Snake River
Midges, a solid amount of Neumora, and some BWOs (on wetter days) make up the majority of bugs out on the water. Water temps are hitting 42 degrees some days and, as a result, skwala are starting to appear in bits and pieces but not quite a respectable hatch yet. As has been the case for the past month or so, surface action has been the most consistent from 11am until around 4pm. However, with still a lot of snow on the valley flow, snowmelt is cooling the water temperature down in the afternoon and slowing action around 2 pm. Riffles, seams, eddies, and side channels are fishing best. Banks and the inside turn of riffles are good places to be with stonefly/attractor patterns.
Nymphing is good during the same time period and in the same waters as dry flies with the exception that side channels are fishing well with nymphs prior to 11am and slow currents along banks can be productive after 1pm. The best action is coming in the two to four foot range in the water column. Dry-dropper rigs in the afternoon is a good way to go as trout begin to pay a bit more attention to the surface.
Streamer fishing remains good on just about every reach and slower currents are producing as early as 9:30am. Seams, side channels, banks, bankside troughs, ledge rock pools and riffle tails with adequate depths are prime targets. Fish moderately sized patterns primarily, although there is increasing action on larger patterns. Floating lines and sinking tips in the INT to 3ips range are working. Go with slow to moderate retrieves without hesitation during retrieval.
Dry flies – Mary Kays, Purple Bruces, Will’s Winged Chernobyl, Stimulators, Furimsky BDEs, Parachute Adams, Parachute Extended Body BWOs, Chez’s Bi-Viz BWO, Booty’s BWO Emerger, Parachute Midges, and CDC Midge Emergers.
Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, Flashback Rubber Legged Hares Ear Nymphs, Duracells, CDC Hustlers, Brillion’s Lucent Jig, KK’s Matte Deamon, Psycho Princes, Copper John in olive or black, Lightening Bugs, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, and Perdigons
Streamers – Galloup’s Boogeyman, Sundell’s Night Fire, Silvey Sculpins, Galloup’s Peanut Envy, Booty’s Tri-Bunny, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, Kreelux, and Chez’s Clump Dubbing Leech.
South Fork
Decent fishing on the lower reaches below Byington and on the upper reaches from the Dam down to Conant. Dry fly production is occurring mostly from around 1pm until 5pm with riffles, seams, confluences and side channels being the best targets. Water temps are hitting just under 45 degrees on the lower river and close to 50 degrees some days on the lower reach. Midges will be there throughout the day, but BWOs are starting to dominate, even on drier days with sun.
Nymphs rigs are a solid choice and pretty much working from 9am until dusk. Drop offs, banks with slow to moderate currents, riffles, seams, and eddy current margins are producing best. There is a lot of variability regarding where the most activity is in the water column. Be prepared to adjust your leader/tippet lengths. In general, three to seven feet of leader from you trailing fly to line/suspension device has been where most of the action is.
Streamers continue to produce and, as on the Snake, there can be respectable action as early as 9:30am. Go with heavily weighted patterns on floating lines primarily, although full sinking intermediate lines and sinking tips in the 3ips range are also producing. Slower retrieves are working best on the upper reaches, while slow and moderate retrieves are doing the trick equally well on the upper reach. Target backwater side channels with minimal currents, seams, the head of riffles, bankside troughs, and banks with slow to moderate currents.
Dry flies – Parachute Adams, Parachute Extended Body BWO, Comparaduns, Film Critics, Booty’s DL Cripple, Parachute Midges, Chez’s Krystal Wing Midge Emerger, and CDC Midge Emergers.
Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, Duracells, Brillion’s Lucent Jig, Egan’s Green Dart, Rainbow Warriors, Military Mayflies, Devil Jigs, Jujubee Midges, Zebra Midges, and Perdigons.
Streamers – Galloup’s Dungeon, Rustics, Goldilocks, Coffey’s Articulated Sparkle Minnow, Lynch Mobs, Meatsticks, Sparkle Yummies, Booty Call Minnows, Beldar Buggers, and Krystal Buggers.
Henry’s Fork
The Hank is a good place to be at the moment with good hatches of caddis on the lower reaches below Warm River and very good emergences of midges and – at times – BWOs on the upper river. Surface action is starting around 11am most days with the sweet spot being from 1pm until 4pm. Submerged structure, banks (especially with overhanging vegetation) , riffles, and seams are fishing best.
Nymph rigs are fishing well from as early as 10am to as late as 5pm. Midge and caddis imitations are taking the lion’s share of the fish. Dry-dropper rigs and double/triple rigs fished with sighters/indicator leader have been working better than suspension devices for the most part. Target riffles, submerged structure, seams and eddies.
Streamer fishing has been good for the most part but expect some subpar days from time to time. Submerged structure, banks, and seams are key targets. Go with moderately sized baitfish imitations fished on hover lines and, full sinking intermediate lines, or sinking tips in the INT to 3ips range. Slow to moderate retrieves are working best for the most part. Hesitations during line retrieval can help when there is a lag in activity.
Dry flies – Stimulators, Elk Hair Caddis, Peking Caddis, Parachute Extended Body BWOs, Booty’s DL Cripple, Film Critics, Parachute Midges, and CDC Midge Emergers.
Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, Duracells, Brush Hogs, Pinky Jigs, Trashcan Caddis, Mercer’s Woven Caddis Pupa, Mathew’s Sparkle Caddis Pupa, Lightening Bugs, Prince Nymphs, Zebra Midges, and Perdigons.
Streamers – Galloup’s Dugeon, Silvey Sculpins, McCune’s Sculpin, Thunder Minnows, Gongas, Dirty Hippies, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow, Craft Fur Clousers, and Krystal Buggers.