The Gibbon River’s status has improved measurably again this past week- flows are still scraping the bottom of the barrel, but it’s definitely getting better.

Flows remain quite low, today’s flow reading near Madison Junction was 71 cfs at 0600, with today’s average flow 94 cfs.  This flow represents a new record low for today (the previous record set in 2004 on this day at 88 cfs).

Water temps on the lower Gibbon have finally cooled off and are in the safe range - we’ll no longer need to follow this with you.

If we were going to work the Gibbon today - we’d probably drag a small olive, brown, or even black woolly bugger through the deeper runs - you’ll need to walk a bit, but it should work. Hang a small mayfly nymph (FBPT or HE) off the back of Mr. streamer.  Soft hackles are working all over the place fished down and across.  The browns are moving up, and as we reported last week you’re going to see some in the lower river, though still not in great numbers.

On the more favorable days there are still some BWOs coming off, not river wide, as well as some caddis late.

Our pocket water loving buddy was back at it over the weekend,  working the pocket water above the falls - you have to be smart and read water pretty well, but there’s some decent, opportunistic fish in there.

Terrestrials are about done - this will be the last week we’re carrying our box (and that’s really just out of habit from the last two months or so….)

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Flies to have in the box:

Dries:  baetis - BWO, Blue Dun, Olive Sparkle Dun, Para-adams; Caddis - EHC, X Caddis,  - tan, olive, black;  Wulffs, assorted; your attractor package

Nymphs:  Lightning Bugs, green, gold, silver; PT- BH, FB; Copper John - original, red; San Juan worms, red, brown, olive, black; Soft Hackles, various; Rubberlegs, black, brown

Terrestials: Hoppers - Grand, Whit, Dave’s, Carnage, Kicking, Hoppinator; Beetles- Fire, Foam, HiVis, Sam’s;  Ants - Chernobyl, ParaAnt, black and cinnamon, CDC Flying ant, black, brown, cinnamon; Epoxy, same colors

Streamers:  Wooly Buggers, olive, brown, black; Sparkle Buggers, olive, brown, black; PT Bugger; Girdle Bugs

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