SNAKE RIVER
Almost all of the tributaries except for the Buffalo Fork are receding and this has led to much better water clarity over the past week. The usual intense hatch activity of June – PMDs, yellow sallies, some golden stones, and waves of caddis – is occurring as well. All of this is resulting in the first real surface action of the season since runoff started. There is substantially more clarity from Jackson Lake Dam down to approximately three miles below Pacific Creek. There is also decent clarity in the Canyon reach from Hoback down to Sheep Gulch. Nymphs and streamers are still far more effective at the moment, but dry flies should provide increasingly better productivity in the coming weeks. Nonetheless, fish these with a dropper for added success until the water is completely clear.
Effective nymphs – Pats Rubber Leg (#8 to #10), Biot Bugs (#10), Copper Johns (#10 to #12) in red or olive, Lightening Bugs (#10 to #16), Rainbow Warriors (#12 to #16), Robins (#10 to #16), Psycho Princes (#10 to #16), and San Juan Worms.
Effective Streamers – Quad Bunnies, Silvey Sculpins, Murphy’s Bling Minnow, Bow River Buggers, Strung-Out Leeches, Zoo Cougars, J.J. Specials, and Swimmin’ Jimmies.
Effective Dry Flies – Chubby Chernobyls (#8), Rubber Legged Double Humpies (#6 to #8), Will’s Winged Chernobyl (#6 to #8), Morrish Hoppers (#8), Barretts Ant (#8).
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SOUTH FORK
Flows from Palisades Reservoir remain steady at 13,200 cfs. As on the Snake, the South Fork is showing a lot more clarity and there are substantial emergences of PMDs, caddis, and yellow sallies, as well as some green drakes about. The lower river from Wolverine down to Lorenzo is starting to show some emergences of salmon flies – the first of the season. Nymphs (especially stonefly nymphs) and streamers are still the name of the games are producing along banks and structure and in riffles and seams. But we are also seeing trout rising to imitations of PMDs, caddis, and yellow sallies in riffles and eddies. On the lower reaches below Wolverine, we are seeing trout taking big stonefly imitations when fished along banks and structure. It is not over-the-top action yet, but it will be soon.
Effective nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Legs (#4 to #8), PR Muskrats (#6 to #8), BH Hares Ear Nymphs (#8 to #10), San Juan Worms, Lightening Bugs (#10 to #14), Rainbow Warriors (#12 to #16), Copper Johns (#10 to #12) in red, and Foxy Sallie Nymphs (#10 to #12).
Effective streamers – Sex Dungeons, Quad Bunnies, Silvey Sculpins, Bow River Buggers, J.J. Specials, Tequilleys, and Arum’s Lil Kim.
Effective dry flies – Chubby Chernobyls (#8), Will’s Winged Chernobyl (#8), Snake River Water Walkers (#6 to #8), Barrett’s Ant (#8), Parachute Extended Body PMDs and Cahills (#10 to #14), Comparaduns (#10 to #14), Stimulators (#10 to #12), Elk Hair Caddis (#10 to #12), and X-Caddis (#10 to #12).
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SALT RIVER
The Salt is steadily receding and showing signs of clearing, particularly in the afternoon. Just like on the Snake and the South Fork, the surface action is getting better as solid hatches of PMDs, yellow sallies, caddis, and golden stones cloud the river from late morning through the afternoon. Slow banks and meanders are not producing near as well as the faster portions of the streams. There is decent action on nymphs, but the dry fly fishing in mid-afternoon is almost as good.
Effective nymphs – BH Hares Ear Nymphs (#10), Lightening Bugs (#12 to #16), Psycho Mays (#14), Copper Johns (#12 to #16) in red, olive, or black), Batmen (#14), Biot Bugs (#12), Foxy Sallies (#12).
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GREEN RIVER
Flows were starting to come down substantially with the cold weather from last week but these flows are starting to go up again and what surface action we did have is waning. For the moment, the best action is on nymphs and streamers. A little better fishing can be found from Daniel Bridge down to Sommers.
Effective nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Legs (#8 to #10), Bitch Creek Nymphs (#8), PR Muskrats (#8 to #10), Lightening Bugs (#10 to #14), Foxy Sallies (#10 to #12), Psycho Princes (#12), Glass House Caddis (#10 to #14), Bead Tail Caddis (#12 to #14), Soft Hackles (#10 to #12).
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Lewis Lake and Yellowstone Lake – Not as good streamer action as we had over the past couple of weeks but we are starting to see very good hatches of callibaetis and drakes and this is resulting in some exciting surface fishing as brown trout (on Lewis) and cutthroats (on Yellowstone) rise to take imitations of these. Best action is from approximately 11am until 2pm, although there are days when it this activity goes deeper into the afternoon.
Effective streamers – Clouser Minnows, Arum’s Lil Kim, Mohair Leeches, Woolley Buggers.
Effective dry flies – Parachute Adams (#10 to #14), Parachute Extended Body PMDs and Cahills (#10 to #14), Callibaetis Hackle Stackers (#12 to #14), Thorax PMDs (#10 to #14).
Lewis River-Snake River Confluence – This part of the Park is have good hatches of PMDs and gray drakes. We are also seeing some green drakes and some salmon flies. Trout are rising to imitations of these, but the Snake is starting to go off color due to increased temperatures. For the time being, decent action can be had on the Lewis and downstream of the confluence until the off-color Snake mixes with the clear Lewis.