The Firehole River continues to produce well, but is somewhat crowded. Here’s a way to avoid its crowding; try Duck Creek. The creek is in great condition, and any thing that imitates an earthworm or dragonfly nymph will bring responses from rainbows ranging to over twenty inches as well as from some brown trout. Ice is off Shoshone and Lewis Lakes, but we have no reports on how fishing is going there.
Most reservoirs to the southeast are full and fish are in the shallow water in such as Winder, Lamont, and Johnson Reservoirs and Twin Lakes. With warmer weather, look for warm water fishing to be good. Further good news is that boat inspection permits can now be purchased ($15.00) at Twin Lakes. Launching watercraft at Twin Lakes is now permitted ONLY at the main boat ramp.
The big stoneflies are mostly gone from the river, but various mayfly species are coming on. A few gray drakes are beginning to appear on the lower river, and green drakes are also emerging there. Add to these ongoing PMD and caddis activity, and the fish have plenty of bugs from which to choose. It’s a fun time of year to fish the Henry’s Fork, and the name of the game is to figure out which bugs interest fish at any time. Clearly the Henry’s Fork is the place to now for great fishing, and we can help you decide what patterns to present where and when.
22400 cfs is currently flowing out of Palisades Dam. No wonder the river below looks like a milk shake! Fish likely cannot even see San Juan worm patterns as they go whizzing by in the watery gloom. Go somewhere else to fish for now.
Here’s an overview of South Fork run-off situation.
Flow out of Jackson Lake is up to 6500 cfs and Buffalo Fork, Hoback, Grey’s and Salt Rivers are running high making inflow to Palisades about 41000 cfs. Currently Palisades Res. is 70% full and Jackson Lake is about 87% full, not leaving enough room in both reservoirs to catch projected run-off. Thus inflow to Palisades is about double outflow with run-off peaks yet to be reached. In the near future release profiles from both reservoirs will depend on run-off forecasts and flood control requirements. We will keep on top of this South Fork run-off situation and report here how it looks for the river to come into good fishing condition.
Have a battleship you want to float? With flow out of Palisades Dam hovering around 20000 cfs, and a bit more at Heise, you might be able to do so on the South Fork! As of today about 36000 cfs is coming into Palisades Reservoir from the Grey’s, Salt, and Snake Rivers combined. With the reservoir currently at about two-thirds of capacity, and more than normal snow remaining at higher elevations, high flows will remain for a while as room is made to contain resulting run-off. In fact, flow coming out of the reservoir could increase. The high South Fork flows here are sending fly-fishers to the Henry’s Fork, making for perilous wading conditions, and certainly have resulted in ample water to create an anti-rainbow spawning flush this season.
Because of high water on the South Fork and that our smaller rivers and streams are experiencing the same conditions, most area and visiting fly-fishers are spending time on the Henry’s Fork. In general, the Henry’s Fork is not disappointing any visiting fly-fisher. The upper river features some Henry’s Lake escapees through the Flat Ranch, large stoneflies are showing up in the Coffee Pot area, large stoneflies are still in Box Canyon and Cardiac Canyon. They are diminishing on the river below, but enough golden stoneflies around to interest trout. The entire river also hosts good afternoon caddis activity and some PMDs. Any day now green drakes will appear in numbers on the lower river to send trout interest back to and near the surface. With the abundant water situation this season we are looking for a good gray drake hatch to begin on the lower river soon. For the rest of the month look for the Henry’s Fork to offer the best fishing in eastern Idaho.
All this insect activity with trout responding on the river can be a bit overwhelming in deciding what fly patterns to present when and where. We certainly can help you make choices on these issues. Come in and visit, or get in touch with us by email or phone.
During the recent holiday weekend Henry’s Lake did not give up a lot of fish, but of those caught many were large. Leech patterns were among the productive offerings.
NOTICE: As of May 15, 2017, all anglers fishing in Montana must purchase an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass in addition to standard Fishing and Conservation Licenses. These passes will be available from all Montana License Agents as well as Montana FWP. Cost is $2 for residents and $15 for nonresidents.
These passes are available at Jimmy’s.
As is usual in the early season, the Firehole River provides the best fishing. Your favorite BWO and caddis life cycle patterns as well as small bead head nymph patternsmwill bring responses, but do not overlook presenting the variety of soft hackled patterns including partridge and orange, partridge and olive, and partridge and purple, all in sizes 12-16. We have no word yet on ice-out on Shoshone and Lewis Lakes, but it is a sure bet that trails into Shoshone Lake remain clogged with snow.
Remember: you can purchase any class of Yellowstone Park fishing license here at Jimmy’s.
Everyone knows the giant and golden stonefly hatches are making for good fishing from just above Chester to Box Canyon. So the river here is crowded with boating and wading anglers. In several days these events will be over, but give the fish time to digest their bugs, and they will be looking for more. Figure on about a week for fish in a given location on the river to respond again to dry patterns. But weather and flow conditions can alter this time span. We have reports that there are trout in the river in the Nature Conservancy’s Flat Ranch Preserve, but not a lot. These are mostly escapees from Henry’s Lake and they will likely take patterns that work in the lake until aquatic and terrestrial insects begin emerging in good numbers..