Report Date:
http://www.thetroutfitter.com/fshreport.html
Water Conditions: Good- Excellent
Flows are at 149 cfs as of 4/22
Outside of a little bit of off color coming out of Horton creek water levels are ideal
Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Good-Very Good
The water gages just came back online and our agreement that flows are up has been confirmed. They were at 180cfs but have come down even further to 149.
With the colder and windy weather the fishing has slowed down a little but still good. The BWO hatch starting times are still all over the place now, but the start is leaning more towards 12:30-1:30. This is the time to key on the riffles, ankle to knee deep. Along with the mayflies the caddis hatch is picking up and the craneflies are already showing up. Craneflies generally emerge mid to late morning but right now they're going into the early afternoon. If you're not familiar with them you can mistake them for PMDs, the back legs look like tails so look for the "knobby" head as they fly away. That of course includes midges all day long.
Those nice deep holes are pretty much empty except for the big backwaters, the fish seem to be holding there and feeding on midges. It's not just the water temperature that dictates fish activity. So far the water has remained clear but keep in mind that after rain or snow melt the river can be dirty below the Petroglyph parking (#9) from Horton Creek. If you're down below and it's dirty just move upstream until you find clean water. The old winter rule still applies, the colder the night before the further upstream you should start.
Recommended Flies
DRIES: Extended Body BWO #16-20 | Hi-Vis BWO #18-20 | Parachute Adams #16-20 | Stillborn Midge #20-22 | Giffith's Gnat #22-24 |CDC Transition midge #20-22 | Slvrmn Stillborn Caddis #16-18 |Elk Hair Skaddis #16 | Tan Stimulator #14-16
NYMPH: Pheasant Tail #14-18 | Caddis Cased #12 | Zebra Midge #18-22 | Olive Hot Spot Jig #18 | Bottom Roller Phsyco Rhyco #10-14 | Juju Baetis #16-20 | Pearl & Orange #16 | Tungsten Olive Mic Drop #16-18 | TB Millers +1 Lt #16-18 | Lexi Girdle Bug Tan/Black #6, Orange/Black #10
STREAMERS: Wooly Bugger Olive & Black #10-12 | Mini Sculpin Olive & Black #10-12