Snake River

Good fishing continues on the Snake and it is only getting better. The most consistent reaches throughout the day for numbers is on the low river from South Park down to Sheep Gulch while we are starting to find much better size on the upper reaches, particularly from Deadman’s Bar down to South Park. PMDs and caddis are still around in good number. Grasshoppers and yellow sallies are also present. And as strange as it seems, there are a few Claassenia shucks on the riverbanks (pretty damn early for such an event, but everything seems to be early this year on the Snake).

Without question, attractor patterns are taking the lion’s share of fish throughout the river. Larger #8 patterns are doing best in the morning hours, but #10 and #12 sizes are working best in the afternoon. The afternoon tends to be when the best action is regardless. But fish hard in the morning and good things will happen. Be tight to the holding water you are targeting.

Smaller, more imitative patterns are worth throwing in late morning and through the afternoon. Target the inside seams of riffles, the tails of riffle pools, and all holding water you can find in side channels. Side channels are really starting to come on strong.

Going subsurface is not a requirement in any way right now. But if you do, definitely go with streamers and definitely use them in the morning when fishing on the surface is a bit more inconsistent that later in the day. Floating and hover lines are all that you will need. Target banks, structure, riffles pools, and seams.

Effective dry flies – Winged Peanuts, Bart’s Lipstick, Will’s Winged Chernobyl, Melon Bellies, Chubby Chernobyls, Parachute Hoppers, Jay Dave’s Hopper, Morrish Hoppers, Grand Hoppers, Stimulators, Galloup’s Ant Acid, Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams, Parachute Extended Body PMDs, Booty’s PMD Emerger, Quigley Cripples, Film Critics, and Pheasant Tail Emergers.

Effective streamers – SRA Double Bunnies, Booty’s Quad Bunny Leech, Cheech’s Leech, Galloup’s Zoo Cougar, Galloup’s Swimmin’ Jimmy, J.J. Specials, Sanchez’s Clump Dubbing Leech, Lite Brite Zonkers, Kreelux, and Chickletts.

South Fork

Flows from Palisades Reservoir have been ramped down to 11,500 cfs over the past week and the South Fork remains a very good place to be for size and numbers. There is noticeably less production on banks and structure (except for the lower reach below Byington) compared to the past several weeks, riffles, seams, eddies, and flat continue to have a lot of action. In fact, it is possible to sit on riffles and in eddies for quite a while and get into a bunch of fish.

PMDs and caddis are the primary fare on the water. You will also see some remaining yellow sallies and a few golden stoneflies. Grasshoppers are starting to appear with more frequency in the afternoon on all reaches. The presence of hoppers and golden stones are a good reason to throw #12 to #8 attractors at banks and structure while moving to the more productive riffles and seams. Fishing riffles and seams and eddies has been best with PMD and caddis imitation – both adults and emergers – but don’t neglect fishing your attractor and hopper patterns in these waters with a dropper. This has been working pretty solid throughout the day.

Effective dry flies – Circus Peanuts, Winged Peanuts, Snake River Water Walkers, Barrett’s Ant, Will’s Winged Chernobyl, Gorilla Hoppers, Parachute Hoppers, Stimulators, Tent Wing Caddis, Jay’s Dun Caddis, Parachute Extended Body PMDs and Cahills, Comparaduns, Pink Sulfur Emergers, Booty’s PMD Emerger, and Halo Emergers.

Effective nymphs – Foxy Sallie Stones, Better Than Sex Nymphs, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Copper Johns in red, Psycho Mays, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph, and Hickey’s Auto Nymph.

Effective streamers – Kreelux, Chickletts, Silvey Sculpins, J.J. Specials, Tequilley’s, Bow River Buggers, and Galloup’s Zoo Cougar.

Green River

We are getting into late July but the Green River continues to produce in a good way. The best fishing is being found in the Campground reaches above Warren Bridge down to Daniel Bridge and from Sommer’s down to Piney Cutoff. Mornings are fishing best with a noticeable slowdown occurring after 1pm. However, on those days when there is solid cloud cover and precipitation (which we have had a decent amount of over the past two weeks), the afternoon can fish as good or better than the morning. PMDs and caddis and yellow sallies are on the water. Drakes and golden stone are starting to wane. As on the Snake, we are seeing some Claassenia shucks on the banks in Campgrounds.

Structure, banks, and bankside troughs are fishing best throughout the entire morning. Riffles and seams will come on line from about 10 am until about 1 pm.

Effective dry flies – Snake River Water Walkers, Will’s Winged Chernobyls, Circus Peanuts, Winged Peanuts, Simulators, Hackle Stacker Sallies, Parachute Extended Body PMDs, Booty’s PMD Emergers, Film Critics, Quigley Cripples, Q’s Loop Wing Cripple, Elk Hair Caddis, and Sanchez’s Foam Wing Caddis.

Effective Nymphs – Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Psycho Princes, Foxy Sallie Stones, Mercer’s Bead Tail Caddis Pupa, Copper Johns in red or olive, Robins, LOF Pheasant Tails, and Zug Bugs.