McKenzie River trip report

[rylcrawford]

Spent a few days up in McKenzie Bridge, OR in late July and finally getting around to sharing a report. The wife and I stayed in a great cabin on the upper McKenzie, Cedarwood Lodges. Absolutely fantastic cabins for rent at very reasonable rates. One of the most beautiful rivers I've seen.

Took the wife out on a guide trip with Jim Straight (via Helfrich Outfitters) and couldn't have been more pleased! Jim is a fantastic guide, great guy and accomodated both myself (average fly fisherman) as well as my wife (beginner). The famous McKenzie River drift boat is absolutely a must-do if you're taking the wife out, as both anglers sit up front along a bench style seat. You fish downstream, one angler with a streamer and the other on top with dries. Fantastic day all around. Plenty of fish for both of us and a nice mix of native rainbows and a few cutts. The fish were aggressively taking dries all day in acrobatic fashion. Here are a few photos: