Good traffic news! A Street is now open to traffic in the normal one-way (west) flow through the Shoup Ave. and A Street intersection in front of the shop. Shoup Ave at the intersection remains closed meaning no turn north from A Street or through access from Broadway Street.
Flow out of Palisades Dam (around 9000 cfs) has been steady for several days. This is about 1500 cfs above normal, but with maximum water temps in the upper fifties in degrees F., small PMDs and pink alberts are emerging from riffles making for the daytime dry fly fishing for which the South Fork is famed. Having terrestrial insects in full abundance doesn’t hurt dry fly fishing either. During the evening, caddisflies take over as the active insect, and streamers at twilight bring on the big guys. So whether you fish from a boat or walk-in wade, these are the days to be on the river.
Because of construction activities on Ashton Dam the river below clouds up from time to time. So fishing below the dam has slowed. On the upper river Last Chance-Harriman is fishing well. Morning spinner falls, Mid-day and early evening terrestrial activity and evening caddis activity make for action. Want a chance at a big cutthroat or brookie in the Henry’s Fork? The flow out of Henry’s Lake is being dropped. So fish that have come out of the lake and have survived the summer in the reach known as “Henry’s Lake Outlet”, mostly cutthroat but some hybrids and brookies, will be moving downstream into the Tubs above Macks Inn and eventually down to Island Park Reservoir. Best way to encounter these is presenting streamer patterns from the Tubs on down through Coffee Pot.
We can’t help placing this link here because it relates a piece of success in turning Yellowstone Lake back to the cutthroat trout refuge it should be and the source of food for so much wildlife that depends on that presence. Take a look at Jeff’s Journal: “A Bright New Day for Cutthroat” on the front page of the Greater Yellowstone News for August 31st, 2011.
Flow out of Palisades Dam has been stable for weeks, and that flow is near normal. Finally we have the dry fly fishing for which the South Fork is famous. The small late season PMD is emerging from riffles, and fish are moving in to feed on them during daytime. They are also looking for hoppers close to banks and overhead structures, so anything that looks like and is presented to imitate a hopper will find interest. Don’t overlook presenting streamers as the sun goes down.
Tricos are showing up on the Madison River, so consider it along the West Entrance Road and around Baker’s Hole for early AM fishing. Tricos are also beginning to show up on Fall River Basin streams. But on all Park streams, terrestrial patterns will be best bets for mid day fishing.
Chesterfield Reservoir remains a big question mark: good one day, down the next. Let’s hope that fall cool down brings consistency. Daniels and springfield reservoirs have weeded up in shallow areas, but if you find open pockets in weeds, give ’em a try with damselfly nymph or scud patterns. You likely will find some action, but stay with those fish until they revive. Water temperatures are quite high everywhere meaning lean dissolved oxygen levels. Evening caddisfly activity is bringing fish to the top at Sand Creek Ponds, and bloodworm patterns are effective at Grizzly Springs on Island Park Reservoir.
Flow out of Mackay Dam is just about normal. It’s also trico season. With hoppers, a few flavs and BWOs thrown in, its a great time to fish all day long here.
Many of these will remain at their peaks for a few weeks to come. For the smaller ones cooler weather and a drop to base flow will cause trout to migrate downstream to more overhead cover and less temperature extremes. Here’s a small one to consider before we begin cooling off. Cascade Creek flows north out of Wyoming into Fall River in Yellowstone Park. You cross Cascade Creek on the Ashton-Flagg Road a few miles west of crossing Grassy Lake Dam. A trailhead just off the road to Terraced Falls on Fall River is the access point to a meadow reach through which the creek runs before dropping into Fall River. It’s less than a mile walk to reach, and I’d be surprised if more than six folks fish this creek in a season. You will need a Park license to fish here and enjoy the most colorful cutthroat-rainbow anywhere. Bring a high resolution camera. The stream has a bit of a gradient here, so caddisflies are the main insects active this time of year. Terrestrial and attractor patterns in small and medium sizes will work very well. A two-weight rod with a floating line is the best tackle, and if you catch one of those hybrids in the lower teens of inches, you have a braggin’ fish.
With irrigation demands dropping steadily, river flows are dropping to where fly-fishing in becoming very practical from Menan to American Falls Reservoir. Presenting terrestrial patterns along well vegetated banks can be very productive, but streamer fishing during early and late hours is the best way to encounter the big fish throughout the river. Pattern selection is less important that presentation, but because there are more large trout in the main stem river than in any other eastern Idaho stream, you have plenty of locations to make that proper presentation. We can help you pin point some of these, so come in to the shop, or get in touch.