Montana Troutfitters: May 12 Boulder River Report
She's blown....
If the river drops at all, nymphing is going to be the best bet for sure. You will probably see quite a few baetis popping, but if it was anything like last spring, you will find much more productive fishing matching the nymphs over here than you will fishing dries. Try nymphing a bigger lead fly (black bugger, JJ bugger, rubberlegs, etc...) and a baetis nymph for you drop fly (our BWO bubble back nymph is a great imitation). Your other option over here will be to pitch some streamers around in the off color water - just be aware of flow levels - when they start approaching the 1,000CFS this can be a difficult and dangerous river to wade around.
Fly pattern suggestions:
Dries: Wilcox's Micro Midge Red, Black: 18-22 Hi Vis Gnat: 18-20 Kingrey's Foamrider White: 18-20 Purple Haze: 16-18-20 Para Wulff Adams: 14-16-18
Nymphs: Black Retriever & Brown Lab: 6-8 Mega Hares Ear: 6-8 Lightning Bug: 16-18 Mega Prince: 4-6 San Juan Worm: 10 Mega Hare's Ear: 6-8 Delektable Purple Hurless: 6-8 Mega Pheasant Tail: 6-8 Price's Pacifier: 10-12 Gummy Golden: 10-12 Delekta's Twisted Wire: 12-14-16. BWO bubbleback 16-18.
Streamers: Flash Fry White/Grey: 2 Zonker White: 4-6 Swimmin Jimmy: 8, JJ Bugger: 8