[ARCHIVE] Stillwater River Report 06/25/18

Flows stabilized around 5000cfs after the rains, but will continue to fluctuate in response to weather patterns. While it’s still on the high side and swift, the upper river has generally been clear enough to fish. Fish the very edge seams. Nymphing continues to be 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 thinking about 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 for a while yet. Look for smaller tributaries, tail waters and lakes to fish in the meantime.