Snake River
Flows from Jackson Lake Dam have dropped to 2,400cfs and the tailwater reach down to the Osprey Channel is really fishing well. Yellow Sallies are appearing everywhere below Cattleman’s. Riffles are producing on the surface with everything from large attractors to minute emerger patterns. Nymphing is still the best way to go in most holding water types, but streamers are getting into fish in slower holding water, below Cattleman’s.
The rest of the Snake is clearing pretty quick. By the next report, we should have an update on how the river downstream of the Buffalo Fork is fishing.
Effective dry flies – Stimulators, Sallie Hackle Stackers, Elk Hair Caddis, and Quigley Cripples.
Effective nymphs – Biot Bugs, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Copper Johns in red or olive, Robins, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph, and Psycho Princes.
Effective streamers – Kreelux, Flesh Fry, Sculpzillas, J.J. Specials, Bow River Buggers, and Woolley Biggers.
South Fork
Flows are ramping down from Palisades Reservoir (currently at 14,000cfs) and things are really starting to happen on the South Fork. Water temps are at 55 to 56 degrees on the surface and there is a lot of feeding activity by trout on every reach of the river. Yellow sallies are starting to appear and salmon flies are not far behind. There are a fair amount of green drakes on the lower reach below Byington as well. Large stonefly larva imitations are bringing in the majority of fish. San Juan Worms, Lightening Bugs, and Foxy Sallie Stone are doing their part as well. Target banks, submerged structure, and the tail of riffles and seams. This is solidly the most productive water out there.
Most of the attention is on nymphs, but streamers are working as well when fished on sinking tips on the 3ips to 6ips range, as well as full intermediate sinking lines. Target these at the same water as you do your nymph rigs – banks, submerged structure, and the tail of riffles and seams. Go with bright streamers.
The lower river – Cottonwood down to Lorenzo – has some action on the surface with yellow sallies imitations and PMD emergers in riffle, especially those in side channels. It is it happening in bits and pieces, but getting more productive with each passing day. Large attractors are working along banks and in riffles downstream of Conant. Don’t expect off-the-charts action, but the is enough to keep your attention throughout the day.
Effective nymphs – Pats Rubber Legs, Girdle Bugs, San Juan Worms, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Foxy Sallie Stones, Psycho Mays, Copper Johns in Red, and Bloody Marys.
Effective Streamers – Kreelux, Chickletts, Silvey Sculpins, Galloup’s Zoo Cougars, J.J. Specials, Murphy’s Bling Minnow, and Cheech’s Leech.
Effective dry flies – Will’s Winged Chernobyl, Chubby Chernobyls, Stimulators, Lawson’s Sallie, Comparaduns, Snowshoe Duns, and Booty’s PMD Emerger.
Green River
Receding quickly and clearing nicely. The best clearing and fishing is from the Forest boundary to Daniel Bridge. Nymphs, particularly San Juan Worms and Lightening Bugs are working best, as are streamers. But the big news is that we are seeing more caddis, PMDs, yellow sallies, and golden stones, especially below Warren Bridge. There is significantly more action on large surface attractors. Fishing these with a dropper is bringing in the numbers. Golden stones are appearing in good numbers on the lower river, and there are caddis everywhere – not in huge numbers but they are around throughout the afternoon.
Seams and submerged structure are fishing best with nymphs and streamers. Dry-droppers are producing best along banks and bankside troughs. You do not need to be too tight above Warren Bridge. There is a lot of action on both three to four feet from banks. From Warren Bridge down to Sommers, tightness can matter a lot.
Effective dry flies – Chubby Chernobyls, Will’s Winged Chernobyls, Circus Peanuts, Fat Alberts, and Snake River Water Walkers.
Effective nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Legs, San Juan Worms, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, and Flashback Soft Hackle Princes.
Effective streamers – Kreelux, Cheech’s Leech, Booty’s Quad Bunny, Galloup’s Sex Dungeon, Galloup’s Boogeyman, and Keller’s Flash Minnow.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Lake – Water temperatures are at roughly 60 degrees at the surface and around 58 degrees at the four foot level. This is making for some very active fishing from the early morning hours until mid-afternoon. Things begin to slow down noticeably around 3pm, although after that fish can be caught at deeper depths of six feet or more. Productive patterns include Clouser Minnows, Kreelux, Mohair Leeches, Zug Bugs, Rickard’s Stillwater Nymph, and Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymphs fished on intermiediate or hover lines.
Snake River/Lewis River – Both rivers are clear and the surface action is good if you match the yellow sallies and PMDs that are coming off. There is also good action on moderately sized attractors in faster currents and along submerged and bankside structure. Dropper nymphs are producing as well – go with Rainbow Warriors, Lightening Bugs, Biot Bugs, Copper Johns, and Flashback Pheasant Tail. Productive streamers (working best in slow and moderate currents) include larger bugs like Teller’s Nightmare Sculpin and smaller imitations like Bling Minnows and Kreelux.