Willamette River
Coast Fork

The March Brown hatch is known around the whole world, anglers and trout alike want patiently for the first large insect hatch of the year. Locally, in our Willamette Valley, that hatch can be prolific with fish carefully choosing which naturals are worth rising for.

One of my all time favorite patterns for the hatch is a pattern from our friends at Fulling Mill: Tactical Western March Brown Parachute. The delicate design of this fly effectively mimics the silhouette of naturals on the water. It is tied on their Ultimate Dry Fly Hook, which is barbless. I know the fish prefer barbless hooks, but I do to as I believe they have better penetration, and level the playing field a bit.

Often commercial flies are suggestive of naturals on the water, but are not tied sparse enough. This fly does a fantastic job of capturing the silhouette of a March Brown without the extra bulk. The large parachute suspends the dainty fly effectively in glides of more calm water where fish often are sipping duns. The parachute is constructed from their Ultra Dry Yarn which is extremely buoyant and visible. The body is dubbed sparsely with their Tactical Dry Fly Dubbing, which is equally buoyant and compliments the parachute.

Overall, I love this fly because of its ability to closely mimic a natural on the water, while remaining buoyant and visible on the water. When fish are choosy, I find this fly gets picked. If it doesnt, it goes by under the radar and doesnt seem to disrupt feeding fish, that is if you are casting well and mending your drift effectively.

My favorite way to fish this fly is with a trailing cripple or emerger. I will run about 18-22in of tippet one x below what is attached to the Tactical Western March Brown Parachute. I will trail one of my March Brown emerger/cripple patterns or a soft hackle behind. This mimics a vulnerable insect, and often those ride lower in the film. The parachute serves as a reference point and if a fish eats, it allows you to see.

Some other patterns from Fulling Mill that I love to fish this in tandem with follow: Keegans March Brown Kripple, Tactical Blue Winged Olive Parachute, March Brown Wet Fly, Olsens Foam Front End Loader Caddis Fly, Hackle Stacker Caddis, Red Holo Diawl Bach Fly, Dusty Old Bat Caddis, or a Olsens Front End Loader Caddis.

I have fooled many large fish with this pattern. These fish are especially choosy, and the fact that they repeatedly pick the Tactical Western March Brown Parachute should tell you something. We are stocked up in the shop and online with them. To purchase them online and have them shipped right to your door, click here.

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Swing by the shop and get geared up while the hatch is in full bloom.

-Simon

Our weird winter and correspondingly strange spring have thrown our hatches off big time. We are full swing in the March Brown hatch; strange enough, the bugs seem a little late to the party. A few days ago, I was fishing and along side a very heavy hatch of March Browns, Yellow/Lime Sallies, PMDs, Skwalas, Winter Stones, Beatis (BWO) could be seen hatching. It seems like some bugs are showing up early, and others late.

Several new materials from Montana Fly Co were used to craft this flat body dinner plate March Brown. March Browns belong to the clinger family of mayflies and have an extremely uniquely shaped abdomen. It is wide and flat allowing them to cling to rocks in fast currents. This allows them to inhabit and feed in areas where other mayflies are not suited to do so. The new Gen 2 Medallion Sheeting from Montana Fly Co makes a fantastic shimmery natural color to mimic a March Brown Nymph beginning to fill with gas to emerge. Two new dubbings from MFC create a fantastic thorax section that will only get buggier as it gets chewed on: Montana Fly Co Special Sauce Dubbing & Montana Fly Co Spicy Squirrel Dubbing

Due to a March Browns nymphal profile, fish will get keyed in on this extremely unique shape; sometimes they will exclusively feed on them. This is where the Dinnerplate March Brown excels by casting the correct silhouette for the most active nymphs in the water column. Tie some up while the hatch is in full swing!

