Hope you all had a great Fourth of July weekend, still have all 10 fingers, and didn’t accidentally start any fires.
The Grey Reef received a bump in water recently, which is great news. We are up to 2,200 CFS. The added flow helps with water temperatures and gives the river a bit of a shuffle. Sometimes a little change is all it takes to get fish looking in different places and behaving a little differently. Clarity closer to town is still not quite back to where we’d like it, but it continues to improve. The upper sections of the river have been fishing well and are your best bet if you’re looking for cleaner water.
The trout is about what you’d expect for mid-summer. Tricos are getting things started in the mornings before transitioning into PMDs and caddis as the day goes on. With the increased flows, worms, leeches, and crayfish patterns have all been solid choices for point flies. Dry-dropper fishing has tapered off some with the higher water, but there are still opportunities for fish looking up during the right windows.
Fremont Canyon saw a significant jump in flows, peaking around 2,000 CFS before settling back down to roughly 1,300 CFS. We haven’t heard many reports from up there yet, but it’s safe to say things are going to look a little different than they did a couple weeks ago. If you’re headed that direction, be prepared for higher water and use caution.
The Miracle Mile also received a bump, moving from the 500 CFS range where it had been sitting for quite some time to just over 1,000 CFS. This could end up being a good thing. Prior to the increase, we were hearing some solid reports and seeing some very nice fish come to hand. We are still finding fish on similar summer patterns, and we’re likely on the tail end of the stonefly activity.
One quick reminder: we still have a few openings available for the Ugly Bugs and Crazy Ladies Women’s Fly Fishing Course running July 23rd through the 25th. The event includes two evenings of off-water education and wraps up with a full-day float. It’s a fun, welcoming environment for women looking to build confidence and improve their fishing skills. Give us a call if you’d like more information or want to reserve a spot.
Summer doesn’t last long around here. Before you know it, we’ll be talking about fall streamers and wondering where the warm weather went. If you’ve been thinking about getting out on the water, now is the time. We still have guide trips available and would be happy to help you put together a day on the river. Give the shop a call or, better yet, swing in and see us.
