In this report
8 CFS: When a Headwater Whisper Is Still Normal
We’re running at 8 cubic feet per second on the Above Spinney stretch right now—well below the typical 15 CFS floor for this water—but before you write off the week, understand what that means on a stream this size. The Middle Fork above Spinney isn’t a tailwater. It’s a small freestone meadow creek fed by snowmelt and runoff, and 8 CFS is genuinely low, not marginal. That said, it’s not a dead water either. Low flows concentrate trout into the holding lies, and in a meadow system where fish are already spooky and easily displaced, that concentration cuts both ways: less water to cover, but also nowhere for a careless approach to hide.
The real concern is temperature. At this flow rate in mid-July, the water is warming faster than it would at higher volumes. The open meadow offers no shade, and the slower current means the sun is doing real work. If you’re fishing this water this week, start early—before 10 AM—and be ready to stop if you see trout tucking tight to the bank or hanging motionless in the deepest slots. Fish welfare trumps box score.
What’s Hatching: PMDs and the Midge Anchor
July on the Above Spinney is still solidly in the Pale Morning Dun window. Look for #18 PMD nymphs and emergers throughout the morning, with occasional spinner falls in the softer light around 7–8 AM and again near dusk. The hatch is reliable here but never heavy on a stream this size; it’s more of a steady trickle than an event.
Tricos (#20–24) will show in scattered numbers on the quieter water, mostly in spinner form and mostly before 9 AM. Don’t chase them hard unless you see a real rise.
Midge emergers and small black midges (#22–24) are your baseline all day. On a freestone this size, at this flow and temperature, midges are working whether anything else is or not—they’re in the water column constantly, and trout are taking them. A Mercury Midge or RS2 emerger fished in the top foot of water will catch fish when nothing else seems to be moving.
Evening brings the caddis window—small tan patterns in #16 size, nothing large. The meadow water holds caddis, but the hatch is modest and scattered, not a blanket emergence.
Terrestrials are ramping up: small black ants and beetles in #18–20, and if the afternoon heats up, a few grasshoppers in #14–16. The open meadow is grasshopper country, and a hopper drifted near the bank on a low-light afternoon can trigger a response from a fish that won’t look at a nymph.
The Rig: Small Water, Precise Placement
At 8 CFS, every trout is holding in a defined slot. Miss the lane by two feet and you’re not fishing. That demands a light rig that lands soft and drifts true.
For the morning nymph window (6 AM–10 AM):
Start with a #18 PMD emerger or a #20–22 Mercury Midge as your point fly. Tie it to 5X tippet—light enough to feel the drift and land the fly without splash, but strong enough to work a fish in the shallow runs. Above that, 18–20 inches higher, attach a #16 small black midge or a Barr Masters Pattern as your anchor/attractor. Use a single split shot pinched to the bend of the upper fly’s hook, or position one micro-shot 6 inches above the point. The goal is to bounce the top fly off the bottom of the deeper slots without deadening the entire rig. The weight should be just enough that you feel the occasional tick; if you’re snagging every third cast, you’re over-weighted.
Fish this tight-line or with a small yarn indicator 3–4 feet above the anchor. At this flow, tight-line lets you feel better, but an indicator keeps you in touch on the glassy meadow water where a trout’s take can be almost invisible.
For midday and terrestrial fishing (10 AM–4 PM):
Switch to a single dry with a short 12-inch dropper of fine tippet (6X) hung 2 feet above a small black ant or beetle. Use a #16–18 parachute hopper or a small tan stimulator as the dry if you’re fishing the shallow, faster slots; it floats true in slow current and lands delicately. If the water stays cool and the hatch persists, dry-drop a midge or emerger instead. The point is to let that top fly sit as a strike indicator while the dropper nymph does the work in the film.
For the evening (5 PM–dusk):
If caddis are moving, switch to a #16 tan dry with a #18 PMD or midge emerger dropper, again 12–18 inches below. This combo covers the spinners that may still be coming down and the occasional late-season caddis adult.
On all setups, use 5X tippet as your main connection to the leader—small enough to stay invisible on this clear, slow water, but robust enough to land a 12-inch meadow trout on a 4-weight without disaster. For droppers and emergers, step down to 6X.
Where to Fish: Wading the Meadow
The open meadow character of this water means there are no secret runs—everything is exposed. That also means the trout are wary and concentrated predictably:
Deep slots between shallow flats are the primary targets. These are often only 2–3 feet deep, but in a stream running 8 CFS, they’re gathering zones. Approach from downstream and wide, take two steps at a time, and let your shadow fall behind you. The moment a trout sees you, it’s gone.
Undercut banks where the current has carved a shelf. These hold fish tight, especially on the sunny side where the bank offers thermal relief. A gentle cast that lands the fly 18 inches above the cut and drifts into the shadow will work better than forcing a reach.
Seepage and spring creeks feeding into the main channel. These are cooler, often hold larger fish, and deserve a full stop. Work them slowly, starting at the mouth and drifting up into the inflow.
Slower edges and the inside of gentle bends where the flow softens. At 8 CFS, there aren’t dramatic current breaks, so look for the subtle zones where the water stops fighting and settles.
Access and Stewardship
You’ll need either a valid Colorado fishing license or an SWA pass to be here. Badger Basin and the Tomahawk State Wildlife Area are artificial-lures-only, so barbs must be mashed and spinners are off-limits. Given the low flow and warm trajectory this week, handle fish quickly if you do land one; warm water means stress, and a fish released quickly recovers better.
Seasonal closures apply to this stretch at certain points in the year for spawning protection. If you see posted closure signs, honor them without question.
Wade deliberately, minimize disturbance, and remember that in a small meadow with highly spooky trout, one careless approach can shut down a quarter-mile of water for the day. Fish tight to the banks where you can, and when you move between lies, move slow and low.
The Above Spinney is fishing this week—honestly, genuinely—but it demands respect for what it is: small, clear, warm, and unforgiving of mistakes. Start early, think small, and let the meadow’s own pace set yours.