1/15: Boy it's cold. Very low overnight temps may cause some slushing and ice around the stream edges. If fishing, wait until late morning, both for the water to warm a tad, and for the slush to hopefully melt. Sunny days will be your best bet. With the colder temps, expect to work a little harder for each hook-up. This weather will probably put a damper on surface action.

Subsurface, the usual smaller nymphs(#16-22) are producing, but bigger ones in the #12-14 range have been quite effective of late. Streamers fished SLOWLY are also a viable option- make sure to get them DEEP. Dry fly fishing is a possibility on the milder, windless days.

Midges and Winter Caddis are hatching. Various nymphs and streamers are consistent producers if fished slowly and near the bottom. Fish the slow to moderate runs.

Nymphs such as the ever-deadly Pheasant Tails in a variety of sizes are producing well, and streamers in various colors are working- esp. white and black. Try also Caddis Larva(olive, green), Hares' Ears, Princes, Brassies, Midge larva/pupa, Disco Midges, small Copper Johns and larger(#10-12)Fox Squirrel Nymphs. Trout will tend to drop into the slower, deeper flows now that the temps are down into the 30's. ****************************************

When fishing dry, accuracy and drag-free floats are essential. Try lengthening your tippet to help combat drag. This often works better than dropping down to ridiculously light tippets. Make sure your tippet doesn't straighten out completely when it lands on the water- if it does, you have instant drag. I believe the main reason lighter tippets seem to catch more fish sometimes is because it is easier to get a drag-free float due to the greater limpness/flexibility and the fact that a lighter tippet is less apt to straighten out completely due to lesser mass(it just doesn't transfer energy as well as a thicker tippet). Instead of using a standard 20" or so tippet, try using 3 or more feet. Adjust the length so your tippet lands in S curves- if it straightens completely, lengthen it, if it piles up, shorten it. It will give you the same effect as dropping down about 2 sizes on your tippet. As you go to smaller, lighter flies, you will have to reduce your tippet size, but try lengthening it before you go super-light. ****************************************

Those fishing wet flies and nymphs have reported good to excellent results all season, with some big fish, both rainbows and browns, showing up in the catch. If no fish are rising, don't neglect to try nymphs, from big #8 Golden Stoneflies down to small #22-24 nymphs. Hare's Ears, Golden Stones, Brassies, Disco Midges, Pheasant Tails(deadly), Midge Larva/Pupa, Caddis Larva, WD40's, Copper Johns, etc., are all possibilities. Pheasant Tails, in various sizes, are very effective on this river(and most others, for that matter) at almost any time- a #18 is a go-to fly.

Don't neglect streamers, esp. if you like to catch bigger fish. Most guys are so hatch oriented, they don't fish them much. For best results, use on a sink-tip or some sort of sinking line- they are MUCH more productive fished like that. Standard patterns such as Woolly Buggers, Zonkers, Clousers and others are very effective at times. No need for light tippets with these flies.