[ARCHIVE] Stillwater River Report 5/4/2020

Stillwater 5/4: Warmer weather has spiked the flows and added color. We may get a small window of clearer water to fish before runoff with a day or two of cooler weather. For wade fishing it’s best to go above the Rosebud confluence for clearer water. The river is floatable throughout although the upper river is recommended for experienced oarsmen only. March Browns have been appearing in greater numbers throughout the river. Caddis are hatching as well from mid-day on, thick in spots. Try fishing a dry/dropper setup with a smaller stimulator, jack cabe, purple haze or march brown with a caddis pupa dropper nymph. The number one March Brown dry fly pattern is Trina’s Carnage Drake March Brown in size 14. Nymphing has also been productive with everything from a girdle bug or stonefly pattern, to san juan worms and small beadheads like a red copper john, optic nerve, batman, North Fork Special, Lil’ Spanker or midge patterns taking fish. In higher, off color water fish bigger rubberleg patterns or the san juan worm. For streamer fishermen, the Grinch is always #1. In off color water try a darker body color streamer for contrast. Get out and hit it now as things are not likely to hold up once we get a sustained shot of warm weather, particularly nights, or rains set in.