-Simon

Recipe

Hook- Ahrex Czech Mini Jig Barbless FW555: Size 12

Bead- Hareline Slotted Tungsten Bead: Copper 5/32 or 3.8mm

Thread- Fulling Mill Pro Flat Thread 70D: Tan

Tail- Hareline Ringneck Pheasant Tail: Natural

Abdomen- Hareline Lead Wire- .030 & .020, Montana Fly Co Medallion Sheeting Gen 2: Amber, & Uni XS Soft Wire: Black

Thorax- Montana Fly Co Special Sauce Dubbing: BWO & Montana Fly Co Spicy Squirrel Dubbing: Dark Natural/Purple

Wing Case- Hareline Cinnamon Tip Turkey Tail

Legs- Hareline Ringneck Pheasant Tail: Natural & Hareline Hungarian Partridge Skin

UV Resin- Solarez Bone Dry

UV Torch- Loon Plasma Light

Bobbin- Smhaen Tension Bobbin

Vise- Renzetti Master & Deluxe Streamer Base

COAST FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Chinook, summer steelhead, 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 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 3/30/26.

MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead

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. Chinook and summer steelhead fishing should be good June July downstream of Dexter Dam.

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 3/30/26.

WILLAMETTE RIVER: Catch-and-release sturgeon, steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, small and largemouth bass

See Willamette Catch Summaries for more details on spring chinook, steelhead and sturgeon here.

River conditions and fish counts:

Daily report Willamette River Portland-Temperature/VisibilityLink to: Willamette Falls Counts Link to Willamette River Morrison Bridge Hydro DataLink to NOAA-Willamette River Forecast (Salem)

The Willamette often gets overlooked because it is so close. But this river offers convenience, good access and variety.

The river is ideal for small boats such as canoes and kayaks, but there are enough public access points for bank anglers as well. Consult Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for specific locations.

The upstream section between Albany and Harrisburg is open year-round for trout fishing, which can be very good when flows are cooperating. Look for deep slot pools and the tail-end of long riffles and the head of pools where the fish are likely stacked up in feeding lanes.

Smallmouth bass can be a lot of fun to catch and are plentiful between Salem and Corvallis during summer. Anglers also report the occasional walleye up to 20 inches. Trout prefer the cooler water temperatures upstream of Corvallis. From Salem downstream there are plenty of largemouth bass in the deeper, quieter sections. Trout can be kept in some sections, but not in others. Consult the regulation booklet for details.

COAST FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Chinook, summer steelhead, 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 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 3/10/26.

MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead

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. Chinook and summer steelhead fishing should be good June July downstream of Dexter Dam.

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 3/23/26.

WILLAMETTE RIVER: Catch-and-release sturgeon, steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, small and largemouth bass

River conditions and fish counts:

Link to: Willamette Catch SummariesDaily report Willamette River Portland-Temperature/VisibilityLink to: Willamette Falls Counts Link to Willamette River Morrison Bridge Hydro DataLink to NOAA-Willamette River Forecast (Salem)

The Willamette often gets overlooked because it is so close. But this river offers convenience, good access and variety.

The river is ideal for small boats such as canoes and kayaks, but there are enough public access points for bank anglers as well. Consult Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for specific locations.

The upstream section between Albany and Harrisburg is open year-round for trout fishing, which can be very good when flows are cooperating. Look for deep slot pools and the tail-end of long riffles and the head of pools where the fish are likely stacked up in feeding lanes.

Smallmouth bass can be a lot of fun to catch and are plentiful between Salem and Corvallis during summer. Anglers also report the occasional walleye up to 20 inches. Trout prefer the cooler water temperatures upstream of Corvallis. From Salem downstream there are plenty of largemouth bass in the deeper, quieter sections. Trout can be kept in some sections, but not in others. Consult the regulation booklet for details.

COAST FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Chinook, summer steelhead, 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 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 3/10/26.

MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER: Trout, steelhead

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. Chinook and summer steelhead fishing should be good June July downstream of Dexter Dam.

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 3/23/26.

