Snake River
A smattering of surface action as fish continue to feed on midges from around 1pm to 3pm, with a wider window of an hour on each end some days. Neomura emergnces continue but are inconsistent. Slow current riffles, eddy and seam current margins, ledge rock pools, and bank with slow currents are key targets.
Dry-dropper rigs with variable tippet lengths depending on water column being targeted are working better than double/triple nymph rigs. Focus on the same water you are targeting with dries and be prepared for eats on your surface attractor supporting your nymphs from time to time.
Streamer fishing is debatably the most productive way to go if you are looking for consistency. Action is occurring as early as 10am and as late as 5pm, with 12pm to 3pm being the sweet spot most days. Moderately sized streamers are producing best, although there are impressive eats and follows on larger patterns. Go with moderate retrieves primarily in eddies, seams, ledge rock pools, and riffles. Slower retrieves are working in slower water types, especially currentless backwater side channels.
Dry flies – Purple Bruces, Mary Kays, Parachute Adams, Parachute Extended BWOs, Booty’s DL BWO Cripple, Furimsky BDEs, Parachute Midges, Ritt’s ARF Midge Adult, and CDC Midge Emerger.
Nymphs – Duracells, Brillion’s Lucent Jig, Keller’s Matte Deamon, Brackett’s LBS, Lightening Bugs, Copper Johns in red, black, or olive, Batmen, Prince Nymphs, Zebra Midges, Mercer’s Midgling, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, and Perdigons.
Streamers – Rustics, Galloup’s Peanut Envy, Silvey Sculpins, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, Booty Call Minnows, Turck’s Tiger Sculpins, Sparkle Yummies, Galloup’s Stacked Blonde, and Sculpzillas.
South Fork
A nice pick up in activity on the upper reach below Palisades Reservoir and continued good fishing on the lower river below Byington. There can be decent activity on the surface with midge and small mayfly imitations in riffles, troughs, seams, and banks with slow currents. Tandem adult-emerger rigs are a good way to go.
Nymph rigs are producing strong when targeting riffles, eddies, seams, troughs, and submerged structure. No need to really go deep with your leader/tippet length. We have been maxing out at 6ft from trailing fly to line/suspension device. At times, two feet of tippet will suffice, especially around submerged structure.
Streamers are working well on just about every reach but none more so than the lower river below Byington. Banks, troughs, riffles (especially riffle heads), seams, and backwater side channels are producing best. Go with large and moderately sized patterns fished on floating lines or INT to 3ips tips. Slow retrieves are working best on the upper river. Moderate retrieves are doing to trick on the lower reaches.
Dry flies – Parachute Extended Body BWOs, Parachute Adams, Thorax BWOs, Klinkhammers, Booty’s BWO Emerger, Parachute Midges, CDC Midge Emergers, and Chez’s Krystal Wing Midge Emerger.
Nymphs – Duracells, Keller’s Peach Fuzz, Copper Johns in black or olive, Military Mayflies, Egan’s Rainbow Warriors, Egan’s Green Dart, Devil Jigs, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Jujubee Midges, and Perdigons.
Streamers – Galloup’s Boogeyman, Coffey’s Articulated Sparkle Minnow, Booty’s Quad Bunny, Goldilocks, Chez’s Double Bunny, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, J.J. Specials, and Kreelux.
Henry’s Fork
Not a ton of surface action but the consistency on nymphs is making the Henry’s Fork one of the better places to be in the region. If you are hell bent on fishing dries, stick downstream of Ashton and focus on banks, riffles, and submerged structure in the afternoon from around 1pm until 5pm. Midges are the name of the game.
Now back to the nymphing – The lower river has been fishing good with a variety of patterns. 10am to 5pm has been the most consistent time period. Target submerged structure, riffles and riffle current margins, seams, and eddies. Dry-droppers are working well with two and a half to four feet of tippet. Fishing with a sighter as opposed to a suspension device is also a good way to go at the moment.
Streamers have been hit-or-miss but when it is happening small to moderately sized pattern are producing best. Concentrate on banks and submerged structure. Go with sinking tips in the 3ips to 6ips range and slow retrieves primarily.
Dry flies – Parachute Adams, Olive Comparaduns, Rusty Spinners, Parachute Midges, Bubbleheads, and CDC Midge Emergers.
Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, Nymph Formerly Known as Prince, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Two Bit Hookers, Hot Head Marys, Zebra Midges, and Perdigons
Streamers – Sculpzillas, Galloup’s Mini Dungeon, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, Clouser Minnows, Thunder Minnows, Beldar Buggers, Pine Squirrrel Zonkers, and Slump Busters.