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August 2011

Fly Fish Food Jimmy's / 2011 / August (Page 3)

Henry’s Fork 8-19-11

August 19, 2011
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Henry's Fork

Big news here is that construction will soon begin on the Ashton Dam.  To begin, the reservoir will be drained by 17 feet over the near future after an outlet tunnel is blasted.  We are all hoping that this will be done in a manner that will not silt the downstream river bottom.  Nevertheless with increased flows of warm water, fishing will be impacted downstream likely through the Chester Dam backwater.  Terrestrial patterns presented along vegetated banks, outcrops, and overhanging logs should bring interest during daytime. Evening caddis activity should bring action, too.

Flow out of Henry’s Lake has been well over 100cfs all summer, so a lot of large lake fish have been washed into the river below.  Yesterday flow out of the lake was dropped to 98cfs.  That means those big fish escaped from Henry’s Lake will move downstream. Want  a chance to catch a really large cutt, hybrid or brookie? Try the Flat Ranch reach within the next few days. Try streamers or terrestrial patterns for the best chance to encounter these big guys.

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South Fork 8/16

August 16, 2011
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South Fork

Hi all Tim here, checking in from the river. I wanted to write up the fishing report for today because I have been on the river almost everyday for the last month, and I think I have some insight you might want to hear.

Flows seem to be holding well at 9,000 cfs. There are lots of good riffles and banks to fish. Yesterday was the first day I didn’t tie on a strike indicator! We fished chenobyls with beadhead droppers against the banks and we fished streamers. The streamer fishing is really good this summer. I have had my best success on Olive and White streamers. Nymphing is still the best of way to get into a lot of fish but if your sick of looking at thingamabobbers (like I am) you can fish dries. Its not red hot but fish are eating them. Not many fish up in the riffles eating mayflies but I have found a few every once in awhile.

Most sections seem to be fishing the same. Fish hard and fish at different times of the day, like early morning and late into the evening. As the flows drop look for the mutant stoneflies to start hatching and the hoppers should be turning on anytime now.

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Henry’s Fork 8-15-2011

August 15, 2011
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Henry's Fork

Best way to get action up and down the river this part of the season is through using  terrestrial patterns. Expect them to work very well in less frequented locations such as Hatchery Ford, above and between  Mesa Falls, below Riverside campground, and above and below Coffee Pot Rapids.  They certainly will be effective at Last Chance, up and down the Harriman State Park reach, and around Wood Road 16, but you will have more company presenting the same and a greater variety of life forms for fish to choose from.

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Small Streams 8-15-2011

August 15, 2011
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Small Streams

Almost any of these will be a great choice at least to the end of the month, but some of the very smallest will begin to fade as water reaches base levels and trout go downstream to seek more overhead cover. Want to try a small stream with super-abundant trout and quite a ways off the beaten path?   Sawmill Creek is a great candidate. Go to Howe, Idaho on State Highway 33.  Turn north on the paved county road and travel for miles up the Little Lost River Valley. The pavement ends just above the “almost township” of Clyde, Idaho.  From here travel further up the well-maintained gravel road bearing to right to where it forks for final time. Take the right fork (left hand fork goes on to the Pahsimeroi Valley), and follow it to the Sawmill Creek crossing. You can stop here, about 130 miles north and west of Idaho Falls,  and fish or travel further up the creek to drop off at any worthy looking spot, and there are many of them, to give it a try.  Rainbows, brookies and bull trout are the residents, and anything over fourteen inches is a “braggin’ fish” , so plan your tackle accordingly.  They will take just about any attractor, caddisfly life cycle or terrestrial pattern you offer on top water, and sub-surface they do the same for any soft hackle or nymph pattern presented.  Yes, it is a long haul, but the country is gorgeous and good fishing almost a sure thing.  Don’t forget that camera.

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Still Waters 8-15-2011

August 15, 2011
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Still Water

Almost across the board speckled duns are beginning to emerge and take over as the best reason for dry fly fishing.  Dry adult damselfly patterns are also great at bringing fish to the surface.  Without wind great fishing can be had the entire day. In fact, with such still waters as Springfield, Treasureton,  Harriman Fish Pond, Hawkins, prime locations on Chesterfield and Twenty-Four Mile weeding up, dry fly fishing is the most practical way to present.  Everywhere consider using as stout a leader (at least 3X) as practical because those big fish will head down into the weeds attempting to escape. The only way you will get them out is to have a leader that can withstand your efforts on one end and that big one’s efforts on the other.

