The last week fishing has been super fun on the Reef. The streamer bite has been good, and the team has put some dandy fish in the net. Nymphing has been solid as well. We are still in the midst of winter, but plenty of nice days to get out there and enjoy great fishing and an empty river.

Streamers in olive and gray/white/light tan have been mostly what we are throwing. Usual suspects as well Reefer Creeper, Humpty Dogs, Dream Catcher Sculpin, Rusty….. matched with a variety of sink tips and in some of the slower wintering “tanks” full sink Stillwater lines. Slow retrieves down and vary them up to find what is working best each day or spot to spot based on current speed, depth, weight of flies and sinktip weights. Keeping tension to your streamer is key . You want contact, tight, from your finger to the fly. Be aware of the “belly” you can get with sinktips. The takes can vary from good grabs to sublte for the most part as well as on the fall and  the eats are absorbed or not felt by the slack or belly. We have found the full intermediate to be a great line for winter conditions. Although they will all work as long as you get it in front of their face and keep it there. Hamrick’s Reefer Creeper and Humpty dog were designed to be heavy and ride hook up for that exact point. A lot of traditional streamers with slow retrieves can end with a lot of salad.

Standard wintertime nymphs and PSL Leeches. Mahammy’s and other midge patterns in brown, black, grey and olive. RS2’s in grey have been good, along with rock worms. There have been some big midge hatches lately. A few heads up, but no big pods. Again, standard wintertime midges, worms, leeches. A little guide secret, BWO’s are on the way. They are becoming more active. Just because you don’t see adults, does not meant that nymphs aren’t down there getting eaten. Try the Ava Grace or other favorite BWO nymphs, you will be pleasantly suprised.

The Reef has been fishing so well we have basically stuck with it. The last storm a week or so ago had plenty of snow and wind to create potential for big drifts and we have not gone up to the Mile in bit. Nor have we heard much. I bet the Mile is probably fishing well if you can get to it. Had a recent report from one of our guides that went to Freemont and found a “bunch of fat and sloppy chunky rainbows.” We like the sounds of that.

Reports from the Bighorn have been promising, and it is normally good up there this time of year. It has just been hard to leave our own backyard. But trying to carve some time out to head that way. If you are interested in doing a day or so on the Reef and a day or two in Thermop we would be happy to help plan a great fishing itinerary.

Days are getting longer; spring is coming and we are excited to really get cranking. The fishing has been awesome and that will be the trend. Come check it out, dates are filling up, cabins are getting swooped up- this is the time to start making plans. We have “non-peak” rates till March 15 th – so clock is ticking to take advantage of that deal.