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September 2010

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / 2010 / September (Page 2)

Henry’s Fork 9-21-10

Cooling weather is proving to be just what we need.  BWOs, caddisflies and some mahogany duns are providing action on the lower river with evening streamer fishing picking up.  Look for streamer fishing to improve as we advance into fall. On the upper river, terrestrial insects still provide action, with a hopper trailed by a cinnamon ant (#14) being a great way to encounter big trout.  Tricos, tiny BWOs (pseudos), and a few mahogany duns make up the mayfly component this time of year.   Small bead head nymphs continue to provide good fishing in the Box Canyon.

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Yellowstone Park 9-21-10

Some higher country frosts are beginning to nip terrestrial insects, but good populations of these exist on most streams.  This includes Fall River Basin streams, Slough and Soda Butte creeks, and the Lamar River in the meadows. Fishing on the Firehole River is picking up with hatching tricos, BWOs, mahogany duns, midges, and caddisflies providing action.  The big event for this time of year is migrating browns in the Madison, Gibbon, and Lewis rivers.  Low light conditions will be best for encountering these great fish, and streamer patterns are the flies to use.  Particular patterns are not as important as having some in light and some in dark colors.  For some reason, yellow or chartreuse colors in these flies seem to entice strikes.  Looking for still water action in the Park?    Beula Lake remains the best place to find it with a few gulpers still working, and damselfly nymph patterns sure to bring responses.   Best fishing on Lewis and Shoshone lakes this time of year is for migrating browns around their outlets and Lewis Lake’s inlet.

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Main Stem Snake River 9-21-10

Flows in the river are slightly below normal in locations between Menan and American Falls Reservoir.  It’s time to present streamers during evening and early morning hours, and there are several locations to walk in and enjoy do this. Come in and see us so we can point some out to you.   If you prefer fishing dry flies there are many locations for doing so.  Evening caddisflies and PM BWO activities are ongoing.

Here’s a piece of good news: the “old dog pound” access on West River Road just above Idaho Falls has been re-opened to trespass by the city.  The city had closed it for undisclosed reasons, but now with the signs down and berms leveled, one can drive over to fish the banks or launch pontoon or drift boats to fish the great waters that extend upstream to the city power dam.

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Henry’s Lake 9-21-10

Fishing is improving, but mainly for those trolling streamers out in the lake.  As we cool off more fish will move toward shallow water, so look for better fishing days as we move into October.

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Big Lost River 9-21-10

Flow out of  Mackay Dam is about 300 cfs, tricos are active during AMs, BWOs are active during PMs, and terrestrial insects remain in good numbers.  So the river offers some good walk-in fishing  just below the dam, at the downstream campground and at IDF&G access areas. With the great fall weather predicted for the upcoming days, a visit to the river should be on your list of fishing locations to visit.

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South Fork 9-20-10

The flow has  dropped to 6,960 cfs at Irwin. There are good hatches of blue wing olives and mahogany duns on bright days and even better hatches on the overcast days. This weekend we had very good fishing using a small black or cinnamon ant (14 & 16) in the riffles. There is still good action on hoppers and remember that each water drop causes more of the golden stones to emerge.

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South Fork 9/14

Things have started to pick back up on the South Fork. Dry Fly fishing is not over for the season and many fish have been up eating Parachute Adams, Mahogany Duns, Blue Wing Olives, Chernobyl Ants and Hoppers. The Dry dropper technique has been working well for me in the mornings and I have been switching to smaller dries against the bank in the afternoons. I have had great success with the Frumpy Humpy fly the last few days. I have been throwing the green and peacock frumpy humpy against the bank and in the flats. I think the trout have been taking it as a Black Ant pattern. Weather has played a big role in the hatches on the river. Look for the Blue Wings to hatch in the morning on Sunny days and the Caddis to hatch towards sundown. On cloudy or rainy days expect a hatch all day and the fishing to be awesome. As far as droppers go I have been using Zebra Midges, Redemption Nymphs and various other bead head droppers.

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Yellowstone Park 9-10-10

Crowds are down and insect pests are nearly gone, too.  Hebgen Lake fish are in the Madison River, Bechler Meadows, Slough Creek meadows and Black Canyon of the Yellowstone River are full of hoppers and tricos,  same with the meadow reaches of the Madison River, Duck Creek browns are on the move, Lewis River system browns are gearing up to do the same, the weather is cooling enough for the Firehole River to be in good fishing shape. So good fishing related things are happening here.  It’s probably the best time to be fishing in the Park.

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Small Streams 9-10-10

South Fork tribs, Bear Creek, and Big Elk Creek remains good fishing with afternoon caddis and terrestrial insects bringing action.  It’s pretty much the same on the Salt River tribs. Terrestrial patterns are working well on the lower Teton River and Warm River where BWOs are coming on strong.  The upper  Blackfoot River, especially the wildlife management area is a great choice for fishing terrestrial and streamer patterns, and the flows on the river below the dam are dropping to stable levels.  Look for terrestrial, traditional attractor, caddis life cycle and streamer patterns to be effective there.  Birch Creek remains one of the best for action where any dry pattern in size 12 or smaller will draw attention from family fishing area trout which, by the way, are all wild fish.    Beaver, Medicine Lodge, Sawmill creeks and Little Lost River will also offer action for those using traditional attractor and caddis life cycle patterns.

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Big Lost River 9-10-10

Flow out of Mackay Dam is at 250 cfs, ideal for walk in wade fishing and to give fish good overhead cover.   Tricos are going good.  In the afternoon BWO life cycle and terrestrial patterns work well.

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