Low Water But The Fishing Is Fine 3,000,000 Gallons A Day Now

[timsfly]

I talked to the hatchery just last monday, and the spring is only running about 3,000,000 gallons a day, not much when you consider the average flow is 22,000,000 a day, come on rain, we need you now. Water is still low and clear, very good dry fly fishing the past few weekends, especially when temps get up into the high 30's and low 40's. Blue wing olives, caddis and there is midge activity everyday, I'm using BWO's and caddis as small as 20's, but you can usually get by with a #18, I'm using a lot of parachute BWO's and Adams, I can just see them better. Renegades, griffiths gnats, small humpys, and I'm still catching a few on Crackle backs, but I'm fishing them just under the surface most of the time, stripping them back. Leeches, woolybuggers, and marabou streamers are still catching a good number of trout, I am still using the chamois worm and doing very well, as well as an peach, and or an orange san juan worm. Buggers in olive and black are working for me most days, I've had some luck on red, and I'm still catching a few on brown, same with the leeches. Small micro eggs are as effective as always, sight fished or fished under an indicator, they will work most of the time. Black, brow, and small olive zebra midges have been working very well, fished two at a time on a 7X leader and tippet, these little flies will work most days fished in the riffles the are very effective. 7X tippet is what I'm using most days especially on dries, but I'm still using 6X fluorocarbon on most of my nymphs, and streamers, a 9' leader will work best right now, if you can throw a 12' leader then by all means do it, it will only help with getting a good drift. Lots of eagles in the park and you can get pretty close to them sometimes while fishing, so keep the camera ready. Water is clear, and most of the trout you'll catch right now will be 12"-16" and there are enough 4 and 5 lb trout around to keep in interesting, so if you have a nice little light rod, 1-3 weight, now is a great time to get it out and have some fun, most of your casts right now will be 30 feet and shorter, have a great week on the water.

[Flysmallie]

Lots of eagles in the park and you can get pretty close to them sometimes while fishing, so keep the camera ready.

Here's one from Sunday. There were at least 4 hanging around the lower section all morning but every time I would get close to one they would bolt just as I was focusing.

[mic]

Awesome pic.

[Wornica]

Great report and pic! Thanks!

[timsfly]

A customer took this pic a couple of weeks ago