Snake River
As has been the case over the past few weeks, weather has been variable in the region but this has not impacted the very good pre-runoff fishing we are experiencing on the Snake. The best action has been on the middle reaches from Moose Bridge down to the confluence with the Hoback River over the past month. However, now it seems that the entire river is producing good action with nymphs, streamers and dry flies. Surface action has mainly been a late morning to early evening phenomenon with midge adults being the main meal for trout on the surface. Surface feeding is occurring primarily in seams and shallow riffles. There is also some action on large surface attractors along banks, structure, and bankside troughs.
Nymphs and streamers can be fished throughout the day with good production. Streamers have been more effective with each passing week, perhaps a sign of the slowly warming water temperatures. Not to sound too cliché, but there is noticeably better action with darker patterns on wet, cloudy days and brighter patterns on clear, sunny days. You do not have to go too big, but the larger articulated patterns are bringing in larger fish. Floating lines, intermediate sinking lines, and intermediate tips are the most productive tackle to go with.
Effective dry flies – Parachute Midges, Air-Flo Tricos, Krystal Wing Midges, Krystal Wing Midge Emergers, Furimsky BDEs, Griffith Gnats, Will’s Winged Chernobyls, SRA Chernobyls, and Circus Peanuts.
Effective streamers – Beldar Buggers, Bow River Buggers, J.J. Specials, BH Zonkers, SIlvey Sculpins, Galloup’s Bogeyman, Cheech’s Leech, SRA Double Bunnies, and Booty’s Quad Bunny Leech.
Effective nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, BH Soft Hackle Princes, Flashback Princes, Lightening Bugs, Batmen, Copper Johns in red and olive, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph, Psycho Princes, Zerba Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, and Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa.
South Fork
Releases from Palisades Reservoir have been going up over the past week, with consistent 500cfs to 1000 cfs increased every one or two days. Currently flows stand at approximately 9000 cfs. Fishing is not necessarily good after these increases, but there is still some decent fishing to be had on streamers and nymphs on just about every reach of river from the Dam down to Lorenzo. Nymph fishing has been best in riffles and seams at a variety of depths. There is also action along banks with nymph rigs in the afternoon. Streamers are also working along banks and structure in the afternoon on floating and intermediate sinking lines. Flats are a good target with streamers in late afternoon and early evening.
Dry fly action is still sub-par at the moment on the South Fork despite lots of midges on the surface. The only real surface activity that has been consistent is on side channels in the Canyon reach and, to a lesser degree, the lower reach below Byington.
Effective nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, 20-Inchers, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, San Juan Worms, Robins, Psycho May, Bruised May, Hickey’s Auto Nymph, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph, Galloup’s Mysis, and Meyer’s Mysis.
Effective streamers – Clouser Minnows, Silvey Sculpins, Cheech’s Leech, J.J Specials, Tequilley’s, Beldar Buggers, and Baby Bunnies.
Henry’s Fork
Still fishing well on all open sections, but none more so than on the lower reaches below Vernon Bridge. It is mostly a midge game with some BWOs thrown in as well. Nymphs is the way to go, but there is some action on dry flies and streamers. Nymphs are producing just about everywhere with riffles, seams, and submerged structure being the primary targets. Streamers have been working best on banks and submerged structure. Dry flies – midge adults and cluster patterns mostly – are producing in the early afternoon hours though later afternoon in riffles, seams, and on flats with moderate depth.
Effective nymphs – 20-Inchers, Biot Bugs, Hickey’s Auto Nymph, Bubbleback Pheasant Tails, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Dorsey’s Mercury Baetis, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Bionic Midges, and Dorsey’s Mercury Midge.
Effective streamers – Sculpzillas, Lite Brite Zonkers, J.J. Specials, Baby Bunnies, Beldar Buggers, Kiwi Muddlers, and Marabou Muddlers.
Effective dry flies – Griffith Gnats, Furimsky BDEs, Parachute Midges, Parasol Midges, Pheasant Tail Emergers, and Film Critics.