If you want to enjoy top water fishing, midge emergences provide the most consistent action. Some will take place on sunny days, but densest activity takes seems to take place overcast days without wind (if that’s possible). Pack such as black or red zebra midges, high voltage midge pupa, and spent midge patterns. Don’t overlook those old favorites the Griffith’s gnat and the renegade. You can fish these on top or as an emerger just under the surface. Use all these in sizes about the same as the natural insect. Expect most of the action to take near or at the surface, so go with a floating line and long, fine leader. A downstream drift with a gentle rise of the rod tip when the fly reaches rising fish will bring strikes. Expect many of these to be from whitefish. If you prefer to present wet flies in deeper water golden stonefly nymph patterns are numerous, and each can be effective when drifted along riffles and into tops of runs and holes Try the same with rubber leg patterns. Usually a sink tip line allows the best presentation, but a full sink line can be used for fishing long slow runs. Try patterns that simulate an aquatic worm. San Juan worm and wooly bugger patterns are some of these. Another favorite technique for encountering bigger fish is presenting streamer patterns. Best time for presenting these is during low light conditions. That means early or late in the day and when overcast conditions prevail. Clouser minnow types are very effective and therefore popular, but small fly rod jigs work just as well during these times. Presenting feather wing streamers also have enthusiasts. Sink tip fly lines seem best for presenting streamers. Be sure to use a stout leader. And bring that camera!

Reported by: Jimmy's All Seasons Angler

The South Fork tributaries (Burns, Pine, Rainey, and Palisades creeks) do not open until July 1.