Harmels is officially open for the season, and we’ve been having some great days on the river! Flows have bumped up slightly to around 260 CFS, and we’re expecting them to remain around this level for about another month.

Trout have started to spread out, so we’re not solely fishing the deeper pockets, although you will still find some fish stacked up in these. Feeding lanes, structure, and eddies will also be holding fish. Look for foam lines, seams, steady riffles, and pocket water.

We’re seeing some midge and BWO hatches late in the morning and sporadically throughout the afternoon. We’re also seeing some small caddis hatches in the afternoon during warmer days. The fish are still a little spooky, so if you’re fishing dry flies, you’ll want a long, light leader, delicate presentations, and a stealthy approach.

Most of our success has been with nymphs and smaller streamers. Having a good presentation, with a good drift in the right lane has been much more important than fly selection. Dead drifting an attractor pattern paired with a small nymph should get some eats. Try and find where the fish are feeding, usually close to the bottom, and adjust your depth accordingly. With the lower water levels this season, you should be able to get away with tungsten beaded flies, most of the time, instead of having to use split shot. If you’re not getting any takes, try adjusting your depth and fly size before changing up your entire rig.

If you have any questions or would like to book a trip with us, stop in our fly shop or give us a call.