Water Conditions:  Fair-Good

Algae has returned, it's getting a little worse but still manageable, worse in the north end

ATTENTION: The outflow is still summer normal so the lake is dropping about 2" per day. Good news is they seem to be doing their fall drop in water releases.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Good

Not much new to report, last weekend was excellent but unless you have a full-blown respirator, I wouldn't fish it.  There is talk about possible improvement this weekend, but they've shown it's almost impossible to predict the smoke. The fishing has been consistently good with fish all over now that the water temperatures have dropped into the low to mid 60's. Lots of small fish with plenty of bigger fish to keep it interesting.

The perch are now a definite part of the food chain. The good thing is that they're spread out all along the weed beds and in the pockets so if you're willing to put in the time you will be rewarded by having the fishing all to yourself. You can still find fish in 25' to 35' but they're now showing in 6' to 15'. Remember that unless you are ready to immediately cast to a boil there's no point in worrying about it, those fish are flushing Perch fry off the bottom and then going right back down. One technique for combating this is to suspend perch fry up above your bottom flies. This CAN be a good technique but so far this year it hasn't been very successful. 

McGee Bay has picked back up but the fish seemed to have moved further east. The north end has picked back up but the algae is worse in the arm. Big and Little Hilton have had their moments as well as Crooked Creek. The damsels and callibaetis are slowing down.

Recommended Flies

Dries: Horny Damsel #10

Nymphs: Shaft Emerger #14-16 | Albino Baron #14-16 | G/B Opti Tiger #16-18 | Optimidge Olive/Dun #16-18 | Double Bead Zebra slvr/blk small | Dainty Damsel #12 | Dreaded Damsel # 12 | Poxyback Calibaetis #16-18 | Bubbas Calibaetis #14-16

Streamers: Crystal Bugger Black #8 | Marabou Leech Burgundy or Brown #12 | Punk Perch #14-16 | Baby Fat Minnow #6