Crayfish are abundant, and provide important forage this time of year. Rocky points and drops are a great place to step them down into deeper water. Streamers have been somewhat productive. Swimming frogs have been important mid-day and in the afternoons. Terrestrials are more abundant and will continue to be an important food source. Water temperature in the shallower bays has dropped a bit, but remains in the high 70's. Crayfish patterns, Gulley worms, spun deer-hair bass bugs and poppers have been best for bass. Black leech patterns and wooly buggers have also been good patterns for more selective and pressured bass. As for flies, dragonflies and their nymphs remain very active. Tricos and midges continue to hatch. The emergence of the Yellow Sally stoneflies have picked up over the last couple of weeks in the higher elevations. The duration of this hatch lasts through the month of August. Small mouth bass can still found in shallow cover in less than 15 feet of water depth. Look for dead falls, docks, points, inlets and aquatic plant structure. Pike prefer sharp drops and deeper weed beds that can provide good structure and cover. Pike can also be found sunning themselves in the shallower weed-beds around mid day. Pike are taking large predator flies red and white, imitations of larger perch patterns, and frogs. A swimming or dancing frog may draw out many predators around lily pads at this time. The salmon and trout have progressed to deeper conditions. They are feeding prominently on the baitfish. Try trolling streamers on sinking lines.

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby:

Fishing conditions: Large-mouth and small-mouth bass action is good. Both are active in less than 15 feet of water. Salmonids are suspended in or about 25 to 35 feet of water. The thermocline ranges from 35 to 45 feet. Water levels are decreasing. Water temperatures are cooling and even kings have been chilly. Use caution wading. Wet wading is comfortable on these hot days.

Inshore temperature: 75 Degrees F

Offshore temperature: 72 Degrees F

Type of bait fish are feeding on: Dace 2.5" Smelt 3.5" Pumpkinseed 3" Frogs 4" Crayfish ~ 2-3" Hellgrammites 3", Leeches 2.5"-3.5" Waterboatman 14-16, and Dragonfly Nymphs 10 Midges 18-20, Caddis 12-16, Golden Stones 14-16, Grasshoppers 2.5-3.0" Crickets 1-2" Talk to folks in your local tackle shops for the best advice, and the proper use of angling techniques.

Recommended fly fishing leader: 12 Foot Leader

Recommended fly fishing tippet: 16 Lb. Tippet

Best fly fishing rod: 9' 7 Weight Fly Rod

Best floating fly line: Freshwater Bass WF Fly Line

Best sinking fly line: Class V Sink Tip Fly Line