The flow has bumped up over the last week. There is a little color now but luckily the drainage feeding the river is north facing. It should be a while longer before the conditions really begin to change. With the water at its current level you only need to look for deeper holes that the fish can spend the winter in the bottom. There is some snowmelt coming into the river with the warmer days, this should pick up the fishing with San Juan worms. Behind your worm try dropping size 18 or 20 midges. Switch between solid greys and black colored flies to small flashy nymphs.
FLY PATTERN SUGGESTIONS
Dries: Parachute Adams 10-18; Purple Haze 12-16; Comparadun BWO 16-18-20; Griffiths Gnat 16-18-20; Low Rider Midge 18-20-22
Nymphs:Soft hackle Pheasant Tail: 16-18-20 Mega Hare’s Ear: 6-8 Mega Pheasant Tail: 6 Mega Prince: 4-6-8 Mr Rubberlegs Brown Stone: 6-8 Copper John Yellow, Blue, Red, Lime: 12-14-16 Lightning Bug Pearl, Gold, Silver: 14-16-18 Purple Berger: 14-16 Crystal PT Pearl, Rust: 14-16-18 , Wire Worm: 6
Streamers: Sparkle Minnow and articulated Sparkle Minnow; JJ colors (brown/yellow) JJ Specials Black ,Olive Sex Dungeon: 2 Black Home invader: 2 Black, Olive Dolly Llama: 2 CH Bow River Bugger Black, Brown: 2-4-6 Stinger Sculpin Tan, Olive: 4 Silvey’s Sculpin Black, Olive, Tan: 2 Flash Fry Whitefish: 2 Bling Minnow Pearl & Gold: 4
(feature photo via Big Sky Fishing)
