Stream Reports

A warm up bringing near 50 degree temperatures delivered some really great winter fishing through the beginning of last week when anglers caught numbers and quality fish on nymphs and streamers. That warm up also brought several days of rain that gave us enough precipitation for the first true reset in water conditions since September.

As a result water conditions are currently in the best shape that they have been since early this fall with higher flows and a greenish color to the water. A cold front over the weekend brought some snow, and we received more rain on Monday. There is also a chance for a little more rain on Wednesday. Current water conditions combined with this week's forecast for additional precipitation should keep water conditions in great shape in the upcoming weeks.

In addition to the chances of rain, early this week the weather looks to be cloudy with air temperatures in the 40's and 50's. Toward the end of this week and over the weekend another shift in colder weather will be back with air temperatures dropping into the 30's. The beginning of next week is also forecast to be colder with daytime air temperatures in the high 20's.

As you would expect for winter fishing, nymphing has been the most productive method for putting fish in the net. Egg patterns, Baetis Nymphs, Midges, Soft Hackles, and smaller Streamers have been some of the most consistent flies on the menu. Making sure flies are weighted to get deep and drifting on the bottom will lead to the most hook-ups as most of the action is subsurface this time of year. Although, there have been recent reports of a few fish rising and being caught on Midges and BWO's in Forge Bottom on Yellow Creek.

So far this December we've had a bit more true winter weather in terms of colder temperatures; however, the warm ups in between when temperatures were mild have offered productive fishing. With water conditions in good shape currently, mild days where temperatures are above freezing should offer opportunities for good winter fishing.