[ARCHIVE] Stillwater River Report 06/11/18

Flows have been fluctuating in response to weather patterns. When the river is on the drop, although still on the high side and swift, the upper river has generally been clear enough to fish. Fish the very edge seams. Nymphing is likely the best option, with black, brown and coffee colored rubber leg patterns like girdle bugs and Pat’s rubber legs, or a san juan worm as well as similar colored stonefly patterns along with a beadhead trailer fly like a prince nymph, hare’s ear, batman or pheasant tail. In off-color water, use a color contrast of darker color patterns like black buggers or the Grinch either dead drifted or stripped. It’s also time to start fishing big dry flies like a Chubby or PMX with a beadhad nymph dropper in the softer inside water. The river will likely continue to fluctuate in response to temperatures and rain events. Look for smaller tributaries, tail waters and lakes to fish in the meantime.