A Different Way to Fly Fish: Stillwater in Lane County
The Willamette Valley and the surrounding area has been known as a fly angling destination for a long time. The mighty McKenzie River is probably the first to come to mind for its healthy populations of native wild trout and summer steelhead. We are also lucky enough to have the Willamette River, with its “town run” of steelhead and trout fishing to be had as well. Zoom out a little further and you start to see opportunities from the coastal rivers and beaches to the tributaries that feed our local rivers in the Cascades. To say we are spoiled for choices of fly fishing opportunities in the valley is a total understatement.
That being said, there are some really good opportunities that are incredibly underutilized here in Lane and neighboring counties. Specifically, I’m talking about stillwater fly fishing. A quick Google search indicates that Lane County alone has over 200 lakes and ponds. That’s staggering if you’re trying to figure out what stillwater to hit if you’re in the area. From the coast to the Cascades, there is something for just about everyone, and I can tell you from personal experience that there is far less pressure on most of these waters than the well-known destinations that attract the masses season after season. If you like solitude as much as I do, this is good news.
Not all lakes are equal. The timing of these bodies of water can vary significantly as well, but like the rivers we have here in the valley and surrounding areas, the lakes can offer quality fishing pretty much year-round. Add the fact that you have a diverse range of species to pursue and these lakes start looking really juicy.
I personally learned the art of fly fishing in my early teens on the McKenzie. I was hooked fast, and began to hone my craft over many years after my introduction. In my early 20s, I also got into backpacking, something my father introduced me to as a kid in California. My love of backpacking, combined with the fact that most rivers here are well developed and have little to no presence in designated wilderness areas, meant I ended up in the woods at a lake most of the time. And that’s when I began my journey into stillwater fly fishing. I took a deep dive into a unique rabbit hole, and I never looked back. I loved the adventure of it all.
Despite the mosquitoes, I scoured maps and checked off many lakes season to season. Eventually, I left the rivers behind almost entirely and got a stillwater-dedicated boat to access the more well-known lakes of the Cascades. I still fish rivers on occasion, but I will remain a stillwater junky from here on out. Having a boat opened up some opportunity at my local reservoirs. A boat or float tube is helpful, but it’s not always necessary. I was able to unlock some incredible fishing, and I’ve only seen a few fly anglers out there over the last decade.
The trout fishing here in the valley isn’t nearly as good or appealing as the lakes in our beloved Cascades, but it can serve as an incredible training ground to help you learn new techniques and get familiar with the stillwater game before you even wet a line at our high lakes. Testing out new lines, techniques, and strategies before you head to “the big leagues” can pay off big time in the long run. Every technique that works on the local reservoirs and lakes here in the valley will work on our prized high lakes. Everything from basic indicator setups, streamers, advanced midge tip rigs and dries can be effective. These waters are fishing well before the upper elevation lakes even ice out. And, if you are into chasing bass, that opens up a whole new set of opportunities for you.
Stillwater fly fishing is very different from fishing rivers and streams but not completely dissimilar. I set up my strategy for the season to essentially start fishing local reservoirs and coastal lakes for trout and bass in winter and spring, and I follow good fishing in elevation as the season progresses higher and higher into the mountains. If you are willing to put in the time, you will be surprised with the results. I’ve been blown away with what I’ve found, and it’s been a crazy ride.
Adison has done some digging and figured things out over the years, eventually getting his guide’s license and helping create a bit of a stillwater movement here in the valley. Folks at the local fly shops are catching on as well, and they are starting to appreciate the value in our local stillwater venues. If you are interested in more information about stillwater fly fishing, you can book a guided trip with Addison at the Caddis Fly Shop here in Eugene. You can also find him on Instagram at @soggy.waders.