Report Date:
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Flows & Water Conditions- Good
Clarity-So-so below Hot Creek, but good above
CFS-70
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Fishing Report & Conditions: Good
Something to be aware of - They are starting to put cows inside the fences. This is a normal occurrence, as grazing (historically done by Deer and Antelope) is an important part of the ecosystem. They move the cows every week or so, so it can affect water clarity and the amount of drifting weeds - Be on the lookout. The drifting slime weed problem is clearing up quickly, so fishing below the Hot Creek confluences has become more pleasant.
Well, we had a cooldown, now we’ll see what the results are. Today the Tricos were still going strong but the caddis activity had tapered off. The hatches are becoming more inconsistent - Big one day and disappearing the next. The only true change is in the timing of the hatches themselves. They are now about an hour later and Craneflies and Aquatic Moths are back. Craneflies appear midmorning and the moths appear early and late. The Tricos should be winding down pretty soon, but the next mayfly hatch will probably be the BWO’s and they won’t show up until at least late September.
The crowds seem to be thinning and the dry fly action has slowed, but that doesn’t mean you have to dredge the bottom either. The tough thing is that with all of the pressure from this summer, the actively feeding fish are getting super picky. Hopper-Droppers are still working well with small #20-24 mayfly nymphs. The stocked Rainbows are now spread throughout the public water while the migratory browns are either under the cut banks or up in the private ranches. Caddis migration starts around 7 AM. The Trico emergence is less consistent now, starting around 9 AM. The Tiny BWO is becoming more abundant, hatching midday - Hence the Hopper-Dropper rig. Even the PMDs are showing up occasionally, but the caddis are the most consistent. We are also seeing minnows and fry hanging out in the drowned grass on the inside of the river bends. Evenings are good for male Tricos, Caddis hatches, and Caddis egg-laying.
Flies:
