Fishing Report 7/20/08

The rivers are coming to a level flow with the end of irragation and some snow melt still to come. The North Platte is currently at 578 cfs and leveling. We expect the river to slowly come down each week but the river should have no dramatic changes from here on out. Good hatches and lots of Hoppers will produce great dry fly fishing. For the rest of July and early August look for best fishing times to early and late in the day.

As for the lakes, fishing is good and our favorite summer hatches are going strong with damsels, callibaetis, and chironomids hatching daily.

SAGEBRUSH LAKES
Damsels are hatching now, with anglers reporting good success on stripping damsels toward shore as well as twitching them under an indicaor along the weedbeds.

The Callibaetis hatch is in full swing and the fish or onto them. The hatch usually occurs during mid day 10am-2pm. Nymph in the morning and if the wind stays down, throw dries during the hatch and catch the spinner fall in the afternoon. South and East lake have been producing most consistent dry fly action if the wind stays down.

During the heat of the summer fishing will slow due to high water temps. During this period we find the best fishing occurs during the night. The fish feed heavily on bugs on the surface aswell as crayfish, Minnows, and mice. If your having trouble during the day try your luck at night.
Chironomids have still been hatching like crazy throuhgout the day at all the lakes. Look for surface feeding fish in calm water. For those dry fly fishers, try small midge patterns on the surface like Griffiths Gnats or Birtchells Hatching Midge in sz. 16-20. Also throw chironomid pupa 8-12 inches below an attractor dry to fish cruising near surface.

Most chironomid success is either near surface or deeper water (6-10 feet). For deeper water suspend midges under an indicator and adjust your depth until you locate fish.

Suggested Patterns: Chironocone in Black or Red Sz. 14, Gilled Nymphs, BH Anatomical Callibaetis Nymph, Trina's Etha-Wing Callibaetis Dun, Periscope Callibaetis, Damsels Nymphs

NORTH PLATTE
Current Flows: 578 CFS
Current Water Temps: 62-66 degrees
Hatches: Drakes, PMD's, Stones, Yellow Sallies, CADDIS!


The North Platte is currently running at 578 CFS and slowly dropping. Most bug activity has been later in the day, with an intense blanket of Caddis the last hours of the evening. The river has changed a lot in the past few days, fish have really spread out, continue to focus on structure, but also as water levels drop look for the deeper runs. When the caddis start popping look to the shallower riffly areas. Hopper Dropper rigs and attractor dries and terrestrials have been the best as of late.

Patterns: Flexi-Girdle Bugs, Para-Crystal Stimulators, Stimulators, BH Poopah Tan, Birdsnest Hare's Ear, Trina's Carnage

NORTH PARK MEADOW STREAMS
The conditions are nearly ideal for all tributaries. Fish are starting to look toward the surface and will go after big ugly dries and hoppers with attractor nymphs below. Fish are still holding on the banks and cut banks. Streamers stripped off the banks into the faster water can attract the attention of some big browns. As for hatches, Caddis in the evenings, PMD's, Brown Drakes, and a handful of others are hatching right now offering some dry fly action throughout the day.

With ranchers currently shutting off irrigation flows may vary day to day with spikes and off color water in the event that a ditch is suddenly shut off.

HEADWATER STREAMS & HIGH LAKES
Big Creek is fishing good for lakers and Rainbows. We also have 2 reports of Tigers landed at Big Creek over the past week. The lake was stocked a week ago which always seems to turn on the fishing. Reports of Black and Olive Streamers trailed with smaller nymph patterns such as: sz 12 Hares Ears, PH Tails, and Scuds working well for trout.
There have been rainbows in the inlet trying to spawn but no reports of Grayling yet. We expect the grayling to move into the river within the next 2 weeks.

Want to try something new, cruise the shallows at Big Creek throwing big streamers like Chuck n' Ducks, Bunnies, Dahlberg's etc. for Tiger Muskies and Lake Trout because this is the time to get up there and have the day of a lifetime!