Fly Fishing on the McKenzie River

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The McKenzie River has some of the best trout fishing in Oregon and is one of the most beautiful rivers in the West. It is a convenient river to fish as it is located in western Oregon by the town of Eugene and it flows right under Interstate 5. The McKenzie Rivers offers fly anglers a variety of fishing opportunities as it has a section managed for wild trout and a section where anglers can fish for a mixture of wild and hatchery trout. All our trips on the McKenzie are drift trips and our clients stay high and dry.

 Best fishing time - The best time to fish for the large native trout is from the middle of March through May. The native trout section is the lower river (from Leaburg Dam down to the Willamette River) and the March Brown mayfly and caddis fly hatches start here in March. The upper McKenzie (above Leaburg Dam) open up on the 4^th Saturday in April and remains open until the end of October. This section fishes well all summer long and the fishing is usually fast paced. Unlike other guide trips on the McKenzie our trips start either early in the morning or we do an afternoon and evening drift so our guests are on the water during the prime fishing time.

How do I get to the McKenzie - The most popular choice is to drive up Interstate 5 to Eugene. The McKenzie River is 180 miles from the California border. Another option is to fly to the Eugene. The airport is about twenty minutes from the river.

Accommodations - There are several motels in the towns of Eugene and Springfield as well as along the river. Where you stay will be influence by which section of the river you fish and the time of year. The upper McKenzie is a very pleasant during the warm summer months and there are also a host of other activities here (golfing, rafting, hiking, hot springs, etc) that we would be happy to assist you with. Our favorite place to stay on the upper McKenzie is Eagle Rock Lodge. We have worked out a discount package with them and I know you will enjoy their excellent accommodations.

Price - The cost for a day of fishing on the McKenzie is $275 for two anglers. We will supply rods and flies.

Fishing forecast for 2001 - This is a low water year in Oregon. This means that the spring fishing should be excellent as high water will not be a problem. The river will probably be low this summer, but the McKenzie is largely a spring fed river and there should be more than enough water for our drift boats.

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