Snake River

Lots of snow in the valley over the past two week is making access to the river a bit of the work. Take snowshoes or skis if you have them.

Pretty warm temps are sparking some good chironomid emergences and more Capnias are about as well.  This is not automatically sparking intense feeding, but it is happening when the fish feel up to it.  Most of this is occurring at the tail of riffle pools and in deeper side channels with minimal current.  Nymphing still remains the most consistent way to go and are producing in the same water.  Small to moderately sized streamers are also producing on floating lines and INT tips retrieved slowly.

Dry flies – CDC Midge Emergers, Parachute Midges, and Furimsky BDEs.

Nymphs – Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail Jigs, Lightening Bugs, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph, Zebra Midges, and Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa.

Streamers – Rickard’s Seal Bugger, Slump Busters, Fruit Roll-Ups, and Woolley Buggers.

South Fork

Flows from Palisades Reservoir have been ramped up to just over 2,500cfs to create room for the coming runoff. As on the Snake, there is lots of snow just about everywhere on the South Fork so be prepared to do a bit of hard slogging to get to the water you want to fish.  Riffle tails and riffle current margins are producing best with nymphs primarily.  There is dry fly action from time to time in this water.  The seams of side channel confluences are a good second choice.

Streamer fishing continues to pick up. Moderate streamers are working best on floating, hover, and full sinking intermediate lines. Go with slow to moderate retrieves.  Target slower holding water types such as the tail of riffle pools and side channels.

Dry flies – Parachute Midges, Parachute Adams, Parachute Midge Emergers, and Renegades.

Nymphs – Copper Johns in red, black, or olive, Rainbow Warriors, Dorsey’s Mercury Midge, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, and Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa.

Streamers – Bow River Buggers, Beldar Buggers, Clouser Minnows, Baby Bunnies, and Fruit Roll-Ups.