Soda Butte Creek has had a pretty tough week overall - flows are very low, the water has been very warm for this time of year (at least lower), and there’s been fair numbers of folks chasing some very wary fish.

Flows near the Lamar Ranger Station were 65 cfs this morning at 0645, with today’s average 52 cfs; this represents a huge increase in the past 24 hours due to rain run off - no doubt she’s dirty today.  From the automated rain gauge looks there’s been as mcuh as a third of an inch of rain by 0645 this morning.

The automated temperature measuring at this station has registered air temperature highs in the mid 60s this past week (except mid 70s yesterday!),  with lows ranging from the around 30.  Water temps have been much better though, peaking below 58 on most days. 

Like most of the water in these parts, we’re still thinking of the best approach to use in different kinds of weather.  The weather by the way does look a bit better for the upcoming week - cooler with some overcast and perhaps even precipitation days on tap, once the water settles back down.

Our preference (like most) would be to fish Slough on a wet, overcast, and cooler day - not only does it drive off some of the “fair weather pastels” but more importantly it brings out the BWOs, Green Drakes, and Hecubas.

On the sunnier, warmer days (like most of last week) - it’s a bit tougher of late.  Summer’s hatches are long gone, and these fish have had all sorts of hoppers thrown at them for weeks not.  Downsize your flies, and we’d probably not even fish this on a warmer day when the sun’s out.

With the water year the Park’s had, all the waters in the NE sector are running pretty low and deeper water is hard to find;  you could still think about a streamer, streamer/nymph, or double nymph set up in the deeper runs and holes, particularly on the cooler days, mornings, and evenings.

As noted above this upcoming week’s weather forecast looks better…

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Flies to have in the box:

Dries:  baetis - BWO, Blue Dun, Olive Sparkle Dun, Para-adams; Paradrake, gray, green/olive; small midge emergers; Green and Fall Drake, life cycle; your attractor package (small)

Nymphs:  WD 40, red, green; BH PT; Copper John, green / chartreuse; Micro Mayfly, olive, black; Barrs PMD emerger; small brown caddis nymphs

Terrestrials: Hoppers - Grand, tan, yellow; Dave’s; Para Hopper; Beetles - Fire, Foam, HiVis, Krystal Leg; Ants - Wilcox Glo Ant, CDC winged, epoxy, Para Ant, brown /cinnamon /black

Streamers / Others:  Woolly Buggers, olive /brown / black; Girdle Bug, small; Muddler, small

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