The Green is still fishable but has risen considerably in the last few days. The visibility is low, so bulky and noticeable flies will be necessary to really get their attention. Surely with the upcoming cooler and slightly stormy weather, the river will calm down, and a window of opportunity will open up for some great fishing!

The lower New Fork River is still very high, with runoff very much in effect on many of the major tributaries. But, the areas on the river closer to town are surprisingly calm and clear. We are still waiting for the water to warm up enough to fish on top with baetis or midges, but most fish are still tuned in below the surface. Small to medium streamers and big nymphs are the ticket, as one would expect.

The Green below Fontenelle saw a small drop in flows since last week, and it seems the clarity didn’t change much. It is, however, fishing well if you stick to soft inside bends, large eddies and slower tail-outs. Most fish have started to key in on small bugs like midges and baetis patterns.

The Bighorn River near Thermopolis is white hot right now, largely due to a significant decrease in flows from Boysen Dam. With lower water levels, the river has had more time to warm up, and the BWOs are hatching in full swing; fish have taken notice. The fish have moved into runs and riffles, and toward the middle of the day—as the hatches die off—nymph fishing has proven extremely productive. Now is the time to be there, so book a trip while you still can!