Spring has sprung in the Eagle Valley, and the Eagle is fishing incredibly well right now! Flows are around 150 cfs, and the entire river is ice-free due to the unseasonably warm winter and start to spring.  Midges and BWOs are coming off in strong numbers, providing some great dry fly fishing in the afternoons. That being said, nymphing has remained productive throughout the day with small BWO and midge nymphs bringing fish to the net all day long; Chocolate Thunders, Zebra Midges, Black Beautys, RS-2s, Macgrubers, and Olive Perdigons in a #18-24 are all solid options right now.  Junk flies have also been productive as a lead, with Squirmy Worms, Eggs, Pine Squirrel Leeches, or a Pat’s Rubber Legs in a #10-16 also fishing well.

The dry fly fishing is really starting to pick up, and surface activity has been awesome for the last several weeks. Abundant midge and BWO hatches have been coming off mid-day, and continuing throughout the afternoon. Griffith’s Gnats, Parachute Adams, Vis-a-duns, and Mole flies in #18-22 have been the most productive dry flies as of late. Dropping a small midge or BWO emerger behind the dry has also been productive if surface activity starts to dwindle a bit. 

Streamer fishing continues to be pretty good throughout the day, with double articulated or single hook streamers producing fish. Rusty Trombones, Goldies, Dungeons, Slumpbusters, and Poachers are all solid choices right now. Try fishing low and slow, and target deep pools and runs for best results.