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August 2015

Fly Fish Food Jimmy's / 2015 / August (Page 2)

South Fork 8-12-15

Flow out of Palisades Dam has been going down in a gentle manner (now at 8500 cfs).  This means that riffle fishing, although diminishing a bit, is still good. These drops in flow should also help bring on mutant golden stoneflies and open up a few more wading locations.  Hopper populations are up, so dropping patterns for them close to vegetated banks anywhere along the river is going to be effective.  The evening caddisfly emergence is a great way to find action, but also try skittering an adult cranefly pattern this time of day.

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Henry’s Fork 8-12-15

When honey ants show up on the river in the Harriman-Last Chance reach, fishing will really pick up. We cannot recommend the river below Ashton Dam as a great fishery until after Labor Day. The best fishing on the lower river now is between Warm River and Ashton. Try streamers, big nymph and rubber leg patterns under low light conditions. During day time hours slam (from a boat) or drop (while wading) hopper or hopper-like patterns beneath overhanging vegetation. Try the same with ant, adult cranefly and beetle patterns.

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Still Waters 8-12-15

Springfield Reservoir continues to fish well on its surface. Try adult damsel patterns over channels between weed beds.  Best time to fish Sand Creek Pond #4 is early AM or evening. Soft hackled patterns (partridge and orange or partridge and olive in #12-14) just under the surface make as good as any other speckled dun emerger patterns.  We have a report that the Harriman Fish Pond is being dewatered. If this is actually happening, forget about hold-overs for next year.

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South Fork 8-8-15

The river has been stable for days with respect to flow. However water temperature has climbed a few degrees to slow riffle fishing a bit at some locations.  But fishing back toward banks has really picked up because of an expanding terrestrial insect population. Evening caddis hatches continue to provide good action, as do mutant stones. Early in the day try bead head nymph patterns at drop-offs.

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Yellowstone Park 8-8-15

If you fish the northeast corner of the park, expect company because so many easy to approach streams within the park are fishing slowly.  There are plenty of anglers on the Lamar River in the meadows both above and below the cascades, on Soda Butte Creek, and on lower Slough Creek. We traveled through this area on Thursday, and we saw the Lamar discolored, likely because of thundershower related erosion in its upper drainage. Some cars were parked at the Trout Lake trail head.  This time of year fishing there can be tough because of an algae bloom, so a speckled dun emerger pattern presented under an indicator is a good strategy if fish are rising.

Remember what we suggested a few days ago about fastest fishing in the Park? That still applies to Beula and Riddle Lakes!

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Small Streams 8-8-15

Teton River in the basin is fishing very well with fish taking terrestrial and PMD life cycle patterns. Fish early and late in the day to avoid recreationists.

Fall River is dewatered because of irrigation demands. That means warm daytime water temps. Fish the evening caddisfly emergence, or AM spinner fall.

Bitch Creek is fishing well. Try it off the Jackpine Road where a private access is available. Traditional attractor, yellow sally, and caddis life cycle patterns will get you into action.

Larger trout in Robinson Creek have moved downstream to deeper holes where water temps are more to their liking. There may be some access to these holes through the Teton View subdivision.

Warm River continues to offer good fishing. If you plan to fish the lower river, walk up the old railroad grade to get away from the crowds fishing around the campground. You may find less company by going to Warm River Spring, parking in a pull-out, then walking downstream as far as time permits. Try terrestrial, traditional attractor, caddis and PMD life cycle patterns.

Not many flavs are showing up to date on Bear, Big Elk and Palisades Creeks. But mutant stone, caddis life cycle, traditional attractor, and terrestrial insect patterns are working just fine on each of these.

 

 

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Henry’s Fork 8-8-15

Looks like Henry’s Lake Outlet part of the river is now diminishing as a quality fishery for the year. That’s because flow out of Henry’s Lake has dropped meaning shallower and warming water.  This will move fish downstream to the Henry’s Fork.  For the near future you can find them in the Tubs area above Mack’s Inn.  Try streamer patterns.  For the rest of the river presenting terrestrial patterns is the best way to fishing success.

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Henry’s Fork 8-4-15

AM and PM spinner falls and daytime terrestrial insects (particularly ants and hoppers) are providing most of the action on the upper river. So have patterns for these available. Are you fishing the river in Harriman State Park just before and after sunset? Don’t be shy about offering a hair mouse pattern along grassy banks especially if deeper water is nearby. Big Daddy may be waiting!  In middle reaches of the river terrestrial insect and caddisfly life cycle patterns rule the effectiveness roost, particularly during PM hours. On the river below Ashton Dam warmer waters are present, so early in the day visits require spinner patterns, rusty and otherwise.  Caddisfly and terrestrial insect patterns are appropriate for later in the day. Also be sure to have streamer patterns ready as sundown comes about.

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South Fork 8-4-15

Flow and water temperature have been stable for days. Pink alberts are taking their spots in providing action in riffles with their emergence beginning around mid-morning. The other happening is that mutant golden stoneflies are working their way up the river. Currently they are quite numerous in the Byington to Twin Bridges area.  Caddisflies always provide evening action, and streamers presented under low light conditions, especially if you observe bait fish jumping and scurrying, can bring action from the big guys.

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Small Streams 8-4-15

Caddisflies stay active on most of our small streams this time of the season.  Terrestrial insects also become important food forms for trout. As discussed in our Yellowstone Park report, having patterns for these along is now important. The other consideration to realize is that many of our smaller streams are warming up as waters drop to base levels. Streams that have a large water component from springs (Birch, Big Elk, Bitch, Diamond, Little Lost, Teton River) or water from lakes with subterranean outlets(Palisades) tend to stay cooler longer than those that do not have as much of such (Robinson, Bear, Pine, Upper Blackfoot) or are subject to draw-down ( lower Fall River). So concentrate your efforts on those with cooler inflows and be sure to have terrestrial patterns in your fly box.

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