Snake River

Still up-and-down temperatures over the past couple of weeks with some days having highs in the 20s and other days having highs in the 40s. Either way, action on the Snake is clearly leaning towards the mid and late day hours, generally between 11am and 5pm. Chironomids dominate the scene from late morning until mid-afternoon. Nymphs are working throughout the day in riffle pools and seams. There is more action on them at the head of these holding water types later in the day. Chironomid adult and emerger patterns are getting action from about 12:30pm until 4pm. Flats, current margins, and shallow inside turns on seams and riffles are producing on the surface the best.

Dry flies – Furimsky BDEs, Renegades, Mating Midges, Chez’s Parachute Midge Emerger, Ritt’s ARF Midge, and Mosquitos.

Nymphs – Biot Bugs, Soft Hackle Princes, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Evenson’s 2be Midge, and Disco Midges.

South Fork

Very good fishing along the entire length of the South Fork at the moment. Blue-winged olives are starting to subside a bit, but Chironomids are everywhere from mid-morning until late afternoon. Nymphs are working the best when fished in seams and along banks with shallow to moderate depths. There is also quite a bit of action in riffles and on flats, especially with egg patterns, which are obviously imitating the deposits of thousands of spawning whitefish. But don’t ignore mayfly larva imitations, chironomid larva, or streamers, all of which browns and cutthroats are eating pretty solid in the afternoon hours. Action on the surface is happening from 12pm until about 4pm with midge patterns. Surface action is happening mostly in riffles (especially the tails and middle parts) and on flats.

Dry Flies – Parachute Adams, Furimsky BDEs, Palomino Midges, Griffitn Gnats, RS-2s, and Pheasant Tail Emergers, and Film Critics.

Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Legs, Biot Bugs, Copper Johns in red, black, or olive, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Rojo Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Zebra Midges, Yarn Eggs, Veiled Eggs, and Soft Milking Eggs.

Streamers – Chickletts, Burgin Buggers, J.J. Specials, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnows, and Lite Brite Zonkers.