Snake River

At least four boat ramps now open on the Snake.  Dry fly fishing is getting better with the warmer temps we are experiencing.  Much of this is still fairly selective feeding in slow current areas on midges and capnia imitations.  However, there is more action in more variable water types with a wider variety of patterns compared to a couple of weeks ago.  Just about everything is worth targeting at some point of the day, but concentrate on eddies, riffle current margins, and seams.

Nymphs are producing in the same water as dry flies and also working when fished along submerged structure and confluences.  It is becoming apparent the exact imitations are not required.  Going bigger and brighter with you nymphs and larva imitations is producing almost better than standard midge and Capnia patterns.

Streamer fishing continues to pick up but is still largely regulated to slower water types like backwater channels, seam margins, and eddies.  Small to moderately sized baitfish imitations are working best when fished with slow retrieves on floating and intermediate sinking lines.

Dry flies – Furimsky BDEs, Parachute Adams, Parachute Extended Body BWOs, Booty’s DL Cripple, Pheasant Tail Emergers, Film Critics, Parachute Midges, Snowshoe Midges, and CDC Midge Emergers.

Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, Mopscicles, Peach Fuzz Jigs, Lightening Bugs, Egan’s Blue Dart, Two-Bit Hookers, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, and Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa.

Streamers – Kreelux, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, Booty Call Minnows, Fruit Rollups, Slump Busters, and Rickards’ Seal Bugger.  

South Fork

Releases from Palisades Reservoir are at approximately 5,100cfs.  Decent flows for this time of year and most of the river is fishing in solid fashion, particularly with nymph rigs most of the day and with dry flies part of the day if you target the right water.  11am until around 5pm has been best for midge imitations or BWO imitations at times.  1pm until 4pm is the definite sweet spot.  Target riffle tails and current margins, seams, and eddy current margins.  Nymph rigs are producing throughout the day with the best action coming on stonefly, midge, and mysid/scud imitations.  Riffles, submerged structure, and seams have been the best water to target with these patterns.  Shallows are producing with dry-dropper rigs, and don’t be surprised if you pick up fish on #10 dry. 

Streamers have been producing better with the passing of each day, at least in a small, incremental fashion.  Moderate sized patterns are working best, although larger articulated patterns are worth a try, especially on the Canyon reaches from Conant down to Byington.  Go with floating or intermediate sinking lines or sinking tips in the 3ips to 6ips range and steady retrieves (one to one and a half foot line strips with deliberate hesitations every so often.  Target banks and submerged structure, recirculating eddy currents, seams, and riffle current margins.

Dry flies – Mary Kays, Chubby Chernobyls, Micro Peanuts, Parachute Adams, Parachute Extended Body BWOs, Booty’s DL Cripple, Parachute Midges, and Stalcup’s CDC RS-2.

Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, Flashback Rubber Leg Hares Ears, 20-Inchers, Brush Hogs, Rainbow Warriors, Copper Johns in red or black, Zebra Midges, and Ice Cream Cone Midges.