Current Conditions:
The Stillwater River is running about half of its normal flow for this time of year but floating anglers can still get down it with the right craft and some dragging of the boat. Most anglers on the Stillwater River right now are going to be walking-and-wading and covering some ground to get some distance from the common access points.
If you are willing to walk some--and it is a good idea to be in good physical condition on the Stillwater River--expect to be walking on the uneven river bottom and be prepared with quality wading gear and a wading staff.
The best bet for fishing right now are hopper-dropper rigs or large attractor dries with dropper nymphs. Choose hoppers or attractors that are buoyant and ride high on the surface like Chubby Chernobyls, foam hoppers and beetles, and large Stimulators. For the dropper nymphs, standard beadheads will get it done. Local favorites are Copper Johns, Princes, PTs, and Hare's Ears. The best sizes for the dropper nymphs now are sizes 12-16.
Sporadic reports of Blue-Winged Olives are coming from a few anglers but the attractor dry fly fishing lately has been very good. Drop a beadhead off the attractor dry and you can expect some good fishing.
The best places to target right now are the softer water and the longer, slower deeper runs. The riffles are going to slowly dwindle in fish numbers are water temps drop over the next few weeks.
The Month Ahead:
The Stillwater River is most likely going to stay a walk-and-wade fishery for the next several weeks. Until a good amount of precipitation occurs, streamflows on the Stillwater River will remain well below normal. Wading anglers that are willing to cover some ground should have plenty of water to fish.
Hatches of Blue Winged Olives should increase in frequency as we move into October. Streamer anglers might start to find some larger trout moving up from the Yellowstone River to begin to spawn. As always, be careful of redds and stay clear of them while wading or fishing.
Long Term Fishing Forecast:
The Stillwater River is going to provide some good wading options well into the fall. Floating will most likely only come back into play with some significant precipitation.