Water Conditions:  Poor-Fair

Flows is up to 55 cfs as of 8/26

Temperature readings:

On 8/4 at 1 pm the water temperature at the bridge was 74 degrees.

On 8/19 at 8:00 at the bridge 66 degrees

On 8/20 at 8:30 at the dam water 63 degrees

10:30 at the bridge and half way from bridge to Murphey's pond 63 degrees

2:00 same locations 71 degrees but at the dam it was 66 degrees

The big key is nighttime temperatures, but note the difference between 8/19 and 8/20. One more cold night and the temperature up by the dam stayed  cool for longer.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches

Fishing conditions and Hatches:Poor to ????

 Temperature readings are above under Water Conditions.

Things may be changing but a warming trend will put us right back where we were so I'm leaving the Doom And Gloom stuff up for now. VERY IMPORTANT TO TAKE LOTS OF TEMPERATURE READINGS, TODAY THE WATER BELOW THE BRIDGE WENT UP 8 DEGREES IN JUST OVER 2 HOURS. NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES ARE PREDICTED TO GO BACK UP INTO THE MID 40'S BY THE WEEKEND.

Fishing was decent today, a fair number of smaller fish with some big fish mixed in, definitely not great but it was good to be back on the river. No strong hatches except the Trico's, midges early, caddis scattered throughout the day and then some bigger mayflies (# 18) started emerging midafternoon. The water is off color at the dam, clearing as you go downstream.

Even with the nighttime temperatures down in the low 40's my feeling is STAY AWAY. The river might actually survive this summer and we can get back to it next year. The problem with what's going on now is with the flows this low there's very little oxygen generation. Couple that with the dirty water the fish aren't that spooky and are sluggish, leaving them as sitting ducks. At least during the winter there's plenty of oxygen and water clarity is good so if you get a fish or 2 out of a hole the rest will shut down. As the lake drops the water going into the river gets warmer and warmer and dirtier and dirtier.

Flows have gone back down and only about 10% of normal and that combined with warming water temperatures will not help the fishing.  This will be the 2nd year with limited stocking of fingerlings and a computer programing glitch which removed "barbless" from regulations on any body of water that is stocked, no matter how limited it may be.

SO, it is up to us to protect this fishery, or we can be more concerned with ego gratifying pictures and videos and watch the death spiral of a once great fishery.

Recommended Flies

           DRIES:   | Mother Shucker #22-24 | E/C Caddis #14-18 | Caddis Adult Tan #14-16 | Sparkle Flag Black #20-22 | Chernobyl Ant #12-14 | Chernobyl  org/grz  #6-8

NYMPHS: Prince Nymph #12-16| Dead Drift Crayfish #8 | Bottom Roller Psycho #10-12 | Copper Zebra #16-22 | T's Stone Drummond Light #8-10 | Tung Stud Black #18-20 |  Glass Bead Micro May Olive #22-24 | S&M Nymph #20-22  | Tungsten Jig Baetis #16-20 | TTS Opal B/L #14-18

STREAMERS: Meat Whistle | Sculpzilla | Hornberg #10-14 | Belly Scratcher Minnow Chub #2 | Bank Robber Sculpin #2 | Punk Perch Light #10-14