UPPER WILLIAMSON RIVER:

Flows and water conditions should currently be good for fishing. Look for the Hex mayfly hatch on the warmest days in July. They typically hatch at 9:30 p.m. The grasshopper are thick in some areas. Dry fly fishing with hopper patterns should be excellent.

LOWER WILLIAMSON RIVER:

Fishing is fair from a boat as many big fish moved in from the lake after a long exceptionally cool, wet spring. The river is exceedingly clear and flows are low which can make for challenging fishing. Redband from the lake are in exceptional condition. Numerous insects are hatching including Hex, yellow sally stoneflies, small mayflies and multiple caddis fly species. Currently redband trout are mostly eating small mayfly nymphs.

The Giant Hex mayfly hatch has been very sporadic. Grasshoppers are abundant along the shorelines and fly patterns mimicking hooper and yellow mayflies might work well especially on overcast or shady areas of the river.

Many fly-anglers fish with a clear intermediate line on long, light fluorocarbon leaders. Making long casts can increase success. In some areas nymphing with an indicator can be productive. 

Anglers can launch boats at the ODFW boat ramp near Dollar General, The Waterwheel Campground or the Sportsman Retreat.

Please practice the best catch-and-release methods. Do not remove the fish from the water and netting the fish and dropping or even gently laying the fish in the boat can remove slime and scales thus reducing survival. These fish are already stressed from leaving the lake.