Slough Creek contiues to fish pretty well, particularly in the upper meadows.  It always amazes us how relatively few anglers will hike to the third meadows.  As is almost always the case, the further you’re willing to walk, the better the fishing.

Perhaps the biggest impact on fishing this past week has been the thunderstorm rains that pounded this section of the Park earlier in the week, basically blowing out the Lamar, as well as Soda Butte and Slough Creeks.   (Don’t forget that the Mammoth to Tower road has been under construction this week, and they are supposed to finish up today.) 

River conditions have been improving the latter part of the week, though showers yesterday may have restained waters last night and this morning. 

Slough Creek remains under special regulations right now - basically the creek is closed from 2 PM to 5 AM.  We feel that most waters should really be closed by noon - or whenever water temps rise into the high 60s.  The cooler evenings of late will help water temps, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the 2 PM fishing cut off lifted this week - there are some warmer temps coming per the forecast, and the Park may wait this week out. 

The key approach at this point will be terrestials, with ants, beetles, and hoppers all working well.  We would certainly trail a nymph (bead head) off the hopper in particular when prospecting.  Small parachutes have also been reported to be working well. 

The bad news is that as Slough, Soda Butte, and the Lamar are some of the best Park fishing right now, there’s been some pressure on these rivers, and the trout have seen a lot of flies.  Think before you cast, and make that first cast to an unfished run count.

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Flies to have in the box:

Dries:  PMDs - parachute, sparkle dun, sprout, cripple, CDC emerger, PMX - yellow, peacock, royal; Paradrake, gray, green/olive; Parachute Adams; Lime Tude; small midge emergers

Nymphs:  Bubbleback PMD; BH PT; Copper John, green / chartreuse; Shop Vac; Flashback softhackle, yellow

Terrestials:  Hoppers, small to mid size, VW hopper; Beetles, Ants - chernobyl, ParaAnt, black and cinnamon; Epoxy ants - black, cinnamon

Streamers / Others:  Wooly Buggers, brown / black;  Girdle Bugs, small

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