The Stillwater is in prime shape right now: a fishable 409 cfs of clear water holding at 55.8°F, conditions good enough that you don’t have to choose between nymphing and dries — bring both.
The fly list leans heavily toward Baetis patterns (Top Secret Baetis, Juju Baetis, Egan’s Silver Bullet and friends), which tracks with the BWO hatch running as the day’s main event from 10 to 2, while hoppers take over the afternoon along the grassy banks. Fly Fish Food’s September 27-October 4, 2026 report’s key advice is blunt: “stealth is your biggest advantage today.”
With the river low and clear, careless wading and heavy tippet will cost you fish — ease in from downstream and drop to 5X or 6X fluorocarbon. The best opportunity of the day is on the long, flat tailouts during the hatch, where fish will be “sipping emergers just under the film” — so set up for a reach cast that buys you 4–5 feet of drag-free drift before the fly arrives.
If the dry-fly action fades in the afternoon, switch to a hopper worked tight to the cutbanks. In short: move carefully, fish small olives, and don’t blow out the tailout before you ever make a cast.
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