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South Fork 8-15-2011

August 15, 2011
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South Fork

Flow out of Palisades Dam is where it should be for the time of year—9000 cfs.  With lower flows, the river below is clearing and not scouring banks & bottom to release annelids, nymphs, grubs, etc. as in weeks past. That means fish will go to the surface more often to seek food.  So dry fly fishing is finally improving with caddisflies and mayflies emerging and stream side terrestrial insects present in abundance.    Chubby chernobyls, Berrett’s golden stone, your favorite ant, beetle and hopper patterns, PMD and caddisfly life cycle patterns should be in your fly box.  If you plan to take out of the river at the Twin Bridges south channel site be prepared to push your boat over an upstream gravel bar that has emerged from the dropping flows.  This gravel bar should be visible in the clear water.

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Small Streams 8-12-2011

August 12, 2011
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Small Streams

Best time of the season for small streams is right now, so let’s pass on information for another one that is worth a visit. The North Fork of the Teton River is locally called “Bitch Creek”.  It drains the west slope of the Grand Teton Range, flows westerly, crosses Idaho State Highway 32 north of Felt, Idaho, then into a deep, difficult to access canyon to combine with the Teton River. Near the Highway 32 crossing it is fished and visited more than reaches upstream.  In these upstream reaches, Bitch Creek is a classic freestone, riffle and run stream of  the clearest, finest water around.  Cutthroat trout, free of any other trout species, abound here. They range up to near twenty inches.  A four or five weight system is ideal for this water, and fishing on the surface brings the joy of having cutts coming up to take a fly.  Caddisflies and stoneflies abound and now terrestrial insects are important. Traditional attractors work very well. Now with the stream reaching base level it is easily fished by walk-in wading.  You can do this by walking the old railroad grade to the trestle crossing Bitch Creek , then accessing the stream.  Another way that gets you upstream even further is to turn east off Highway 32 at mile seven north of Felt. This well-maintained gravel road heads, after going through section line turns heads east.  Near mile five it heads east for the final time, and at this turn is an access point over private land. This is a non-motorized,walk-in access in which the owners ask that anglers stay within fifty feet of the stream which is about a mile away.    Thus this access is a privilege to be respected.  Tread lightly, comply with the owner’s request, release your catch,  carry out any trash, and consider thanking the owners identified at the access.   Afternoons are best time of day to enjoy Bitch Creek.

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South Fork 08-11-11

August 11, 2011
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South Fork

The South Fork has  dropped  to 9,000 cfs and has been steady for a couple of days. The water clarity has also improved a lot from last week.. We have been having better success on the surface with bigger attractors like chubby chernobyls. Its important to twitch   these flies instead of dead drifting them. The most consistent fishing is still  with nymphs either under an indicator or dry.  Streamer action has been good from daylight till around 8:00 am and then again when the shadows fall in the evening. The Pale Morning Dun emergence is still spotty but they are appearing in more riffles with each day.

One note about the Lorenzo ramp. The Bureau of Land Management will be removing the large rocks in front the ramp as soon as flows permit.

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Today at Jimmy’s 8/8

August 8, 2011
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Today at Jimmy's

Hi all Tim here, I wanted to share some information about the South Fork. I floated to Lorenzo today and the boat ramp is a little tricky. The bank against the boat ramp is moving very fast. There is currently a boulder right in the middle of the boat ramp. I took some photos of it so you could all see whats going on at this takeout.

Here is another view from the handicap access.

Remember to go to the river right side under the bridge there is a new gravel bar that would make you miss the boat ramp if you float down the right side. I took a picture of this gravel bar as well looking upriver from the boat ramp.You can clearly see the gravel bar on the right side of the photo.

Good luck fishing and have a safe summer while floating the rivers.

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Yellowstone Park 8-8-2011

August 8, 2011
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Yellowstone Park

Water remains high in Fall River Basin streams. This means fish respond best to wet flies.  If you must fish dry, try large attractor patterns to tempt the big ones off the bottom. Hoppers are appearing around the edge of meadows, but it looks like it will be a while before they will be important for big resident trout.   The more the water drops, the better will become their interest in going to the surface.

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