Flow out of Mackay Dam is about 380 cfs, just where it should be this time of season. Tricos are beginning to make for good AM fishing in the river below. Try terrestrial patterns during daytime and try your luck during evening caddis swarms.
Mackay Reservoir is the star of the show here. Draw-down has slowed, so the reservoir remains quite cool. Try the upper end near incoming river channels. Present bead head nymphs and midge pupa under an indicator.
Water seepage under the coffer dam is slowing construction on the Ashton Dam. Let’s hope that seepage does not alter water management plans during the project or impact completion target. Keep in touch with the Henry’s Fork Foundation web site for the impact, proposals, and responses to this problem. The lower river above and below the dam remains tough during daytime which is usual for this time of year. Streamers presented in the evening and early morning brings best chance for meeting a big fish. Streamers and spinner falls in the evening and morning along with evening caddis swarms make for best fishing on much of the upper river. Terrestrial patterns presented close to the banks just about anywhere can work during daytime but are sure to be more effective with cumulus buildup. Those big fish moving out of the Outlet reach are in the river from The Tubs to Island Park Reservoir. Expect recreational boaters down to Mack’s Inn during daytime, so evenings or early AM with streamer patterns may be the best times for fishing. Want to read some interesting Henry’s Fork commentary? Go to Henry’s Fork Anglers web site and take a look at Mike Lawson’s August 9th Henry’s Fork fishing reports. Mike offers valuable strategy gems for fishing the river this time of year, but also gives some thoughts on the crowds that frequent the river at certain times.
Only a 100 cfs increase in flow out of Palisades Dam a few days ago. So river below remains essentially at constant flow. Hoppers and chernobyl types presented against the banks continues to outpoint riffle fishing on most of the river. Don’t overlook the suggestion offered on trying the same with super renegades. Evening caddis swarms make for good fishing. With days shortening up evenings are earlier, so presenting these is more convenient. Same goes for streamers which will become more important for those big browns as we move through the fall months.
Just a quick update for everybody. We are closing out some discontinued Simms footwear right now, so this is a great chance to get some awesome gear at a great price. We have the Pursuit shoe in the Mid and Low lengths on sale for $72.00 (low) down from $149.95 and $83.95 (mid) down from $139.95. We are also closing out the Harbor Gore-Tex shoe at $74.95 down from $159.95. Rounding out the closeout items is the G4 wading boot at $150.00 down from $219.95. When Simms goes on sale it usually goes pretty quick, so come by the shop and check this stuff out.
Gulper fishing on Hebgen is going great guns. Try the Madison Arm or South Fork Arm from early AM to noon on wind free days.
No big change here. Try Hope, Duck, Targhee, and Howard creek mouths and any spring hole. Expect company that likes to crowd if fishing is good.
Not much change here. Irrigation requirements have drawn many down to the amount that makes fishing not only tough, but dangerous to their survival. Mackay Reservoir has been fishing well around the upper end where creeks enter. Sand Creek Ponds, Aldous Lake, Paul Reservoir, and Springfield Reservoir fish well early and late in the day. Look for gulpers early in the day on these. Sometimes they return in the evening.
Best small streams to visit now are those having a good input from springs. These include Buffalo and Warm rivers; Big Elk, Jackknife, Robinson, Stump, and Crow creek. Put Palisades Creek in the class because subterranean flows from both its lakes keep waters at a good level and suitable temperature. Terrestrial, caddis and traditional attractor patterns are sure to work on all these, and some feature a morning trico emergence.
Days with thundershower potential will be your best bet for action. Timbered reaches provide an all-important background during bright days. Meadow reaches are so much fun to fish on such as Boundary, Mountain Ash, and Slough Creeks; Bechler, Fall, Gibbon, and Lamar River. But during these bright days, consider spending more time on their timbered reaches. Use the same patterns you would have for water in the meadows. This time of year be sure to have spruce moth patterns available. And think about getting out of the sack earlier to enjoy the morning trico emergence on most of these streams. It is over by late morning when heat of the day begins setting in. Beula Lake still offers some of the fastest fishing in the Park.