Not much of a change since our last report. Flow throughout is gradually dropping to seasonal normal. Mutant golden stones are active but diminishing. We need some cool, cloudy weather to get the autumn BWOs and mahogany duns going in significant numbers.
Flow throughout the river is about normal for this date. . Early AM mutant golden stone activity continues to provide best action, but being on the river at first light begins the best time to enjoy fish responding to it.
In the last week flow out of Palisades Dam has dropped from around 14000 cfs to just under 9000 cfs, ( now 10000 cfs at Heise, 5320 cfs at Lorenzo). These flow rates are at historic amounts for the river at this date and make walk-in fishing safer and open up more locations for doing so. Mutant golden stones are active early in the AM, then their activity ceases by mid day. Add fishing such as parachute adams or purple haze ( #16) blind to the list of currently effective patterns for the river
Flow out of Palisades Dam was reduced to 10800 cfs (now11700 cfs at Heise, 6940 cfs at Lorenzo. ) yesterday. This brings the river closer to safer walk-in wading conditions where normal flow out of the dam for this date is about 8800 cfs. Fish the river early in the day to enjoy the mutant golden stone activity. Otherwise terrestrial insect patterns with and without a bead head nymph dropper seems to work well up and down the river. Later in the day,switch to caddis life cycle patterns and also enjoy the reduced boat traffic during evening hours..
Flow has remained consistent for several days ( 13800 cfs at Irwin, 14500 cfs at Heise, 9580 cfs at Lorenzo ). Normal flow at Irwin for this date is about 8700 cfs. Palisades Reservoir is at 39% of capacity and not filling as fast as outflow. Mutant golden stone flies are out, and that decides using their life cycle patterns for early in the day, Hopper-dropper patterns remain effective, while caddis fly life cycle patterns work best later in the day
Flow out of Palisades dam and the entire river below has been essentially constant for many days but above normal for the time of the season. With Palisades Reservoir approaching one-third of storage capacity current flow will eventually drop. We’re still waiting for the mutant golden stones to be significant. Meanwhile two nymph rigs, hopper-dropper combos and caddis life cycle patterns during PM hours produce up and down the river. Try riffles during the evening when overhead disturbances from passing boats diminishes.
No reports of significant mutant golden stones appearing yet. Palisades Reservoir is at 39% of capacity, and with uncertainty in what next winter will bring for snowfall, water managers are looking at starting storage. That means flow ( now 13600 cfs at Irwin, 14200 cfs at Heise 8910 cfs at Lorenzo ) in the river is certain to fall to normal soon. Normal flow for this date at Irwin is about 9000 cfs.
Flow out of Palisades Dam is being gradually reduced ( now 13800 cfs at Irwin, 14300 cfs at Heise, 9740 cfs at Lorenzo) as irrigation needs wind down. Storage for next year’s irrigation season is on water manager’s minds. Normal flow for this date at Irwin is around 9800 cfs. Use tactics we suggested in our August 7th fishing report. No significant mutant golden stone appearances to date
With Palisades Reservoir a bit more than half full (54%) and no real knowledge of what kind of winter is coming up, flow has been scaled back in the river below Palisades Dam ( now about 14600 cfs at Irwin, 14900 cfs at Heise,10400 cfs at Lorenzo). More reductions will come as we move away from the irrigation season. These actions have no big impact on fishing, but a few strategy changes may help success. For example, spend more time fishing seams,.ie. where channels converge or just below islands. Use such as rubber leg, super renegade or super-X patterns at these places. For sure mayflies are active and will offer good fishing for weeks to come. Terrestrial insect populations are near their peaks and trout know it. So good things are happening on the river.
Flow is down a bit to 15800 cfs at Irwin and should drop more. Streamers have been producing, moving away from big dries throughout the river. Nymphing drop-offs is good strategy. Look for hoppers and other terrestrial insect patterns to become increasingly effective