Fishing Report 12-14-09

[Zack Hoyt]

Generation has been sporadic, but there is some low water wading at some point during the day. During periods of low water, try swinging small soft hackles (sizes 14-18) or stripping small streamers such as wooley buggers, .56ers, slump busters or sparrows (sizes 8-12). Also, try nymphing with small scuds, sowbugs, pheasant tails and zebra midges (sizes 14 - 20) using 6x or 7x tippet with a 9 to 12 foot leader. Use as small an indicator as possible in natural colors like white, blue or black to spook fewer fish. During periods of high water, drift fishing from a boat is the best option. Try high water nymph tactics with larger flies such as San Juan worms, scuds, sow bugs, zebra midges and pheasant tails (sizes 12 - 16). Concentrate your drifts along the slower current seams along channel banks and drop offs. Also, try high water streamer fishing using type 4 or 5 sink-tips or full sinking lines. Vary your retrieve as you fish to find what the fish want. Wooley buggers, slump busters and zonkers (sizes 4 - 10) are patterns to try here.