Snake River

More consistent fishing now with warmer water temps.  Fishing is respectable after 11am and can last until 3pm most days.  The sweet spot, especially with surface flies and shallow dry-dropper rigs, is happening from 1pm to 3pm, although on some days it is occurring earlier.

Midges continue to be the name of the game almost solely.  Ledge rock pools, eddies, and the current margins where backwater channels meet main channel seams are the most productive waters to fish.  Slow water is definitely key, but we are starting to see a bit more action in currents with moderate speeds, especially around ledge rock pools and in eddies.

Dry flies – Griffith Gnats, Renegades, Mating Midges, Parachute Midges, CDC Midge Emergers, and Ritt’s ARF Midge Adult.

Nymphs – Duracells, Keller’s Peach Fuzz, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Mercer’s Zebra Midgling, Brassies, and Egan’s Green Dart, Perdigons.

South Fork

Decent fishing on the South Fork with good action on the lower river from Kelly’s Island down to Menan followed by the upper river in Swan Valley.  Both reaches are fishing best from about 11am until dusk.  Surface action on the lower reach occurs from around 12:30pm until 4pm, while the upper reach is fishing most consistently on the surface in a tight window from around 1pm until 3pm.

Surface feeding has been occurring primarily along seam current margins, slow current eddies, backwater channels, and banks with slow currents.  Obviously, it is almost exclusively midges.  This water is also worth targeting with nymph rigs, although riffle pools and drop-offs running parallel with slow currents are definitely worth fishing as well.

Dry flies – Renegades, Mating Midges, Super Renegades, Parachute Adams, Parachute Midges, CDC Midge Emergers, and Chez’s Krystal Wing Midge Emerger.

Nymphs – Duracells, Brillion’s Lucent Jig, Brillion’s Mellow Yellow, Copper Johns in red or black, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Zebra Midges, Jujubee Midges, Nuclear Midges, Devil Jigs, and Perdigons.