Snake River

Very much the same story on the Snake as it was at the beginning of the month – mostly midges on the surface and below with some action on roe patterns as the whitefish spawn begins to wane (or at least we think it is waning). The best water to target at the moment is slower current margins along eddies and seams.  There is also more trout beginning to hold in no-current water in back channels and the mouth of side channels.  The vast majority of activity is on lightly weighted nymphs, of course, although there can be surface action from time-to-time in the mid-afternoon hours when conditions are right.

Current margins running along riffle pools and tailouts are still producing with egg patterns and midge larva/pupa imitations. Focus on the former, and don’t expect it to be quite as good as the slower currents mentioned above.

Surface action over the coming week should kick a bit more into gear as air temps warm into the upper 30s. That’s a good thing short term, bad thing long term.

Dry flies – CDC Wing Midge Emergers, Snowshoe Midges, and Parachute Midges.

Nymphs – Peach Fuzz Jigs, Pinky Jigs, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Dorsey’s Mercury Midges, Mercer’s Midgling, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Yarn Eggs, and Veiled Eggs.

South Fork

I’m gonna sound like a broken record, but not much has changed on the South Fork over the past two weeks. Flows from the reservoir stand at 900cfs and the best fishing has been on the upper reach in Swan Valley and the lower reach from Kelly’s Island down to Lorenzo.  Nymphing with midge larva/pupa in riffle pools, riffle tailouts, and along banks with slow currents is producing best.  As on the Snake, the best action has been from approximately noon until around 4pm to 5pm.  Surface action is a possibility in the same water during a tight window during the mid-afternoon hours, but don’t expect it every day.

Roe patterns are still working (and better than what is occurring on the Snake) on flats and in riffle pools and tailouts. Go with lightly weighted rigs with leader in the six foot range from line to trailing fly.

Dry flies – Furimsky BDEs, Snowshoe Midges, Parachute Midges, and CDC Wing Midges.

Nymphs – Rainbow Warriors, Redemption BWOs, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Dorsey’s Mercury Midges, Otter’s Soft Milking Eggs, Clown Eggs, Yarn Eggs, and Nuclear Eggs.