South Fork, August 12th, 2023

Let’s not deny him a share of fish

We try to keep up to date on this river because of its popularity and what it offers to fly fishers this time of the season. Flows have been reduced a bit, much to the joy of walk-in wade anglers ( 7900 cfs at Irwin, 8100 cfs at Heise, 3400 cfs at Lorenzo). Water is in great shape being clear and cool. Morning mutant golden stone activity is moving up the river to provide interesting top water fishing. Mid-days are the time to run errands, photography, observe wildlife, or having a great lunch in a nearby “watering hole.” If you must fish during mid-days, nymphs from rubber leg patterns down to the array of small beaded or beadless patterns presented close to overhead cover can produce. PMDs and afternoon caddis are active, and pink alberts are making an appearance. As soon as waters have warmed by early PM, terrestrial patterns will become most effective, especially under windy conditions, for trout foraging vegetated banks. Streamers presented during evenings can fool that big brown trout searching for minnows during the increased overhead cover. So the river now offers some of everything for the fly fisher to try, and that variety and determining what food item to simulate at a given time makes for interesting fishing few other streams can match!