A whole lot of recent rain has our rivers high and muddy at the moment. Luckily, the rain, in combination with the stretch of colder weather, has dropped the water temperatures significantly and has allowed a lot of the lower reaches of the bigger water to be able to fished throughout the entire day. The rain will be important with the next stretch of warm weather we’re supposed to be seeing, as it should help to extend our trout fishing season through the warm weather we often see during the end of August and first week of September. 

Dry fly fishing will be on hold for the moment (with some exceptions in some of the higher elevation water) until things start to clear up.  I’ve seen a fair number of larger stonefly husks on streamside rocks -- patterns such as Pat's Rubber Legs and Straggle Stones could potentially be successful. I’ve also seen sporadic hatching of some pale evening duns and caddis in the evenings. Nymph rigs with both a heavier larger fly on the point ( Squirmy, Mop, Stonefly, big heavy Mayfly) and then a smaller natural pattern (Pheasant tail, hares ear, caddis pupa) in sizes 14-18 is a good way to both target pickier summer-time fish and be able to draw attention to your flies with the more turbid conditions. Streamer fishing should be good, and without knowing when the next shot of rain and higher, muddier water will be, if you like to throw streamers this will be the time to do so before the water drops down and clears up again. Bigger articulated patterns in dark colors stripped as well as smaller streamers fished with a jigging technique would both be strategies I recommend to target the deeper pools and slower runs. You may be able to find some of the larger browns that have been more timid since the spring with these current conditions in some of the larger tributaries and if not targeting brookies in the smaller mountain streams you should be successful.

We have a full selection of flies, tippet, and leaders  in the shop so feel free to come by to pick up any gear you need or to ask any further questions (or give advice)!

Tight lines and good luck out there,

Jake