[ARCHIVE] Stillwater River Report 9/21/2020

Stillwater 9/21: With leaves turning, flows are still hovering in the 500cfs range; the river is bony, but still floatable in the lower sections. Although it’s slowed down a bit, hopper fishing will still continue on most afternoons as it warms up. Big dries like PMXs, Stimulators, Jack Cabe and smaller size chubbies in size (10-14) and hopper patterns like Fat Franks in peach, purple, gold, olive and tan have been working well too. Dropper nymphs have been successful with smaller size prince nymphs, pheasant tails, red copper johns, and Lil’ Spankers picking up fish. Straight nymphing with a double nymph setup of a bigger rubber leg like a girdle bug or pat’s rubber leg along with a smaller beadhead nymph like a prince, optic nerve, batman, lightning bug, pheasant tail or hare’s ear have been productive as well. On poor weather days, look for BWOs to pop. If so, fish the old reliable Purple Haze in a smaller size. Another good combination has been to fish a double dry setup with a purple haze as a lead spotter fly trailed by a size 14 Jack Cabe or stimulator.