Fish have gotten picky in the riffles and the banks. Luckily that doesn’t mean the fishing is slow. In fact the fishing is really good. Fish Stonefly Patters really close to the bank. Close means inches from the bank not a couple feet. Chubby Chernobyls have been working really well. I like the Rootbeer and Pink color. Make sure your flies in the riffles are drag free. Emergers have been the most successful compared to adult mayflies. The Transitional Dun and the Film Critic have really worked well. Don’t get frustrated if your not slaying the fish, try to figure out why you have not been successful. The fish are eating but it requires some hard work. Take a step back and watch the fish work. For example; If you see them in the riffles moving around but not rising to dry flies put a dropper on. There have been a lot of people on the river these last weeks. Remember to use common courtesy and common sense. If you are camping remember to check up on the regulations for camping in the canyon. We have the brochure here at the shop.

As its been mentioned in several previous posts, Chesterfield Reservoir continues to fish very well. The water is getting a little warm with the weather we have had recently, but it really is not  affecting the fishing too much. Intermediate lines and fishing under an indicator are going to be your best bet.  I fished it on both Tuesday 7-20 and Thursday 7-22 and had really good fishing using Damsel nymphs, darker Chironomids, and Callibaetis nymphs.  Stop in at the shop and we can hook you up with patterns and anything else you will need to be successful. Don’t pass up on this opportunity to get into some great fishing for BIG fish!

The fishing is really good right now. Fish are eating Pale Morning Duns, Pink Alberts, and Stoneflies. The Canyon is fishing really good and the Salmon Flies are very active on the upper section in Swan Valley. Fish are eating the dry flies right on the bank, literally inches from the grass and bushes. Good numbers of fish have also been caught nymphing.

All streams except the Firehole River are in top fishing condition.  Terrestrial patterns will be effective on all, especially when hoppers kick in soon.  For now your best choice of when to fish would be the more humid, thundershower threatening days.  These offer more overhead cover than bright days, and humid conditions bring on delayed hatches.    Beware of the growing horse fly and deer fly populations (but they make humpy variations very effective!),  but be happy that mosquitoes are beginning to diminish. If you have not seen our Yellowstone Park small stream discussion posted on July 19th, take a look because there are some gems within!

With more that 500  cfs coming out of Mackay Dam best walk-in wade fishing is above Mackay Reservoir.  Try from the Bartlett Point area into Copper Basin. Caddis, golden stone, and sally life cycle patterns should be best with flavs coming on as we get into August.

Beginning to shape up as flows drop. Streamers are still the name of the game, especially during evenings. But during that time of day caddis and a few PMDs offer some surface action.  As we move through August, look for fishing to pick up considerably.

Reservoir Lake is a real hot spot off the beaten path about twenty five miles north and west of Clark Canyon Reservoir. Its surroundings are mostly a pine forest.   Offering aggressive brookies ranging to fifteen inches taking damselfly, speckled dun, midge and leech patterns, it is an ideal place for float tubing and pontoon boating.  A campground offers a great location for tenting or RV stays.   So this lake is a still water get-away from more crowded places nearby.

Tricos are hatching  in the AM and making  for good dry fly fishing until the wind kicks in.  PMDs are hatching, too, but the wind impacts their activity until evenings.  A few BWOs are also around, and when the wind isn’t in high gear can make for some good fishing especially when thundershowers threaten.

True to form this time of year, fishing on the lower river is slowing. Best approach is with nymphs and streamers.  With hoppers coming on, and the always present ants and beetles some good surface action can be found fro time to time here. On the upper river PMDs are decreasing in size and their spinner falls offer some action.  So do terrestrial patterns and soon hoppers will be in the mix to bring fish to the surface.

Reports come in almost every day about the great fishing on such as Robinson Creek, Teton River, the upper Blackfoot River, Tincup Creek, the upper Portneuf River. Golden stones, PMDs, sallys, caddis, beetles and ants, even craneflies are food forms, so patterns for each as well as traditional attractors are making for action. Even smallest streams such as Sawmill, Beaver, Medicine Lodge, Conant, Jackknife,  Birch and other creeks are producing. All this, and the hopper season has not really started.  So many places to try, and so much information is available.  Get in touch with us to help make a choice from the many small streams we have in the region.