Fishing continues to fire on the Metolius as we head into the Independence Day weekend. Water temps remain consistently cool in the upper 40s–low 50s °F, and the constant spring-fed flows drive reliable insect activity and a focused trout bite. Afternoon Green Drake hatches are still the headline—don’t miss the 3–6 PM window and lingering spinner falls into dusk that keep fish keyed in. Secondary hatches remain strong: Tan and Olive Caddis, Pale Morning Duns, Little Olive Stones, and Golden Stones are all active and produce excellent dry-dropper action.
When trout aren’t sipping off the top, subsurface patterns continue to perform at a high level. Perdigons, Micro Mayflies, Jigged Frenchies, Berry’s PCPs, Zebra Midges, and Green Drake nymphs are all getting solid attention in seams and pocket structure. Streamers still have their place—small, weighted patterns fished through canyon zones are producing bull trout and larger Redbands.
This week’s weather pattern—upper 70s highs, cooler nights in the 40s, and light afternoon breezes—is ideal for extended dry fly windows and solid nymphing throughout the day. Expect topwater opportunities into late day in shaded runs and hidden pockets, but Euro and traditional indicator nymph setups are going to yield the most consistent numbers. With pristine water clarity and robust hatch activity, now is one of the best times to be on the Metolius.