South Fork, March 17th, 2020

Considering the times of stress reigning in the country, getting out to fly fish seems very attractive, and the South Fork is offering such an escape. Warming weather adds more to this attraction.  Boat ramps on the upper river ( Conant, Spring Creek, Huskey’s) remain a challenge to use needing ropes, chains and such for launching. But walk-in access is good especially the further downstream  you venture where snow banks diminish.  Best strategy  for action is nymphing. So your favorite nymph patterns, bead heads or not,  presented through and at the base of riffles will get you action. During nicer weather midge activity really picks up during PM hours. So with oncoming midge activity as the day passes, life cycle patterns for these become quite effective.  For sure water is cold, but “clear as a bell” even though flow out of Palisades Dam was upped to 5000 cfs  yesterday afternoon ( now 6300 cfs at Heise, 3600 cfs at Lorenzo).