August 15, 2025 | Beaver Tailwater Fishing Report
- Ryan Burks
- Aug 15, 2025
- 3 min read
Hold on folks, we’re almost through this heat and into some more comfortable fishing! The daily releases coming from the dam are making sure that the fish are staying cool and comfortable though, so don’t let the heat stop you from getting out there.
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Beaver Tailwater Levels & Conditions
The SWPA has continued to release water every morning around 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning and lasting for about 12 hours. We continue to see about 3775 cfs coming through the dam when they are generating. The Tailwater level is leveling off around 916.75 msl when power is not being generated. The lake above the dam continues its steady march down and sits right around 1124.3 msl. Only about 3 feet of excess water remains in the lake and we will be sitting at flood pool. Until that happens, I would expect the current generation pattern to remain. Click here to see the predicted generation schedule.
The wading opportunities are still pretty limited to early mornings, but if you want to get up early and hit the water before they turn the power on you can absolutely get a few hours of fishing in.
What's Working
This week was a fun one. I focused on throwing streamers and had a ball with lots of chases, swipes and eats from fish. I love the water that we are getting right now and it plays great for streamer fishing. For those unfamiliar, streamers are large flies that are meant to imitate larger food sources - think minnows, crawfish, leeches or juvenile trout. On the current water levels I’m throwing smaller streamers in the 3” – 4” range most of the time.
With the smaller streamers, I’m throwing them on 6 weight rods and a type 3 sinking line. On this water level, the banks are good, but mid-river structure is still in play, too. I’ve had the most success on the Wool Head Articulated Bugger. I’m having luck on all sorts of colors, from olive to black to white to yellow. You can’t ever really tell what color the fish will be on until you go, but I generally like to start with a bright colored fly that I can see in the water and change from there. Double Deceivers have done well in just about any color you can think up, but you may want to up your rod to a 7 or 8 weight.
For drift fishing during generation, the same group of bugs is still getting it done. I had great success with a Y2K in Orange/Yellow or Chartreuse/White followed up by a Purple Haze Sowbug in size 14. I also had some success with a Girdle Bug in riffled water as well. I’m running these about 8 feet under a big indicator with one or two BB size shot. I don’t have much to report about on what’s been working in low water, as I’ve been intentionally timing trips to be in the higher water and after the first push of water comes through and the debris clears up. I’m certain that the same combos of Tailwater Sowbugs followed up by a Ruby Midge or Rootbeer Midge would get it done, as would a 1/124 oz. and 1/80 oz. micro jigs in olive.
Guide Insights
School is back in session and the river traffic is starting to settle down during the weekdays. Now is a great time to get on the water and target some browns with streamers while we still have some water in the lake to provide these consistent flows. Book your trip now and get in on the action!
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