Stanley Fly Shop Fishing Report – 8/9/25
Howdy Anglers,
Fishing has held steady these past few weeks with just a few seasonal shifts to note. Moths are still making a morning appearance, but their window is shortening—think 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Once the sun hits the banks, they’ll lift off, but fish will keep eating them well into the afternoon. After the moth hatch fades, a trusty hopper–dropper rig will keep you in the game. Expect more small bug action in the coming weeks, so for the finesse anglers out there—start stocking up on your delicate patterns.
Salmon River
Moths are still popping here and there, mostly in sizes 10–12. They mimic caddis in both looks and behavior, so large elk hairs work well, but our Keller’s Mr. Miller pattern has been absolutely lights-out lately. Hopper season is also here—working great through the canyon stretch and becoming a must-throw in the lower river past Torrey’s.
North of Stanley is fishing better each day, with plenty of hatchery rainbows and whitefish, and the chance of a few cutthroat showing up above town. Scale down for these fish—size 14 and smaller for dries, nymphs for the whities, and size 12 hoppers. Terrestrials like ants and beetles will also do the trick.
Valley Lakes
Local lakes are producing well with lots of stocked fish in play. During the day, fish woolly buggers and balanced leeches. When the surface comes alive, switch to small dries—mosquito patterns, micro chubbies, size 14 stimulators, ants, and beetles are all solid options.
Alpine Lakes
High-country waters are fishing, but the trout are sitting deep except around sunset. Midday, stick with balanced leechesor woolly buggers—weighted with split shot—and work the drop-offs with a jigging retrieve. Once they rise in the water column, swap to terrestrials and mosquito patterns just like in the valley lakes.
Middle Fork of the Salmon
Our friends at Rocky Mountain River Tours report that the Middle Fork has really heated up. Go with the Middle Fork classics—Chernobyl ants, orange stimulators, and hoppers. I like to downsize slightly for the cutys, but don’t be fooled—these waters still hold some bruisers. Tributaries are a blast right now with micro chubbies in sizes 14–16. Streamers are also producing well with the current flows.
Tight lines and see you on the water,
The Stanley Fly Shop Crew