The water at Deckers has dropped down below 100cfs and the fish can certainly feel it! With the river sitting at 77cfs and as clear as can be you need to bring the stealth game if you want to have a productive day. The fish have pushed out of the skinny runs and riffles and are hunkered down in the deeper pools. The silver lining is when you find one fish the chances are good you have found a few! Make sure you are prepared with long leaders and light indicator setups.
The bug life has stayed solid in the low water. The mornings are starting to cool down quick and the midges are coming off thick if you don’t mind bundling up and throwing TINY bugs. Our guides have been having luck with Matt’s Midge, Griffith Gnats and Renegades for a lead and #22-24 Cream Midges and Black Thread Body Midges as a dropper. Once the sun pokes out and things warm up small baetis patterns have been ruling the late morning and afternoon. Make sure to stock up on #20-24 Jujubaetis, Element Baetis, and CDC Rs2 in darker colors like brown, grey, and olive.
For those of you who are still looking to take advantage of the last part of hopper season don’t let me talk you out of it! I would recommend adding length to your leader and to the space between your hopper pattern and your dropper. With these fish hanging out in deeper water a heavy tungsten baetis pattern dropped 2-3 feet behind your big bug should do the trick! We have been having luck on Tungsten Rs2s in grey and olive as well as Tungsten Quill Body Baetis.
With the recent drop in flows we haven’t seen much love on the streamer as of late but keep an eye on the water and keep the streamer boxes at the ready.
EARLY REMINDER; as we settle into Fall make sure you are mindful of the Brown trout staging and spawning in the coming months. Keep your eyes open and avoid walking over Redds. If you see a big fish on a Redd LEAVE THEM BE. Let’s all do our part to keep our home water healthy!
Tyler Banker