To be sure, midging under an indicator will get you action on all reservoirs. But we have reports of fishing taking adult damselflies on the surface on all reservoirs, even on days with some wind. So now is the time to get your “dry fly reflexes” tuned up before the gulper season begins.
Big stoneflies are coming up the Madison River. Some are in the Three Dollar Bridge area right now with peak further downstream but advancing.
Tim passed on some good info on Teton River and the South Fork tribs yesterday. Take his comment about warming water seriously, because many small streams will be impacted during what looks like a very warm dry summer. Now is a good time to look at the numerous smaller streams we have in the area and to consider a visit to some. Here is a “laundry list” of some to consider. Robinson Creek, Conant Creek, all Salt River tribs in Idaho, Bear Creek, Beaver Creek, Little Lost River and Sawmill Creek, Medicine Lodge Creek, Portneuf River, Buffalo River, Willow Creek, and Warm River are at their peaks for good fishing right now. The Blackfoot River above the reservoir opened to fishing two days ago, and you should consider a visit to it quite soon. The best is yet to come on the lower Blackfoot River, Big Elk Creek and Bitch Creek. That’s is quite a list of waters to give details on here. Contact us one way or another for details on fishing these. We offer solid information on all. Several will surprise you with size of fish, and for sure you will like the solitude.
With the Firehole River warming up, everything else is shaping up. Caddis and PMDs (AM spinners, mid day to afternoon emergence) are making the Madison River in the Park a destination. Brown Drakes on the Gibbon River meadow reaches and on Duck Creek should be on your “to go” list for evening fishing. Green drakes are coming off in the meadow reaches of the Lewis River, below and above Lewis Lake. The Ashton-Flagg Road is open giving access to Beula Lake. Fall River Basin streams remain high because of snow pack remaining on Madison and Pitchstone plateaus. A bunch of us carried float tubes down Delacey Trail to Shoshone Lake last Saturday. Getting out on the lake in those tubes was a blast with juvenile macks, browns and brookies responding to small leech patterns presented on full sink lines. We had to place to ourselves!
Palisades Creek, Pine Creek and Burns Creek are now open to fishing. Stimulator’s, Royal Wulff’s and Caddis patterns are very effective dry flies for these smaller streams. You can also throw a variety of bead head nymphs or woolly buggers for fish not rising to dry flies. These are great streams with good fishing and they give you the opportunity to escape crowds of people.
We don’t do a lot of reports on the Teton River but for those interested the Teton has really fishing good right now. If you like the Teton or want to try something new, the Teton is a great fishery. With the early runoff this year you will want to fish the river this month because the water is going to get really warm later in August. There have been goldens hatching in the canyon. Grey drake and PMD’s have been hatching on the upper river through Driggs as well as caddis.
Well it’s July and we have Salmon Flies on the South Fork! My prediction is always July 4th at Twin Bridges but they came just a little early this year. You can also find a good hatch of Yellow Sallies, and Green Drakes hatching in the Canyon and down past Heise Bridge. As of this past weekend fish were rising to Salmon Flies and Yellow Sallies but nymphing has still been the most effective remedy for hooking fish. I would fish a salmon dry fly with a zebra midge dropper or a #14 PMD Redemption Nymph. Focus your efforts on the riffles and the slow banks. Good luck and have fun! Call the shop for an up to the minute report.
Flows have stayed steady at 13,600cfs these flows have been steady for the past 5 days.
Following is a note from the Henry’s Fork Foundation concerning the ongoing reconstruction work at Ashton Dam. In the meantime fishing conditions and fishing success should remain good.
Hi all,
At the Ashton Dam reconstruction project, they are having problems with the rubber seal over the upstream coffer dam coming loose, resulting in some additional sediment moving downstream. To fix this problem, they need to send divers down to re-anchor the rubber blanket. Since this work is being done next to the dam bypass tunnel, they will need to partially close the tunnel while they do the work. However, as this is peak irrigation season, they have to balance this work with downstream irrigation needs. The result will be some major fluctuations in Henry’s Fork flows below Ashton Dam throughout the day. Flows could fluctuate from 1200 cfs up to 3000 cfs, and this fluctuation may happen four times that day. Idaho Fish and Game will be monitoring things that day.
Bottom line, Monday July 9th will be a day you don’t want to be fishing below Ashton Dam.
Kim Ragotzkie
Stewardship Director, Henry’s Fork Foundation
& Hold the Line Project Coordinator, High Country RC&D
208-652-3567 office
208-569-9775 cell
Stream flow on the South Fork is stable with 13,600 cfs coming out of Palisades Dam, and 14,900 cfs at Heise. Nymph fishing in the morning with a Brown Rubber Leg ( size 8 ) and a Bead Head Crystal Pheasant Tail Nymph dropper( size 16) has been the most productive till about 12 o’clock. From about 12 o’clock, riffles have been good with a CFO Yellow Sally ( size 16 and 14 ), and Olive Hares Ear Parachute (size 12) . There is a good emergence of salmon and golden adult stones along the bank near Heise, but fish still haven’t been eating them yet but that should change any day. Along with yellow sallies in the riffles there will be good hatches of pale morning duns and some green drakes.
Flow coming out of Mackay Dam remains above 500 cfs. This makes wading tough in the river below.