Central Oregon has several jewels of places to experience fly-fishing. It is arguably one of the most popular fly fishing destinations in the American West. One of Central Oregon’s finest jewels is just 20 minutes west of Sisters in Camp Sherman.
The Metolius River is a unique, spring-fed river, home to a wild fish hatchery. The river’s topography cuts through ponderosa pine forest; the temperature and flow rate are constant, making it a unique environment. The temperature doesn’t fluctuate throughout the seasons, making it a consistent environment for fish.
The water of the Metolius River is clear, clean, and cold most of the year fed by underground springs, some of which aren’t even documented. The scenery changes as you move downriver, which you can see from a myriad of trails through the Metolius River corridor.
The wild fish swimming the Metolius include bull trout, brown trout and redband. Fishing here is a challenge due to the abundance of stoneflies flowing beneath the water. Different flies have different stages throughout the season, making it important to understand the food sources fish prefer at different times of year to get a catch.
The Metolius is a catch-and-release and a no-guide river. Eric Gunson, manager of the fly shop at the Camp Sherman Store, works to educate flyfishers on the best areas to hit for catches. Some of those places include the Bridge 99/Lower Bridge Campground all the way downriver to Pine Rest Campground, where the river hugs the highway taking you through the entire Metolius River basin.
There are areas where fish hang out on the river, including in some of the 20-foot deep pools all the way up into the shallows, hiding under downed trees and log jams. Going into spring and summer, the big green mayfly will be the primary fly hatch that the fish will key in on.
Gunson provides a “hatch menu” every day, based on what flies are hatching and in the area.
“I listen to other fishermen, and learn what’s happening on the river in different areas. I love seeing the families that come in and explore the area and all it has to offer,” said Gunson.
You can fish the Metolius year-round but the peak season is Memorial Day in May through Labor Day in September. Camp Sherman and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife have recently built a man-made pond for kids to practice fishing, stocked with hatchery fish, making for a fun experience where kids can learn.
Just west of the Metolius, Suttle Lake, Scout Lake, and Big Lake offer opportunities for fishing of all kinds, and a place to cool off in the summer months.
Whychus Creek, downstream of Sisters, offers fishing for small rainbow trout, but access is not as easy.
Three Creek Lake, Lava Lake, and other lakes in the Central Oregon area offer potential for catching a fish on a fly line.
Outfitters offer float trips down the Deschutes River for classic Central Oregon fishing.
Located in a scenic location at Black Butte Ranch, Phalarope Lake is a nice place to learn to cast a fly. This is the only lake on the Ranch reserved for fly fishing. During the summer, free, fly-fishing clinics are offered through The Fly Fisher’s Place, at the Ranch at 10 a.m. on Saturday mornings.
Top hatches on Central Oregon waters
Green drake
The hatch goes from about Memorial Day weekend to the end of June. The trout in the Metolius come crashing to the surface to feast on the dark green flies.
Blue wing
A tiny little olive mayfly with gray wings. The only mayfly found in Central Oregon hatching all 12 months of the year, so it provides some of the only dry fly fishing in the winter.
Callibaetis
Callibaetis mayflies are a lake angler’s dream. It took us many years to invent the fly we call the Black Butte Callibaetis, but wherever the black mayflies are found this fly is a match.
Stonefly
Stonefly hatches bring the most tourists to fish a single hatch. The famed salmonfly and golden stone hatches happen on the Deschutes from mid-May until early June.
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