Fishing Reports

Your leader should be getting finer, your dry flies smaller to get these pounded fish.  Zebra midges fished close or down deep should produce in the sloughs.  I won't say brown worms (See?  I didn't say it).
Look for baetis, caddis, and PMDs and fish accordingly.  The clock is ticking to the end of the season, and I think the trout everywhere are beginning to sense it.  So don't assume they're not eating if the normal stuff doesn't work.  They just might not be eating what you're throwing, so get to work.

Same old, same old.  Expect a midday slowdown, but stay alert for afternoon fluttering bugs.  Monsoon type skies are still lingering in the north state, so it may be a bit cooler than it is down here.  Still, it's August, and the fish, having gotten used to the safe dark skies of late, may be skittish or punky.  Try to get under some banks with nymphs or small streamers.  There's a good chance there will be fish there.  Or just go small ball.

As elsewhere, the Cimarron has benefited greatly from this spate of rain.  Sure, there's some water staining, nothing that a brown San Juan worm won't take care of.  Times like these, I like using a very small gold beadhead larvae, with a red or bright green body, and run it straight or underneath the floatiest caddis (could pass as a spruce moth) in my box.  Don't forget how deep some of those holes can be in spite of the low water; they'll hold more fish than you think they will.  And remember that the Cimarron has lots of great structure, so go ahead and risk a few bugs on some possible big fish.

Look for Cimarron hatches to get thicker, more complex, and more frequent.  One of the state's richest streams should be popping out stones, PMDs, and the odd caddis, but crane nymphs will work too, and worms.  Great time to prospect with a dry, big or small.  I like the Palisades area, and I like midweek (if I can get out of this joint and go fish).

Fish below Clear Creek and you'll find fish around the structure.  Occasional risers make dry droppering a fun option.  The only fly choice consideration that seems to matter at all is that you use a small nymph in your rig.  Big stuff is working but only a fraction as well as the small.  Oh, and brown worms are unbeatable.
Above the tribs, the water is very low and offers good potential for a nice day of dry fly fishing, from the Palisades on up.

Water is low and fishable.  Fish are fat and fishable.  Lots of scuds in the water now, craneflies too and other aquatic squigglies.  In other words, fish a brown worm, though I often like skittering a green caddis pupa.  Do it before the crowds arrive.  When they do, check out Coyote Creek below Black Lake.  In the neighborhood.