Soda Butte is still fishing, though we are well underway into the fall / early winter fishing transition.  Don’t plan on fishing the upper end of the river too much – most of the fish that we in those waters have moved downstream in preparation for winter.  Maybe the fish are onto something… could it be possible we will have another big winter?

Mr. Beaver living on the SB is probably ready for winter - you need to make sure you are too this weekend.  It’s cold and snowing in much of the Park (we’re getting pounded here in Bozeman this morning).  Travel will be interesting, and wind chills will be in the 20’s at best for the next few days, and probably quite a bit lower.  Be prepared.

By far the best fishing on Soda Butte is to be found during the baetis hatches in the early afternoons.  Drakes are still coming off in the early afternoons as well, thought not with the frequency or intensity of the baetis.  Small Attractors and Emergers are also a safe bet for these waters.  Nymphing is certainly fair game, as is working streamers through the deeper runs. 

The burst of cold weather the region is currently experiencing will very likely be the end of Terrestrials for the season, but the fish should still be looking for them for a little while (we’ll leave ‘em on the list for another week).  Try a Hopper-dropper combo, or and Ant or Beetle.  You just never know what will happen.  Break out the wind-proof fleece, a warm hat, and warm gloves and make your way down to the Soda Butte.

Flows today (0600) are 49 cfs, with today’s average 48 cfs at the Lamar Ranger Station.  Time to start watching water temps again; Soda Butte and Slough are going to cool faster than the Lamar in this weather. 

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Flies to Have in the Box

Dries:  baetis - BWO, Blue Dun, Olive Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, Fall baetis Sparkle Dun, Para-Adams; Drakes - Paradrake, gray, green, olive, life cycle; Parachute Adams; Midges and small midge emergers; 

Nymphs:  Bubbleback PMD; BH & FB PT; Copper John, green, red, chartreuse; Shop Vac; Flashback soft hackle, yellow; HE assortment

Streamers / Others:  Woolly Buggers, brown, black, olive, blue; Sparkle Buggers, same - note overall they should be on the smaller side

Terrestrials:  Hoppers (smaller), ants, beetles, bees

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