Soda Butte Creek has had a pretty quiet fishing week between the snow melt induced flow spikes, dwindling hatches, and cold water temps. 

Flows near the Lamar Ranger Station were 51 cfs this morning at 0645, with today’s average 46 cfs.  Flows peaked impressively on the 10th and 11th due to snow melt, and clarity has been significantly off (at least the clearing water makes SJWs a potential value). 

The automated temperature measuring at this station registered water temps near 35 on most nights last week - a consistent indicator that fishing’s about done over here. 

We agree with Walter Wiese at Park’s that cold evening water temps have almost shut down the hatches - talked to a guy Thursday in the Park who had been over Slough the day before and said that Slough wasn’t totally dirty, but they saw only sputtering BWOs late and nothing else.

You could argue that with pressure down, and some BWOs still sputtering off it would be worth your time - you also could in theory turn something with swinging a mayfly soft hackle or flymph, or dredge with nymphs.

Frankly there are so many other better waters in the Park right now, we consider the NE sector waters about done for the year.  I guess an advantage of fishing over here now is you won’t be fighting the crowds, but for obvious reasons.  The variable in play is that if indeed it stays sunny for a time this next week, this might be a reasonable go….

Finally, if you still want to go anyway, there’s been a fair amount of bear activity over here late this fall - don’t fish alone and carry some bear spray in the vest or pack

If you’re new to our site, please check out our How to Best Use This Site page.

Flies to have in the box:

Dries:  baetis - BWO, Blue Dun, Olive Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, Para-adams;  small midge emergers; consider attractors, small

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

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

Technorati Tags:

Tags: River: Soda Butte Creek