Chewaucan River Oregon Hatch Chart
South-central Oregon. A high-desert stream draining the Warner Valley into Lake Abert, with the upper river running through ponderosa and meadow country above Paisley. Mostly wild redband trout with some brown trout in the lower reaches.
Fishing is best from late spring through early fall. The upper river fishes well after runoff clears, typically June. Meadow sections hold fish in undercut banks and slower bends — approach low and slow. The lower river can warm significantly by midsummer.
Confirm current ODFW regulations before you go. Stretches of the river cross private land; verify access before wading.
Shop by type: dry flies, nymphs, Euro nymphs, hoppers and terrestrials, streamers.
Year at a glance
| Month | Primary hatches | Also carry | Typical sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Midges | Small BWO on mild days | 18-22 |
| Feb | Midges, BWO | Small stonefly nymphs | 16-22 |
| Mar | BWO, early Skwala | Midges | 14-20, Skwala 8-12 |
| Apr | BWO, March Brown, Skwala | Early caddis | 12-18 |
| May | Caddis, stonefly nymphs | BWO | Caddis 14-16, stones 6-10 |
| Jun | Caddis, PMD, golden stone | Yellow sally | Stones 6-10, PMD 16-18 |
| Jul | PMD, caddis, hoppers | Yellow sally, ants | 14-18, hopper 8-12 |
| Aug | Hoppers, ants, beetles | Caddis evenings, late PMD | Hopper 8-12, ant 14-16 |
| Sep | Hoppers, BWO, October caddis | Ants, streamers | 10-18, BWO 18-20 |
| Oct | October caddis, BWO | Midges | Caddis 8-12, BWO 18-22 |
| Nov | BWO, midges | Small streamers | 18-22 |
| Dec | Midges | Small nymphs | 18-22 |
January
Low flows and cold water. Most fish are holding in deeper slots. Midge fishing can be surprisingly good on calm, mild afternoons.
- Midges - 18-22. A zebra midge or small Euro nymph in a two-fly rig.
February
Olives begin to show on overcast afternoons. Midge clusters draw fish to the surface when air temps allow.
- Midges and BWO on gray days.
- Pheasant tail nymphs subsurface.
March
Olives pick up. Skwala stoneflies start crawling in the warmer meadow reaches when water temperatures climb out of the low 40s.
- BWO - 16-20. Dry and Barr's Baetis emerger.
- Skwala - 8-12. Rubber-leg nymph along banks, Stimulator-style dry in the afternoon. See nymphs and dry flies.
April
Runoff can push flows and color the water. Fish clear edges and tributary mouths.
- BWO and March Brown on cloudy days.
- Skwala still works on the first warm bank water.
- Early dark caddis.
May
Caddis build toward the main event. Stonefly nymphs are moving. The meadow sections start fishing well as flows drop and clear.
- Caddis - 14-16. Elk hair caddis and the caddis assortment.
- Stonefly nymphs 6-10 from nymphs.
- BWO on gray afternoons.
June
Prime time on the upper river once it clears. Caddis and PMDs overlap with golden stones in faster water. Meadow fish are active and visible.
- Golden stone - 6-10. Stimulator or similar dry along banks. Stone nymph as a dropper.
- PMD - 16-18. Pale Morning Dun with a pheasant tail dropper.
- Evening caddis.
July
The dry-fly window is best in morning and evening. Midday heat moves fish to shaded undercuts and deeper bends. The lower river can get warm — focus on the upper.
- PMD mornings.
- Yellow sally in riffles - small yellow dry.
- Hoppers along grass and willow banks — hoppers and terrestrials.
- Caddis evenings. Elk hair.
August
Terrestrial fishing takes over. Banks and foam lines are everything. Fish early and late.
- Hoppers, ants, beetles - hoppers and terrestrials. Hopper-dropper with a small nymph underneath.
- Evening caddis.
- Late PMD on cool mornings.
September
Nights cool, fish feed longer into the morning. Terrestrials stay productive. Fall olives and October caddis begin.
- Hoppers and ants until frost.
- BWO - parachute BWO and the Baetis emerger.
- Early October caddis - large orange caddis dry, 8-12.
October
Some of the best dry-fly fishing of the year. Large October caddis in the afternoons. Olives on gray days. Crowds are gone.
- October caddis and BWO.
- Midges in slow tails and pools.
- Streamers in deeper slots at last light.
November
Short days, cold mornings. Fish the warmest part of the afternoon.
December
Midge and nymph program. Low, clear water — fish are spooky. Fine tippet and small flies.
- Zebra midge and small nymphs.
A western dry and nymph assortment covers most of the year. Add hoppers, a few October caddis, and extra olives for fall.