Wet and Wild September is here! This week we saw some rainstorms and variable conditions and fishing matched these variable conditions, but some great fishing was achievable if you could crack the code from day to day. Size #16 Olive Caddis have been throughout the River in the afternoon to evening and the fish have started eating the Caddis Pupa early and throughout the day. Tricos have also been making a glorious appearance early in the morning and are a great option if you can see your Fly (and even if you can’t sometimes that’s better)! Ants are still strong on the River even with variable light conditions this week. Finding the right color of Ant has been the tricky part, Cinnamon seemed to be the most consistent this past week, subject to change next week! We have also experienced some October Caddis pattern colors working in Nymphs and Dries. It is always good to experiment. That is why we call this fishing!
Streamflows this week started at 1,120cfs@Kirby and 1,350cfs@Cameron and dropped midweek to 1,070cfs@Kirby and 1,210cfs@Cameron. We are looking great flow wise, Hebgen is full and is providing all the great cool water we need to navigate our waterways into the Big Fish Fall Season. Streamers have started to slowly turn on at the end of this week and Oh! Boy! are we all excited! Smaller light colored and Olive Streamers have been best.
Nymphing has been a solid option; Small Stoneflies #10-#12 or Wire Worm trailing a Caddis Pupa or Perdigon or Jig Hook style pattern. Targeting deeper runs when the sun is high and moving towards the banks as the sun moves down has been effective.
Dries: Delektable Lil’ Chubby UV Cinnamon, UV Pink, Royal or 2 Tone UV Black #14-#18, Etha Wing Caddis Olive #16; Delektable Mega2Tone Chubbyness UV Goldrush or Goldenstone #12; Micro Water Walker Pink or Peanut #14-#16; Elk Hair Caddis Royal #16; Delektable CDC Elk Hair Caddis Purple, Olive or Holo Olive #14-#16; Delektable Halo Royal, Mo River or Purple #14-#18; Delektable Lil’ Secret UV Caddis Green, Royal, Goldrush or UV Pink #16-#18; Craven’s Fat Angie Ant Gold/Cinnamon #16; Delektable Flying Ant Cinnamon, Purple or Red #16-#18; Bloom’s Stealth Ant Purple #16-#18; Thunder Thighs Hopper Peach or Yellow #10-#14; More-Or-Less Hopper Purple, Yellow or Peach #10-#12.
Nymphs: RS2 Black or Grey #18-#20; Delektable Guide Stone Olive/Brown, Black or Black/Brown #10; Delektable Lil’ Spanker Red, PT, Silver or Blue #16-#18; Delektable Hammerhead GTBH PT, Prince, Hare’s Ear or UV Purple #16-#18; Tungsten BH Jiggy Frenchie #16-#18; Formerly Known as Prince #14-#18; Delektable JH Tungsten Spanker Holo Red, PT, Holo Silver or Holo Black #16-#18; Wire Worm Red or Orange/Red #4-#8; Delektable Prince Brandon #14-#18; Geppert’s Mega Emerger #16-#18; Geppert’s Master Emerger #16-#18; Pat’s Rubberlegs Black, Brown/Black, or Olive/Brown #8-#10; BH Lightning Bug Gold, Pearl, or Silver #14-#16; Geppert’s Skinny Dip Black, Brown, or Crystal #14-#16; BH Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #14-#18; Hare’s Ear Caddis Sparkle Emerger #16-#18.
Streamers: Delektable SS Jointed Screamer Olive/White, Black, White; Delektable Double Screamer Olive, Black, Olive/Black in Gold, or White; Delektable Single Screamer Black, Olive/White, Olive/Black, White or Olive #6; McCune’s Sculpin Olive or Tan #4-#6; Zonkers Dark Olive, Tan, or Natural #8; Trevor’s Sculpin Olive, Black, or Natural #4; Dali Llama Olive/White or Black/Olive #6; Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6; Conehead Zuddler Olive #6- #8; Sculpzilla Black, Olive or Natural #8; Mini Loop Sculpin Olive or Natural #6; Mini Sculpin Black #10; JR’s Conehead Streamer Olive or Natural #6.
