Snake River

Cooler temps in Snake River country but we are still getting many days in the upper 30s to upper 40s and a respectable amount of surface action in the afternoon on midge and blue-winged olive imitations. Slow water targets at the margin, tailout, and inside head of riffles are the prime water types to hit.  There is also decent activity in eddies and side channel confluences, although not as consistent as you will find in the vicinity of riffles.

Double nymph rigs and dry-droppers can produce throughout the day, although the activity is definitely better in the afternoon. Chironomid larva and pupa are working best.  Egg patterns have been producing through November but expect this to continue through December as the whitefish spawn continues.  Target riffle tailouts primarily, and go with as long of a drift as you can before a take.

Dry Flies – Parachute Extended Body BWO, Booty’s BWO Emerger, Q’s Loop Wing Cripple, Parachute Midge, Furimisky BDE, Parachute Midge Emerger, and Renegades.

Nymphs – Biot Bugs, Soft Hackle Princes, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph, Mercer’s Midgling, Zebra Midges, Rojo Midges, Booty’s Day-2 Midge, and RS-2s, Nuclear Eggs, Veiled Eggs, and Clown Eggs.

South Fork

Much the same story as what is being experienced on the Snake – Cooler temps we still have days in the lower 40s to lower 50s and decent dry fly action in the afternoon. Riffle tailouts, Seams, eddies, and flats are all fishing well with midges and blue-winged olive imitation (noticeably more blue-winged olives on the South Fork than on the Snake).  Expect this action to start around noon and build until 3pm until falling off around 4:30 to 5pm.

Nymphs are producing throughout the day with OK action in the morning and much better action in the afternoon. Dry-dropper rigs are working best.  If you go with a double or triple rig, keep your leader length at roughly five to six feet from line-leader joint to the trailing pattern.  Target riffles, seams, and flats.  As on the Snake, egg patterns should continue to produce in riffles on flats throughout December.

Dry Flies – Parachute Extended Body BWO, Parachute Adams, Booty’s BWO Emerger, Quigley Cripples, Sulfur Emergers, Parachute Midges, Furimisky BDE, Air-Flo Tricos, Parachute Midge Emerger, and Griffith Gnats.

Nymphs – Biot Bugs, Prince Nymphs, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Psycho Princes, Mercer’s Midgling, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Booty’s Day-2 Midge, Nuclear Eggs, Veiled Eggs, and Glo-Bugs.