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Early in the month, be prepared for green drakes hatches in the Ranch water from 10:30 to 2:00, and maybe a few bugs in the evenings and some spinners in the morning. The hatch will end after the first week.
Flavs will be hatching in the Ranch water. Flavs (Drunella flavilinea) are the green drake's smaller cousin, and similar patterns and tactics work for both. Green Drake Cripples, Sparkle Duns, or Green Drake Paradrakes are good matches for flavs, but tie them in brown instead of green and in sizes 14-16. Flav spinner falls often occur in the morning and evening. A must-carry fly this month is a size 14 Rusty Spinner; it covers a lot of bases in July.
Caddis action peaks in July. Expect morning and evening activity. Size 20 black caddis can be a July event, and size 16-18 olive or tan imitations should be in your fly box (and sometimes on your tippet) all month.
Pale morning duns are also a July hatch here. Callibaetis should soon be hatching in the Ranch water. Tricos may start to hatch near the end of July.
In the Box Canyon, big golden stonefly nymphs are good flies to dead-drift near the bottom all month, but especially early in the month. When drifting a golden stone nymph, hang a generic beadhead nymph (Prince, Pheasant Tail, Hares Ear, etc.) on a trailing leader off the hook bend or on a dropper above the big point fly. Golden stonefly adults should be available to trout for most of the month. If the flows increase (check the river level charts on Westfly), trout will probably not rise to a dry and you'll need to stick with nymphs.
On the lower river, expect golden stoneflies, flavs, and pale morning duns, as well as evening caddis and yellow sallies in size 16-18. See Beyond the Big Stones for some patterns and tips on the yellow sally hatch.
Terrestrials such as ants, beetles, and hoppers are also a good July choice, especially on the river below the falls. Carry size 12 honey-colored flying Ant patterns.
The lower river (below Ashton) will probably fish well for the first half of July, but after that the heat will take its toll and this section should be left alone until cooler weather arrives in September.
As the weather gets hotter and the big hatches start to fade, fishing will get tougher. Trout become angler-wary, and the sun stays hot and bright in the sky. Under these conditions, fishing will hold up until noon, then rebound in the evening. Rather than stay rooted in one spot despite not seeing trout, keep moving until you find some.
But if you want to test your mettle as an angler, go catch some trout between noon and 4:00 p.m. It's tough to get a grab, but it can be done. Position yourself carefully, make an accurate and delicate presentation, be stealthy. Don't make 20 casts to one trout. If you didn't get your fish on the first two tries, forget it--so those first couple of casts better be good.
In the seven-mile Railroad Ranch water, you need specialty spring-creek patterns. In my experience, non-locals are best off visiting a local shop such as Trouthunter or Henry's Fork Anglers and ask them what's working best at the time. Then buy your flies there.
See the Rivers in General section for more July fly fishing tips.
For more on July tactics and flies, see the Rivers in General report.
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