Freestone fishery

The wild fish are concentrated in the deepest pools and under the overhanging brush along the banks. It can be tough fishing here under these conditions. Accurate 25-30 foot upstream presentations are needed to fool most of the fish. They are always on the small side here, but this year they appear even smaller??? Recent trips have elk caddis dries, mayfly patterns like a Para-Adams, and Stimulators getting grabs #16. The campgrounds have scrappy planted rainbows that are eager to hit patterns with some flash or red built in. The stockers will vanish here soon. Dry droppers with crystal zebras and tigers #16-18 will work if you can find a deep enough pool. As the air cools in the upper snow fields the water will only get lower. Forget this area in October. Sotcher Lake is worth a shot if you want fish from a tube.

Mr. Randy Alleman had to make long accurate upstream casts to get his fish on the SJ. Randy got a bunch of grabs for his fine efforts.