Willamette River
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- Baetis Nymph
- Mahogany Dun
- PMD
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Oct 09
The Caddis Fly Angling Shop
The Perdigon once started as a pattern, not serves as an entire family or style of fly patterns. Perdigon, which translates in French to shot or pellet presumably for its streamlined heavy nature. Perdigons are the topic of debate from time to time, being soulless slim bodied flies, whether you like them or not, they work extremely well.
The draw of a Perdigon is that is small and maintains a slim, tapered body, while being capable of hosting a large bead. many small flies have trouble getting deep, but Perdigons are almost always tied with large tungsten beads. This comes from their emergence from tight line or euro nymphing folks overseas.
Many Perdigons have a hot collar, but this particular pattern has a hot rear too, and a flash ribbed body. Orange is a very important color in the fall and hot tags or collars of orange seem to work great to capture attention every year in the fall. Many nymphs fill with buoyant gasses prior to rising to the surface for their emergence. Palmered flash does a great job of mimicking this. This Perdigon also features a dark wing case which is also suggestive for an emerging insect.
With our low water right now, and our smaller fall hatches, this pattern has been a staple in my box. I typically fish it in a 14-18, with 16 being my most used. It is a great size for the Mahogany Dun hatch as well as the leftover PMDS. The 18s work great for the fall Baetis emergence as well. Ive found it more important this year than ever to size down tippet as well. With our especially low water, typically I am fishing this off of 5x Absolute Fluorocarbon from SA and it is making a huge difference sizing down. Tie some up and youll find a big rainbow on the end of your line shortly.
-Simon
Recipe
Hook- Fulling Mill Jig Force FM5045: Size 14, 16***, 18
Bead- Fulling Mill Copper Slotted Tungsten Bead: 5/32 or 3.8mm, 1/8 or 3.2mm***, or 7/64 or 2.8mm
Tail- Whiting CDL: Dark Pardo
Thread- Fulling Mill Pro Ultra Thread 70d: Black, Olive, & FL Fire Orange (NEW)
Flash- Hareline/ Hedron Micro Flashabou: Pearl
UV Resin- Solarez Bone Dry
UV Torch- Loon Plasma Light
Bobbin- Stonfo Steeltech Bobbin
Vise- Renzetti Master & Deluxe Streamer Base
***Denotes Size/Color used in the tutorial, additional suggestions are listed
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Caddis Fly Travel: @Caddis_Fly_Travel
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Caddis Fly Angling Shop
Shop Online from all over the World
Caddis Fly Shop
Caddis Fly Shop
168 W 6th Ave
Eugene, or 97401
Phone: (541) 342-7005
Email: [email protected]
The draw of a Perdigon is that is small and maintains a slim, tapered body, while being capable of hosting a large bead. many small flies have trouble getting deep, but Perdigons are almost always tied with large tungsten beads. This comes from their emergence from tight line or euro nymphing folks overseas.
Many Perdigons have a hot collar, but this particular pattern has a hot rear too, and a flash ribbed body. Orange is a very important color in the fall and hot tags or collars of orange seem to work great to capture attention every year in the fall. Many nymphs fill with buoyant gasses prior to rising to the surface for their emergence. Palmered flash does a great job of mimicking this. This Perdigon also features a dark wing case which is also suggestive for an emerging insect.
With our low water right now, and our smaller fall hatches, this pattern has been a staple in my box. I typically fish it in a 14-18, with 16 being my most used. It is a great size for the Mahogany Dun hatch as well as the leftover PMDS. The 18s work great for the fall Baetis emergence as well. Ive found it more important this year than ever to size down tippet as well. With our especially low water, typically I am fishing this off of 5x Absolute Fluorocarbon from SA and it is making a huge difference sizing down. Tie some up and youll find a big rainbow on the end of your line shortly.
-Simon
Recipe
Hook- Fulling Mill Jig Force FM5045: Size 14, 16***, 18
Bead- Fulling Mill Copper Slotted Tungsten Bead: 5/32 or 3.8mm, 1/8 or 3.2mm***, or 7/64 or 2.8mm
Tail- Whiting CDL: Dark Pardo
Thread- Fulling Mill Pro Ultra Thread 70d: Black, Olive, & FL Fire Orange (NEW)
Flash- Hareline/ Hedron Micro Flashabou: Pearl
UV Resin- Solarez Bone Dry
UV Torch- Loon Plasma Light
Bobbin- Stonfo Steeltech Bobbin
Vise- Renzetti Master & Deluxe Streamer Base
***Denotes Size/Color used in the tutorial, additional suggestions are listed
Follow us on Instagram
Caddis Fly Shop: @Caddisflyshop
Oregon Fly Fishing Blog: @OregonFlyFishingBlog
Caddis Fly Travel: @Caddis_Fly_Travel
Subscribe to our Youtube channel
Caddis Fly Angling Shop
Shop Online from all over the World
Caddis Fly Shop
Caddis Fly Shop
168 W 6th Ave
Eugene, or 97401
Phone: (541) 342-7005
Email: [email protected]
This report was written by The Caddis Fly Angling Shop:
http://www.caddisflyshop.com/
(541) 342-7005
(541) 342-7005
Oct 08
Oregon DWR
COAST FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Chinook, summer steelhead, trout
Last stocked the week of July 27 with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Use of bait is allowed April 22 Oct 31 but beginning Nov 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. Last updated 9/15/26.
MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead, Chinook
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access.
A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout. Last updated 8/24/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad, catch-and-release sturgeon
LateSeptember to earlyOctober typically marks the peak of the wild coho fishery above Willamette Falls. Historically, these wild coho originate from the Yamhill, Molalla, and Tualatin rivers, making those confluences prime holding areas, but they're increasingly appearing in additional Willamette tributaries.
