[ARCHIVE] Stillwater River Report 04/08/19

With rain, snow and temperature fluctuations this week, look for a bump in flows and some off-color water. If the lower river is a little off color, consider wade fishing the upper river or fish some of the tributaries.. The water temperature is still cold, but as the day warms up and sun gets on the water fishing should pick up. Look for midges to be coming off as well as BWOs. March Browns shouldn’t be too far off from coming off, so fishing basic mayfly nymphs like pheasant tails, hare’s ear, and copper johns is a good option. The streamer bite has been pretty fair fishing the Grinch or black buggers. If nymphing the off-color water, try black, brown and coffee colored rubber leg patterns like girdle bugs and Pat’s rubber legs, as well as similar colored stonefly patterns along with a beadhead trailer fly like a prince nymph, hare’s ear, batman or pheasant tail. A good old San Juan Worm is an option too. For dry fly action to rising fish, try a smaller size Purple Haze, Parachute Adams or a Griffith’s Gnat. A larger size Purple Haze or Parachute Adams with a Zebra Midge or pheasant tail on a short dropper is a good tactic too. Spawning rainbows are starting to make their way upriver.