[ARCHIVE] Stillwater River Report 7/08/19

The Stillwater stabilized and has started to drop. The lower river is still on the high side with some off color due to the rain. The upper river has been clear and dropping. Fish have started to hit the big dry flies like a Chubby, PMX, Jack Cabe or Stimulator with a beadhead nymph dropper in the softer inside water. Beadhead patterns like a prince nymph, red copper john, Lil’ Spanker, hare’s ear, batman or flashback pheasant tail have been good droppers nymphs. PMDs have started to show up by midafternoon and will hit a smaller size Purple Haze. Salmon flies were active on the upper river from Nye to Cliff Swallow over the Fourth of July weekend and a big foam Salmon Fly pattern fished to the banks was steadily producing. It’s hard to predict how long they’ll be coming off. Look for the fishing to really take off once flows get to 3000cfs or less.