Fresh Island Park Fishing Reports

As of 8/11 fishing has continued to hold strong on the upper McKenzie River. We are fortunate to have cooler water in this stretch of river, helping keep fish healthy and willing to bite. In the afternoons I have experienced the best luck fishing a hopper dropper (a wet, weighted fly suspended below a dry fly). Because of the high sun, trout are often in faster moving, oxygenated water or deeper pools. Fish have been eager to bite smaller nymphs that get down to depth. However, once the sun is below the tree line fish are looking up. Transitioning to dry flies has been effective with larger fish being landed on light tackle in smooth, glassy tailouts. Fishing continues to be productive.