The flows at Deckers are currently around 184 cfs, and the fishing remains excellent! Flows have eased off the higher early-summer levels but are still holding steady, keeping water temps in a good range through the mornings. Hatches of PMDs, caddis, midges, and tricos have kept both dry fly and nymph anglers busy, with trico spinner falls adding a technical wrinkle to the morning game as we move deeper into summer. As always, keep an eye on water temps on hot afternoons — give the fish a break if it climbs past 67°F.
Nymphing continues to be productive throughout the day, with caddis pupa, midges, and PMD emergers still the stars of the show. Leading with a Pat’s Rubber Legs, Pine Squirrel Leech, Brown San Juan Worm, or Blowtorch in sizes #10-14 remains a safe bet, though staying small has been key for midges, PMDs, and tricos. An RS2, Barr’s PMD Emerger, Slim Shady, or PMD Frenchie have been solid trailers behind a larger attractor nymph — and don’t be afraid to size down further once the trico spinner fall gets going.
Algae blooms tend to pick up as the water warms, so give your flies a quick rinse periodically to keep them fishing clean.
With terrestrial season kicking into gear, hoppers, beetles, and ants are becoming increasingly important, especially fished as part of a hopper-dropper rig along undercut banks and pocket water. Fish are pushing into riffles and faster runs as the water warms through the day, so work the shallow, broken water thoroughly rather than only targeting the deep pools.
Justin Nolan