Snake River

Cooler temps have returned to the region so we are mainly dealing with midge activity with a subsurface window of 11:30am to around 3:30pm and a tight surface window of noon until 2pm.  Ledge rock pools are producing best, followed by troughs and riffle tails.  Seams and eddies offer a modicum of action now and then.  If fishing nymphs, go fairly deep with double/triple rigs in the morning, but shorten up to two to four feet in the water column during the sweet spot when fish are active on the surface.  Dry fly action has been productive with emergent chironomid patterns primarily.  Fishing tandem rigs – adult trailing an emerger – is a worthwhile way to go.

Dry flies – Renegades, Parachute Adams, Parachute Midges, CDC Midge Emergers, Chez’s Krytstal Wing Midge Emerger, and Stalcup’s RS-2.

Nymphs – Copper John’s in red or black, Zebra Midges, UV Midge Emerger, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Brassies, and Perdigons,

South Fork

The best action has been on the lower river from Byington down to Menan with nymph rigs producing from around 10am to 4pm and surface patterns working from 11am until 3pm with the sweet spot being from 11:30am to 2:30pm.  Eddies and seams are fishing best followed by riffles, and parallel drop-offs.  There can also be decent action in backwater side channels from Heise down to Menan, especially with nymphs fished in the two-and-a-half to four-foot range below and indicator/suspension device. Dry fly production is best in eddies and seams, with riffle pools working well later in the afternoon.

Dry flies – Griffith Gnats, Furimsky BDEs, Renegades, Parachute Adams, CDC Midge Emergers, Matt’s Midge, Ritt’s ARF Midge Adult, and Stalcup’s RS-2.

Nymphs – Durcell’s, Brillion’s Mellow Yellow, Rainbow Warriors, Black Beauties, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Blood Midges, Manhattan Midges, and Perdigons.