At Willamette Falls, 6,247 adult Coho have passed through the fish ladder as of Oct 4. Though this is a smaller run than in recent years, there are still good opportunities to catch these fish. Anglers can target them using a variety of tactics: troll with 360s or spinners, cast Wiggle Warts, twitch jigs, fling Blue Fox spinners, or fish bobber-and-eggs.
Wild coho are retainable (no fin-clip required, limit two adults and five jacks per day), and anglers may use two rods when they have the endorsement.
While coho are the highlight now, don't overlook late-season warmwater opportunities. As water cools, catch rates for bass and walleye usually decline, but you'll still find action, especially from Buena Vista up toward Peoria. The area near Hyak Park may be a particularly good place to try in this reach. These fish are generally found in deeper water near the bottom during the day so getting your nightcrawler deep is key.
Last stocked the week of July 27 with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Use of bait is allowed April 22 Oct 31 but beginning Nov 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. Last updated 9/15/26.
MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead, Chinook
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access.
A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout. Last updated 8/24/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad, catch-and-release sturgeon
LateSeptember to earlyOctober typically marks the peak of the wild coho fishery above Willamette Falls. Historically, these wild coho originate from the Yamhill, Molalla, and Tualatin rivers, making those confluences prime holding areas, but they're increasingly appearing in additional Willamette tributaries.
At Willamette Falls, 6,247 adult Coho have passed through the fish ladder as of Oct 4. Though this is a smaller run than in recent years, there are still good opportunities to catch these fish. Anglers can target them using a variety of tactics: troll with 360s or spinners, cast Wiggle Warts, twitch jigs, fling Blue Fox spinners, or fish bobber-and-eggs.
Wild coho are retainable (no fin-clip required, limit two adults and five jacks per day), and anglers may use two rods when they have the endorsement.
While coho are the highlight now, don't overlook late-season warmwater opportunities. As water cools, catch rates for bass and walleye usually decline, but you'll still find action, especially from Buena Vista up toward Peoria. The area near Hyak Park may be a particularly good place to try in this reach. These fish are generally found in deeper water near the bottom during the day so getting your nightcrawler deep is key.
Sep 24
Oregon DWR
COAST FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Chinook, summer steelhead, trout
Last stocked the week of July 27 with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Use of bait is allowed April 22 Oct 31 but beginning Nov 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. Last updated 9/15/26.
MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead, Chinook
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access.
A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout. Last updated 8/24/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad, catch-and-release sturgeon
LateSeptember to earlyOctober typically marks the peak of the wild coho fishery above Willamette Falls. With the river now hovering around 62F, coho are once again staging below the Falls before pushing upstream. Historically, these wild coho originate from the Yamhill, Molalla, and Tualatin rivers, making those confluences prime holding areas, but they're increasingly appearing in additional Willamette tributaries.
At Willamette Falls, passage numbers have held strong in recent years, with 22,500 adults in 2025, and 2026 is shaping up similarly.
Anglers can target them using a variety of tactics: troll with 360s or spinners, cast Wiggle Warts, twitch jigs, fling Blue Fox spinners, or fish bobber-and-eggs.
Wild coho are retainable (no fin-clip required, limit two adults and five jacks per day), and anglers may use two rods when they have the endorsement.
While coho are the highlight now, don't overlook late-season warmwater opportunities. As water cools, catch rates for bass and walleye usually decline, but you'll still find action, especially from Buena Vista up toward Peoria. The area near Hyak Park may be a particularly good place to try in this reach. These fish are generally found in deeper water near the bottom during the day so getting your nightcrawler deep is key.
Last stocked the week of July 27 with 800 hatchery rainbow trout.
The river is open to fishing all year for trout, hatchery Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead and wild steelhead over 24 inches.
Use of bait is allowed April 22 Oct 31 but beginning Nov 1 anglers may only use lures and artificial flies. In addition to five hatchery trout, two wild trout may be kept daily. Last updated 9/15/26.
MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead, Chinook
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refurbished the boat ramp on the south side of the Middle Fork Willamette just below Dexter Dam allowing drift boat and raft access.
A Columbia River Basin Endorsement is required for anglers targeting salmon and steelhead.
The Middle Fork Willamette above Lookout Point and Hills Creek reservoirs are open to fishing using lures and artificial flies. All wild trout must be released upstream of Lookout Point Reservoir. The Middle Fork Willamette River is not stocked with hatchery trout. Last updated 8/24/26.
WILLAMETTE RIVER: Steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, bass, walleye, shad, catch-and-release sturgeon
LateSeptember to earlyOctober typically marks the peak of the wild coho fishery above Willamette Falls. With the river now hovering around 62F, coho are once again staging below the Falls before pushing upstream. Historically, these wild coho originate from the Yamhill, Molalla, and Tualatin rivers, making those confluences prime holding areas, but they're increasingly appearing in additional Willamette tributaries.
At Willamette Falls, passage numbers have held strong in recent years, with 22,500 adults in 2025, and 2026 is shaping up similarly.
Anglers can target them using a variety of tactics: troll with 360s or spinners, cast Wiggle Warts, twitch jigs, fling Blue Fox spinners, or fish bobber-and-eggs.
Wild coho are retainable (no fin-clip required, limit two adults and five jacks per day), and anglers may use two rods when they have the endorsement.
While coho are the highlight now, don't overlook late-season warmwater opportunities. As water cools, catch rates for bass and walleye usually decline, but you'll still find action, especially from Buena Vista up toward Peoria. The area near Hyak Park may be a particularly good place to try in this reach. These fish are generally found in deeper water near the bottom during the day so getting your nightcrawler deep is key.