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Metolius River

Type
Spring creek, Oregon (West)
Designation
Featured sport-fishing water
USGS gauges
1 live
Guides
2 name it
Shops
6 nearby

Today on the Metolius River

Reading the gauge…

Regulations & access Guides & shops

The Metolius River is a spring creek in Oregon, listed as Featured sport-fishing water by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

More about the Metolius River

1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife lists 4 species, including rainbow trout, whitefish and bull trout. 5 guides and 6 shops nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Bend & the Deschutes.

Updated · Sources: ODFW '50 places to go fishing' guides (Portland, Medford, Roseburg, Bend, Lane County, South Coast), Fishing Report - Central Zone | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, USGS Water Data

Mount Jefferson glowing at sunrise above the clear, quiet Metolius River and its pine forest
Photo credit

The Metolius River at sunrise with Mount Jefferson. Photo: Bonnie Moreland, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it is

Metolius River is a spring creek in Oregon. Our destination hub Bend & the Deschutes is 30 mi away in a straight line and lists it among its waters.

Flow now at the gauge
Reading the gauges…

Check any river's flow

Follow Metolius River for flow alerts

Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.

Follow this water

Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.

Where to fish

About this

Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

Oregon fishing and trout stocking maps

Metolius River on the map

About this

Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles

Map of Metolius River: gauges, shops and guides

RestroomsAccess map

Map of Metolius River with 1 USGS gauge.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles

Restrooms near Metolius River

Restrooms near Metolius River

Restrooms within 2 miles of Metolius River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.

No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.

Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.

Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.

More water near Metolius River

  • Lake Billy Chinook filling a basalt canyon, with layered rimrock cliffs along the waterFeatured sport-fishing water
    Photo credit

    Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Photo: icetsarina, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Lake Billy Chinook

    Oregon · about 6 mi

    Brown trout, bull trout & smallmouth bass

  • The lower Deschutes River winding through a deep, dry basalt canyon above MaupinFeatured sport-fishing water
    Photo credit

    The lower Deschutes River canyon above Maupin, Oregon. Photo: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Deschutes River

    Oregon · about 14 mi

    Rainbow & brown trout

  • The Crooked River flowing beneath rimrock and juniper slopes in the Chimney Rock segmentFeatured sport-fishing water
    Photo credit

    The Chimney Rock segment of the Crooked Wild and Scenic River, below Bowman Dam. Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Crooked River

    Oregon · about 19 mi

    Bull trout

  • Aerial view of Eagle Lake beyond the dry bed of Horse LakeFeatured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Haystack Reservoir
    Photo credit

    Eagle Lake, Lassen County, California, with dry Horse Lake in the foreground (aerial). Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Haystack Reservoir.

    Haystack Reservoir

    Oregon · about 19 mi

    Rainbow trout, brown trout & smallmouth bass

  • Crowley Lake below a mountain ridge of the Long Valley Caldera, under evening cloudsFeatured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Suttle Lake
    Photo credit

    Crowley Lake and the Long Valley Caldera from US 395. Photo: Clinton Steeds, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Suttle Lake.

    Suttle Lake

    Oregon · about 19 mi

    Brown trout

  • Ennis Lake partly iced over in early spring, with the snow-covered Madison Range across the waterFeatured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Benson Lake
    Photo credit

    Ennis Lake, Montana, in March, with the Madison Range beyond. Photo: Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr Not Benson Lake.

    Benson Lake

    Oregon · about 35 mi

    Largemouth bass & panfish

Regulations

About this

Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.

Official designation: Featured sport-fishing water

Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.

The water on the map

About this

Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.

Length
41 mi (40 in OR)
Drains
438 sq mi
Drop
1,039 ft · 25.4 ft/mi
Flows into
Deschutes River
Watershed
Upper Deschutes

Guides and shops near Metolius River

About this

Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.

2 guides name it on their website

Guides

All Oregon guides

6 shops nearby

All Oregon shops

How these are chosen

Guides whose own website names this water come first, nearest first. After them, fly-focused guides within 40 miles whose website does not name it. Distances are straight-line.

Shops: fly shops first. A distance is shown when the shop’s website gives its location (within 60 miles); otherwise the shop is in one of the towns within 25 miles of the water.

Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories.

Species and hatches

About this

The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.

Listed by the state agency

  • whitefish
  • redband trout

When the bugs come off

Regional hatch months: Pacific Northwest
About this chart

1 hatch charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.

  1. January: no charted hatch
  2. February: no charted hatch
  3. March: no charted hatch
  4. April: no charted hatch
  5. May: 1 charted hatch
  6. June: no charted hatch
  7. July: no charted hatch
  8. August: no charted hatch
  9. September: no charted hatch
  10. October: no charted hatch
  11. November: no charted hatch
  12. December: no charted hatch

Salmonfly (May)

Bend & the Deschutes

About this

Bend sits on the upper Deschutes River in central Oregon, with the Crooked and Metolius rivers to the north and the lower Deschutes canyon downstream toward Maupin.

Destination hub · 30 mi away in a straight line

Open the hubPlan a trip here

Fish these abroad

About this

Matched on the fish the agencies list for both waters first, then the same water type, an official designation or flagship listing on both, and a similar mapped size where USGS hydrography covers both.

At most two waters per country. A shared fish is a listing, not a promise: presence varies by reach and season.

Like the Metolius River? Same fish, overseas.

