Just a reminder Rainbows are spawning, so watch your step!
With the fluctuation in the river levels, the past week has been a bit of grind. The BWO’s are still heatching and we are starting to see some Caddis hatches, but they fish don't seem to be looking up yet. Skwala’s are still hatching and fishing the nymph forms of those bugs has also been productive. If you are willing to streamer fish and pull rock snot off your fly every other cast, you have a chance of running into some big predatory browns right now. We have had lots of reports of Rainbow trout on Redds, so be mindful where you are walking, keep an eye out for round spots of gravel that are clean compared to the rest of the stream. If you see spawning fish I urge you to leave them be.
How to attack the river:
- Deflections pools close to shore
- Slow seams and inside bends
- Tailouts below riffles
- Baetis and Blue Winged Olives (sizes 14-18)
- Caddis Nmphs (size 12-16)
- San Juan Worms
- Small leeches
- Bloodworms
- Black Copper John
- Blue Winged Olive adults or emegers
- Caddis adults (size 12-16)
Things to remember no matter the fishing technique:
- Use sink tips or heavily weighted flies
- Focus on deep bends, structure, and winter holding water
- Slow, deliberate retrieves are key
Safety Considerations:
- Dress appropriately for it may not be cold weather wise, but prolonged wading can wear on you.
- Don't forget to wear sun protection at this time of year, though it may not always be hot you can still burn easily being out all day.
