425

10 pm

Mohawk atSpringfield

7 30 year

1.12 / 58

9 pm

McKenzie at Vida

7 30 year

1.62 / 2870

10 pm

McKenzie at Leaburg

7 30 year

3.52 / 1040

8 pm

McKenzie at Walterville

7 30 year

0.98 / 1050

10 pm

CITY

Eugene

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

HATCH

NYMPH/
LARVA

PUPA/
EMERGER

DUN/
ADULT

EGG-
LAYER

Pale morning dun

Yellow quill

Pale evening dun

Saddle-case caddis

Spotted caddis

Green caddis

Golden stonefly

Yellow sally

Salmonfly

Midge

There should still be some green drakes in the upper river--not many, but those that pop up are quickly consumed by trout. A few golden stoneflies should be available, too. Both those bugs are on their way out, though. The green caddis hatch has tapered off on this river.

Hatches of midges, yellow sallies, caddis, and a few pale morning duns and blue-winged olives will be present this month. Fishing will be best at the end of the day--so don't quit too soon! As you get near the Willamette confluence, you find more quiet water where midges gather and trout may seek them. Try a Griffiths Gnat or similar fly at dusk.

In general, though, the best July trout fishing should be in the upper river, above Blue River. The higher up you go, the better the daytime fishing. Expect to find trout receptive to large attractors as well as well as the imitations mentioned above.

This is a caddis-rich river, and that means Soft Hackles are always good choices. Present your fly with a surface swing. If the caddis start hatching (or laying eggs) and the trout are looking up, bring Elk Hair Caddis. The caddis species are diverse, so you'll find everything from size 12 to size 20 on the water. You can't go to far wrong, however, if you bring size 14 tan and size 16-18 brown or olive patterns.

Steelhead are still arriving, but with the advent of bright, sunny days they will be harder to catch. Focus your efforts during the early morning and late evening. Indicator tactics will probably prove the most productive.

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