WILLAMETTE RIVER: Catch-and-release sturgeon, steelhead, spring Chinook, coho salmon, small and largemouth bass

River conditions and fish counts:

Daily report Willamette River Portland-Temperature/Visibility:Link to: Willamette Falls Counts Link to Willamette River Morrison Bridge Hydro DataLink to NOAA-Willamette River Forecast (Salem)

The Willamette often gets overlooked because it is so close. But this river offers convenience, good access and variety.

The river is ideal for small boats such as canoes and kayaks, but there are enough public access points for bank anglers as well. Consult Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for specific locations.

The upstream section between Albany and Harrisburg is open year-round for trout fishing, which can be very good when flows are cooperating. Look for deep slot pools and the tail-end of long riffles and the head of pools where the fish are likely stacked up in feeding lanes.

Smallmouth bass can be a lot of fun to catch and are plentiful between Salem and Corvallis during summer. Anglers also report the occasional walleye up to 20 inches. Trout prefer the cooler water temperatures upstream of Corvallis. From Salem downstream there are plenty of largemouth bass in the deeper, quieter sections. Trout can be kept in some sections, but not in others. Consult the regulation booklet for details.

There few flies that are developed as general attractor patterns, but happen to really work for a very specific hatch. One of those patterns is Howard Crostons Full Metal Jacket from our friends over at Fulling Mill for use fishing our spring March Brown hatch. The flies produced by Fulling Mill have an astounding level of consistency, which for this particular hatch is exceptionally important.

March Browns belong to the clinger family of mayflies which means they have a very unique body shape, silhouette, and leg configuration. There is nothing else hatching in our rivers this time of year that looks like a March Brown; in fact, we dont have too many other major hatches of clinger mayflies aside from our beloved March Brown. Having consistent flies batch to batch is crucial with nymphs with as many unique attributes as March Browns.

Clingers are characterized by their flat, ultra-streamlined bodies which allow them to thrive in areas of the river that other nymphs cannot. Their bodies are wide and their legs are burlier than swimming, burrowing, and crawling mayfly nymphs. March Browns, clinger mayflies broadly speaking, are the masters of adaptation and have filled a niche of the river that at one point was not habitable for larger, clumsy nymphs.

Howard Croston is an English fly angler, fly tier, fly designer for Fulling Mill, and member of the English National Fly Fishing Team. His Full Metal Jacket serves as an attractor pattern, but really excels for our spring March Brown hatch.

The FMJs construction really caters to the clinger family of mayflies. A collar of hair holds its shape and provides an extra wide body near the bead, similar to a March Brown nymphs natural taper. The body of the fly is constructed of a biot and provides both realistic texture and segmentation.

I believe I read somewhere that the extra-heavy drop tungsten bead is fixed with solder for additional weight. This is perfect for spring as we can have unpredictable high flows. The FMJs slim body cuts through the water, with the collar/legs still providing a wider, tapered silhouette that our trout are currently keyed in on.

I like to fish this fly in tandem with something bigger. Here are some flies I like to fish it in tandem with when the water is high: Bubbas In The Zone Stonefly Nymph, Olsens Straggle Stone, a Slush Egg, Weiss Secret Worm, or Crostons Jigged Chenille Worm. When the water is low and clear, I like to fish smaller, slimmer offerings in tandem with a Full Metal Jacket. Here are some options: Weiss Possum Anchor Jig, Olsens Blowtorch, Crostons Spring Brown Jig, or Weiss BP Dark Heavyweight Perdigon.

It is worth noting that Croston does have a Spring Brown Jig that is another fantastic option for the March Brown hatch. The beauty of the Full Metal Jacket is that it is versatile and can be fished year round as well. It is a fantastic attractor pattern that can be run under a large gold chubby in the summer, or under an oros indicator in the middle of winter.

Simon

If you want to tie some, the recipe is listed below. The possibilities are endless with color & size combinations.

Hook- Fulling Mill Jig Force FM5045

Bead- Fulling Mill Tungsten Drop Bead

Thread- Fulling Mill Pro Thread Flat 70D

Tail- CDL

Body- Turkey Biot

Thorax- Fulling Mill Eco Warrior Dub

Legs- Deer Hair

Flash- Flashabou