Oregon ·
Owyhee River Fly Fishing Report - September 6, 2026
OWYHEE RIVER
ReportSEP 6 — 13, 2026
🌊
Flow
72CFS
OWYHEE RIVER NR ROME OR
🌡️
Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-09-06
☀️
Weather
40–72°F
Mostly Clear
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 72.3 cfs with a gauge height of 1.29 ft — up slightly from last week's 58 cfs but still gin-clear and low, demanding long, fine leaders and precise drag-free drifts. A chance of afternoon thunderstorms today (30%) could trigger a brief feeding flurry before the front moves through; expect a cleaner, cooler day on Labor Day.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
22
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
20
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
22
Top Secret Baetis #16
16
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
20
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
16
Bionic Hopper - Tan #12
12
Egan's Silver Bullet - Baetis #14
14
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
20
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
18
Barr's Flashback Emerger - BWO #22
22
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midges | 20-24 | Heavy | 7 AM - 10 AM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| PMD (Pale Morning Dun) | 18-20 | Light | 5 PM - 7 PM |
| Mahogany Dun | 14-16 | Moderate | 1 PM - 4 PM |
| Terrestrials (Ants & Hoppers) | 12-16 | Moderate | 10 AM - 3 PM |
| Crane Fly | 10-12 | Light | 6 PM - 8 PM |
Best Time Window
- 6:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Prime midge and early Baetis window — fish slow pools and tailouts with small nymphs and emergers before the sun fully lights the canyon.
- 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Terrestrial prime time — work hopper and ant patterns tight to grassy banks as the canyon walls warm and insects become active.
- 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Mahogany Dun and pre-storm BWO window — watch for rising fish in the flats and be ready to switch to dry flies quickly if the afternoon front triggers a hatch.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 72 cfs and gin-clear water, stealth is everything on the Owyhee today — approach every run from downstream, stay low, and keep your shadow off the water. Fish a 12-14 ft leader tapered to 6X or even 7X tippet for your dry flies, and don't be afraid to go to 5X for your nymphs in the deeper slots where visibility is reduced. Watch the sky this afternoon: the 30% chance of thunderstorms after 3 PM can trigger a phenomenal BWO and midge flurry just before the front arrives — be on the water and ready with a size 22 Parachute BWO or Blowtorch in the film. Labor Day looks sunny and cooler at 68°F, which should make for excellent all-day nymphing and a strong afternoon Mahogany Dun hatch.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
