Slough Creek has been a savior for many Park anglers this summer - she continues to fish pretty well, particularly in the upper meadows.

As we mentioned last week, it still amazes us how relatively few anglers will hike to the third meadows.  As is almost always the case, the further you’re willing to walk, the better the fishing.

Weather has played a huge role in Slough Creek’s status this week. On the good side, the slowly lengthening evenings, slightly cooler days, and cooler nights have really helped water temps, and we (and many others) are looking for restrictions to be lifted here before long, though we hear it may be early September.

Perhaps the biggest impact on fishing this past week has been the thunderstorm rains over the past two days - there is no flow gauge on Slough, but the Lamar and Gardner are both up this morning (and the Yellowstone is muddy in Gardner) - our bet is Slough is at best stained and at worst muddy today.  There are decent rain chances today again, then lessening next week. 

Our wishes aside, Slough Creek remains under special regulations right now - basically the creek is closed from 2 PM to 5 AM. 

The key approach at this point will still be terrestials, with ants, beetles, and hoppers all working well.  We would certainly trail a nymph (bead head) off the hopper in particular when prospecting.  Small parachutes have also been reported to be working well.

Keep in mind that as Slough, Soda Butte, and the Lamar are some of the best Park fishing right now, there’s been some pressure on these rivers, and the trout have seen a lot of flies.  Think before you cast, and make that first cast to an unfished run count.

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Flies to have in the box:

Dries:  PMDs - parachute, sparkle dun, sprout, cripple, CDC emerger, PMX - yellow, peacock, royal; Paradrake, gray, green/olive; Parachute Adams; Lime Tude; small midge emergers; Turck’s Tarantala; Fat Alberts

Nymphs:  Bubbleback PMD; BH PT; Copper John, green / chartreuse; Shop Vac; Flashback softhackle, yellow

Terrestials:  Hoppers, small to mid size, VW hopper, Chernobyl; Beetles, Fire, HiVis, Foam; Ants - Chernobyl, ParaAnt, black and cinnamon; CDC Flying Ant; Epoxy ants - black, cinnamon

Streamers / Others:  Wooly Buggers, olive / brown / black;  Girdle Bugs, small; Muddler

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