  • The clear blue-green upper Waihou River between tree ferns and weed bedsFlagship water
    Photo credit

    The upper Waihou River on the Te Waihou Walkway. Photo: DennisPeeters, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Waihou River

    Waikato, New Zealand

    Same fish: rainbow trout · also a spring creek

  • The still Krka river reflecting bare trees and blue skySpring creek
    Photo credit

    The Krka in Krka village. Photo: Ajznponar, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Krka

    Jugovzhodna Slovenija, Slovenia

    Same fish: rainbow trout · also a spring creek

  • Penstock Lagoon's open water below a shoreline of tall eucalyptsFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Penstock Lagoon, Central Highlands, Tasmania. Photo: Mike Cline, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Penstock Lagoon

    Tasmania, Australia

    Same fish: rainbow trout · both on official lists

  • Old timber pilings reflected in the still water of Great Lake, a low wooded shore beyondFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Great Lake, Tasmania. Photo: Peripitus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Yingina / Great Lake

    Tasmania, Australia

    Same fish: rainbow trout · both on official lists

  • The Tongariro River running clear over boulders between steep native bushSpring creekRepresentative photo · not Waitahanui River
    Photo credit

    The Tongariro River from the Tree Trunk Gorge track. Photo: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Waitahanui River.

    Waitahanui River

    Waikato, New Zealand

    Same fish: rainbow trout · also a spring creek

  • Lago Nahuel Huapi's blue water and wooded islands below snow-capped Andes, framed by conifersLake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago Traful
    Photo credit

    Lago Nahuel Huapi from Llao Llao. Photo: David, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Traful.

    Lago Traful

    Neuquén, Argentina

    Same fish: rainbow trout

Fish it when it's winter here

Southern seasons open while ours close.

  • Lake Taupō's blue water framed by yellow kōwhai and bush, hills across the lakeFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Lake Taupō. Photo: Ériugena, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Lake Taupō

    Waikato, New Zealand

    Season open all year · DOC

  • Arthurs Lake's blue water and low islands beyond a dead tree and highland scrubFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Penstock Lagoon
    Photo credit

    Arthurs Lake, Tasmania. Photo: Lcham67, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Penstock Lagoon.

    Penstock Lagoon

    Tasmania, Australia

    Season open Aug–May · Inland Fisheries Service

  • The clear turquoise Río Limay flowing past green willows and rock outcropsTailwater
    Photo credit

    The Río Limay, Argentina. Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Río Limay

    Río Negro, Argentina

    Season open Nov–May · Patagonian fishing regulation

  • The broad blue-green Río Puelo between forested banks, mountains beyondFreestone riverRepresentative photo · not Río Petrohué
    Photo credit

    The Río Puelo at Las Gualas, Cochamó. Photo: Nicolás from seno de reloncaví, Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Río Petrohué.

    Río Petrohué

    Los Lagos, Chile

    Season open Nov–May · SERNAPESCA

  • The Río Simpson running past the edge of Coyhaique under cliffs and hills in AysénLake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago Llanquihue
    Photo credit

    The Río Simpson passing Coyhaique, Aysén. Photo: Manxuc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Llanquihue.

    Lago Llanquihue

    Los Lagos, Chile

    Season open Nov–May · SERNAPESCA

  • Lago Nahuel Huapi seen from the outlet where the Río Limay begins, Bariloche on the far shore under the AndesLake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago Nahuel Huapi
    Photo credit

    Lago Nahuel Huapi from the source of the Río Limay, with San Carlos de Bariloche beyond. Photo: Fernando Lopez Anido, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Nahuel Huapi.

    Lago Nahuel Huapi

    Río Negro, Argentina

    Season open Oct–May · Patagonian fishing regulation

  • The braided Oreti River across green farmland, mountains on the horizonFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Mataura River
    Photo credit

    The Oreti River near Lumsden, Southland. Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not Mataura River.

    Mataura River

    Southland, New Zealand

    Season open Oct–Apr · Fish & Game NZ

  • Bronte Lagoon at dawn under a red and violet sky, a small jetty on the leftFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Yingina / Great Lake
    Photo credit

    Bronte Lagoon at dawn, Central Highlands, Tasmania. Photo: Guido Rudolph (Chalyptratus08), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Yingina / Great Lake.

    Yingina / Great Lake

    Tasmania, Australia

    Season open all year · Inland Fisheries Service

Gear checklist

About this

A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.

A woman in waders and a sun hat wades a broad river and casts, bluffs on the far bank

Big western rivers (wade fishing)

9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish

Open the checklist
Videos for this water (5)

Watch: reading a trout stream

About this

Seams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

  • How I Learned to Read Water (Fly Fishing)Embedded from YouTube · Mad River Outfitters · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • How To Read The Water with Tom RosenbauerEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • Reading the Water to Successfully Locate TroutEmbedded from YouTube · Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on reading water

Watch: nymphing basics

About this

Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

  • 90° Nymph RigEmbedded from YouTube · Huge Fly Fisherman · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • Casting with an Indicator & Better Nymphing TechniquesEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on nymphing

Fish Tales

About this

Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Metolius River.

No stories from here yet.

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Sources for this page

Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.

Something wrong?

All 14 sources and dates

A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.

Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge METOLIUS RIVER NEAR GRANDVIEW, OR. Water type is our own classification.