Forest Service Visitor Center Info (760) 924-5500

Water Conditions:
The water is clear and cool. Most of the river is fishing about normal for August. Many of the deep holes have become small and most of the fish are tucking themselves under the branches along side the river.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:
Starkweather lake is fishing a lot better than the river right now, so try fishing dry's in the evening for rising fish. On the river, you should plan on doing some serious walking. The water is very thin and the fish are either down in the scattered deep pools, or very easily spooked in the thin water.
The mandatory shuttle is no longer running so you can drive your vehicle any time of the day. The road will close in early October or the first snow, whichever comes first.
There are still some impressive stone flys as well as mayflys. The mayflys are a size 18 adult and can be white or light green. Make sure and look under some rocks in the riffles, pretty cool!

Recommended Flies:
A size #18 stimulator should pick up fish all day. Sporadic large Drakes, Large light colored Caddis and lots of small midges.
Dries: #10-14 Yellow and Orange Stimulators, #12 yellow or orange Humpy's, #12-18 Elk Hair Caddis, #12-18 Royal Wulff's, #12-18 Parachute Adams, black ant patterns and #16-18 PMD and light Cahill.
Nymphs: #18 zebra midges, #18 PT's, #18 Micro Mayflies, #14-16 Barr's PMD Emergers, #16 Black AP nymphs, Mercer's Stonefly Nymphs, #16-18 Caddis pupa,#16-18 Beck's sulpher emerger
Guide's Hint: If you are getting fish rising on your fly but you keep missing them, they really aren't eating it, just bumping it, (a refusal). When this happens, switch to a smaller fly.