Snake River
Flows have been dropping from Jackson Lake Dam and, with the clarity, this almost feels like the fishing we get a month from now (minus the 80-plus degree air temps). Claassenia and Hecuba are out alongside PMDs and the latter two, along with BWOs, are heavily present on wetter days primarily from Deadmans Bar down to South Park Bridge. Stoneflies patterns are working throughout the day in just about every type of holding water. Mayfly patter are working best after 11am until around 4pm in riffle, riffle pools, troughs, and seams. Pay particular attention to fish that might be holding a good three to six feet off of banks with moderate currents and depths.
Nymphs are working best on the lower reaches from South Park down to Sheep Gulch and are also producing best after 11am. Target submerged structure, riffles, eddies, and confluences and go with two to four feet of dropper tippet (deeper in the morning, shallower in the afternoons) or six to seven feet of leader from trailing fly to line/suspension device for double/triple nymph rigs.
Streamers are still hit or miss most days but do have a bit of an upside down bell curve going with action in the morning and then again after 3pm until after 7pm.. Most eats are coming on slow to moderate retrieves. Floating lines or sinking tips in the 3ips to 6ips are working best. Target banks, structure, troughs, confluence dumps, and the head of riffles.
Dry flies – Chubby Chernobyls, Purple Bruces, Circus Peanuts, Mary Kays, Snake River Water Walkers, Parachute Hares Ears, Booty’s Drake Emerger, Parachute Extended Body Drake and PMD, Parachute Adams, Pink Parachutes, Purple Haze, Booty’s DL Cripple, and Film Critics.
Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, Peach Fuzz Jigs, Brillion’s Lucent Jigs, Psycho Princes, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph, Copper Johns in red, olive, or copper, Holla Girls in pink, Panty Droppers, Egan’s Dart, Lightening Bugs, and Rainbow Warriors.
Streamers – Silvey Sculpins, Galloup’s Boogey Man, Coffey’s Articulated Sparkle Minnow, Booty’s Quad Bunny, McKnight’s Home Invader, SRA Bunnies, Mojo Minnows, Booty’s Tri-Bunny, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, and Kreelux.
South Fork
Flows from Palisades Reservoir are just over 8,000cfs and there is more suspended vegetation on the upper reaches but still good action most days on dry flies as mutant stones and PMDs continue to emerger and BWOs show themselves on cooler and wetter days. Stonefly imitations are working best when fished along banks, structure, the inside turn of riffles, and at the head of seams. This water will also produce with PMD and BWO patterns but are more consistent in riffles, seams, flats (especially in early to mid-afternoon), and eddies. Caddis are still around in intermittent fashion and can offer opportunities in the mid-morning hours along banks as well as riffles and slow seams and eddies.
Nymphs are consistent throughout the day in eddies, riffles, seams, and, to a lesser degree flats. Fish droppers with three to five feet of tippet or double nymph rigs with six to seven and a half feet of leader from trailing fly to line/suspension device. Keep an eye out for suspended vegetation.
Streamer fishing has been inconsistent but is work well early in the morning and throughout those days with cloud cover and precipitation. A variety of lines and tips are producing equally well, although INT and 3ips tips have a slight advantage. Target banks and structure throughout the day and riffle pools and seam tails in the afternoon.
Dry flies – Snake River Water Walkers, Circus Peanuts, Winged Peanuts, Kasey’s Creature, Parachute Adams, Parachute Extended Body PMDs, Comparaduns, Snowshoe Duns, Pink Alberts, Booty’s DL Cripple, and Film Critics
Nymphs- Pat’s Rubber Leg, San Juan Worms, Peach Fuzz Jigs, Brillion’s Lucent Jigs, Bruised Mays, Psycho Mays, Panty Droppers, Flahsback Pheasant Tails, Bubbleback Pheasant Tails, and Perdigons.
Streamers – Galloup’s Peanut Envy, Sundell’s Ghost Dancer, Trevor’s Sculpin, Strolis’ Masked Avenger, McKnight’s Home Invader, Goldies, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow, Galloup’s Mini Dungeons, and Gongas.
Flat Creek
No true killing frost yet as grasshoppers remain evident on banks. Hopper imitations continue to work best in a tight early morning window from dawn until around 9am. After this time period, production is best on PMD, trico, and caddis imitations. Lean towards emergent patterns and go pretty light with your tippet – 6X is kind of the standard right now. Nymphs are working on seams, undercut banks, bankside troughs, and riffles. Fish these as droppers or with NZ yarn indicators or indicator tippet. Yep, its spooky time for fish on Flat Creek, and it’s the most enjoyable fishing the stream has to offer.
Dry flies – Micro Peanuts, Mary Kays, Parachute Hoppers, Dave’s Hoppers, Club Sandwiches, CDC Wing Caddis, Sparkle Caddis, Parachute Extended Body PMDs and Mahogany Duns, Comparaduns, Pink Parachutes, Booty’s DL Cripple, Q’s Loop Wing Cripple, and Film Critics.
Nymphs – Hare’s Ear Nymphs, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Panty Droppers, Halla Girls, Lightening Bugs, Soft Hackles, and Mercer’s Glass Tail Caddis Pupa.