Snake River

PMDs are waning but still out there in a decent fashion from around 11am until 4pm. Short-wing stoneflies continue to emerge and are a good ticket in the morning hours. Grasshoppers and carpenter ants are also about and their imitations can be fished from around 11am until dusk. Keep in mind that the high air temps of the past week have been contributing to mid-column water temps hitting the 67 degree mark and surface temps hitting 69. This is slowing top-water action after 3pm noticeably most days. The sweet spot has been from about 11am until 2pm.

Larger stonefly, terrestrial, and attractor patterns are working best when fished along banks, bankside troughs, submerged structure, side channels, and seams. They are also working when at the head of riffles and in eddies, although this is happening later in the afternoon hours. PMDs and other mayfly imitations can bring fish up in the morning hours in the right water but they really hit their stride in the late morning hours and through the afternoon when fished in riffles, seams, confluence currents, and bankside troughs.

Nymphs have been performing best when fished as part of a dry-dropper rig or a short (four to six foot) double rig. From the early morning hours until around 1:30pm they seem to be effective in most holding water types at least in a decent fashion. After 1:30, they are working almost exclusively in riffle pools and the mid and tail sections of seams. This is particularly the case with short double nymph rigs.

Streamers continue to be inconsistent with some days that are lights out (from a numbers standpoint at least) and other days that are sub-par. One noticeable difference compared to a month ago is that we are starting to pick up more larger fish but this is being accomplished by fishing fairly deep in the water column – three to six feet – with T-8 or short pieces of T-11 or T-14. If going this route, target deeper pools at the margin of seams, riffle pools, and banks/structure with at least moderate depths. Floating and intermediate sinking lines and sinking tips in the INT to 3ips range are working well in most holding water types and depths but are not necessarily picking up 18-plus in trout. No matter what you route you go, consider using moderately sized forage fish imitations, which are out-performing larger patterns at the moment.

Dry flies – Mary Kays, Pole Dancers, Circus Peanuts, Will’s Winged Chernobyls, Parachute Hoppers, Joe’s Hoppers, Turck’s Power Ant, Chez’s Gorilla Glue Bees, Parachute Extended Body PMDs, Parachute Adams, Purple Hazes, Parawulffs, Thorax PMDs, Comparaduns, Snowshoe Duns, Booty’s DL PMD Cripple, Quigley Cripples, and Film Critics.

Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, Kaufmann’s Black Stone, Peach Fuzz Jigs, Psycho Princes, Hares Ear Nymph, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns in red or copper, Lightening Bugs, and Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph.

Streamers – Galloup’s Sex Dungeon, Booty’s Quad Bunny, Keller’s Nightmare, Sundell’s Night Fire, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, Galloup’s Mini Dungeon, Booty Call Minnow, Fur Burgers, and Chicklets.

South Fork

Much the same on the South Fork as on the Snake – PMDs waning but still out there in decent numbers mid-day, mutant stones are going strong and offering acceptable fishing for opportunistic trout in the morning hours and through the day, and terrestrials are around and will be for several more weeks. The top water sweet spot has been from 11:30 until 3pm. Water temps have been consistent but are starting to touch 63 degrees on the surface around 4pm.

Attractor, hopper, and stonefly patterns are working best when fished along banks and structure throughout the day and can get into fish later in the afternoon hours in riffles, flats, eddies, and seams. PMD imitations are offering more production than anything in riffles, flats, bankside troughs, and banks (especially from 1pm until 3pm) with slow to moderate current speeds and depths. As mentioned above, this action is occurring from most consistently from just before noon until 3pm.

Nymphing is still quite consistent with either dry-dropper rigs or double/triple nymph rigs in the five to seven foot range from trailer to line/suspension device. Target riffles and riffle pools, seams, eddy current margins, and bankside troughs. Larger stonefly imitations are doing the trick until around noon. After that, smaller mayfly imitations are performing best.

Streamers are working well but can be inconsistent from day to day. Some days it is the morning hours that are fishing best, others it is the afternoon. Some days larger patterns are performing well, other days it is more moderately sized patterns. Just fish hard and either stick with what you have or switch it up. What has been consistent is the lines you choose. Without question, intermediate sinking lines or tips in the INT to 6ips range are doing the trick. Switch up your retrieves but focus on long, two to three foot line strips and throw in a pause every now and then. Target banks (especially those with undercut features), submerged structure, riffle pools, and the current margin of seams. Slow backwater currents where side channels and main channels meet are worth targeting with 6ips tips and moderate retrieves.

Dry flies – Kasey’s Creature, J-Slams, Circus Peanuts, Snake River Water Walkers, Parachute Hoppers, Dave’s Hoppers, Turck’s Power Ant, Parasol Ants,Parachute Extended Body PMDs, Parachute Adams, Comparaduns, Pink Parachutes, Z-Duns, Pink Sulfur Emergers, Booty’s DL PMD Cripple, Film Critics, and Q’s Loop Wing Cripple.

Nymphs – Pats Rubber Leg, Bitch Creek Nymphs, San Juan Worms, Knight Krawlers, Duracells, Brush Hog Jigs, Pyscho Princes, Psycho Mays, Bruised Mays, Code Reds, Lightening Bugs, Redemption PMDs, Stone Clingers, Rainbow Warriors, Zebra Midges, and Ice Cream Cone Midges.

Streamers – Galloup’s Boogeyman, Silvey Sculpins, Coffey’s Articulated Sparkle Minnow, Galloup’s Peanut Envy, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, Sculpzillas, Baby Bunnies, Booty Call Minnows, and McCune Sculpins.