Soda Butte Creek has had a another challenging week - flows are back to the low levels typical of this season,  and there’s still been fair numbers of folks chasing some very wary fish.

Flows near the Lamar Ranger Station were 39 cfs this morning at 0645, with today’s average 49 cfs.  Flows have dropped back down to the low levels we’ve seen all year after last week’s rains; the storm this weekend has dropped only 0.08 inch of rain by the automated gauge (Tower station).

The automated temperature measuring at this station registered air temperature highs in the mid 60s this past week on the 27th and 28th, and a high in the low 50s yesterday.  Lows on the 27th and 28th were in the mid 20s, so those terrestrials will have taken a hit.

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 - at least some overcast and rain for the first half anyway.

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 sports” but more importantly it brings out the BWOs, Green Drakes, and Hecubas.  These BWOs look a size or two larger than on the Firehole to us (18-22 range).

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.  Terrestrials are about done, and while we’d probably not even fish this on a warmer day when the sun’s out - the Madison River Outfitters report says that beetles have been working over here still.

With the water year the Park’s had, all the waters in the NE sector are running  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, Comparadun, 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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