Oregon ·
Owyhee River Fly Fishing Report - September 20, 2026
OWYHEE RIVER
ReportSEP 20 — 27, 2026
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Flow
56CFS
OWYHEE RIVER NR ROME OR
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-09-20
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Weather
45–82°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 55.6 cfs with a gauge height of 1.23 ft — down from last week's 75 cfs and gin-clear, demanding stealthy approaches, long fine tippet, and drag-free drifts. Sunny skies and a high near 80°F will push midday surface activity, but the best dry-fly windows will bookend the heat.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
#22-24
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
#20
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Stealth Link Mercer - PMD #20
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Olsen's Quilldigon - Olive - Barbless #22 - 24
#22-24
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
#18
Egan's CDC Rainbow Warrior #22
#22
Egan's Silver Bullet - Baetis #14
#14
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
#20
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge (Adult & Emerger) | 22-24 | Heavy | 7 AM - 10 AM |
| PMD (Dun & Spinner) | 18-20 | Moderate | 11 AM - 3 PM |
| PMD Emerger | 18-20 | Moderate | 10 AM - 1 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive | 20-22 | Light | 4 PM - 6 PM |
| Terrestrial (Ant) | 16 | Light | 12 PM - 4 PM |
Best Time Window
- 6:30 AM - 10 AM: Early midge and PMD spinner fall on glassy flats; fish are actively rising and the cool air keeps them in the film.
- 10 AM - 1 PM: PMD dun and emerger activity peaks; target tail-outs and seams with subsurface emerger patterns before switching to dries when fish show.
- 5 PM - Dusk: Late-afternoon BWO trickle and terrestrial action along shaded banks; the dropping light and cooling temps bring the biggest browns back to the surface.
Guide's Tip
From the benchAt 55.6 cfs the Owyhee is running low and almost certainly gin-clear — your approach matters more than your fly selection. Stay low, move slowly, and wade only when you must; polarized glasses will help you spot and stalk individual fish rather than blind-casting. Use 5X or 6X fluorocarbon tippet and leaders in the 12–14 foot range to keep your fly line well away from rising fish. During the PMD window, position yourself downstream and to the side of a rising brown, make a reach cast upstream, and mend immediately to buy yourself a full drag-free drift through the fish's feeding lane.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
