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Henry’s Fork, April 20th, 2024

April 20, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Henry's Fork

All boat launch facilities below Ashton Dam are open. The Stone Bridge-Warm River site above is snowy.

The lower river offers the most consistent and best stream fishing in the area. Midge, BWO, and diminishing March brown hatches are bringing fish up resulting in good top water fishing during low wind days with afternoons being best. Traditional nymph and rubber legs patterns presented at the heads of deep water and through runs are effective and streamer patterns presented under low light conditions attract brown and large post-spawning rainbow trout.

No significant run-off from Fall River to date. Water contributed from Fall River above all irrigation diversions is clear, cold and currently about normal.

Info from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Henry’s Fork Drainage SWE Report filed yesterday, April 19th, 2024

Generally dry conditions are expected for the next 5–6 days, with temperatures near average. I expect snow melt to resume this weekend, although it will not be as rapid as what we saw last weekend. All forecasts are indicating a wet period starting in the middle of next week and continuing through the rest of the month. Temperatures during that time will be near to slightly above average. Natural stream flow decreased by 10% yesterday as the effects of much colder temperatures in headwater areas made their way down to the middle of the watershed, where I calculate natural flow. Yesterday’s watershed-total natural flow was 109% of average for the date: 93% in upper Henry’s, 102% in Fall River and 156% in Teton River.

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Main Stem Snake River, April 20th, 2024

April 20, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Main Stem Snake River

Fishing in the river above American Falls Reservoir has slowed much because of increased flow from the South Fork. The Southeast Idaho IDF&G office is considering plans to open a boat launch area in a location near the McTucker Creek confluence just above American Falls Reservoir.

The wading season in the River below American Falls Dam has ended because of flow reaching 12000 cfs.

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Still Waters, April 20th, 2024

April 20, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Still Water

Crystal Springs Pond will be slowly drawn down beginning Tuesday, April 23, to help with repairs to Edwards Road near Springfield Fish Hatchery.

This fishery, located in Bingham County, is a popular family fishing water and typically supports year-round trout fishing.  Anglers should be aware that fishing will be impacted at Crystal Springs Pond for at least a week, depending on repair progress.  Fish and Game anticipates refilling the pond again by May 3, at which time it will be stocked with rainbow trout to provide spring fishing opportunity.

Most of the fish currently living in the pond are expected to still survive in the outlet; therefore, a salvage order is not being issued at this time.  For additional information, please call the Southeast Region Fish and Game office in Pocatello at (208) 232-4703.

Hawkins and Daniels Reservoirs are free of ice and open to fishing. Travel to Daniels has to be done through Malad because the road to it from Hawkins Reservoir remains closed.

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Salmon River Steelhead, April 20th, 2024

April 20, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Salmon River Steelhead

Steelhead angler effort during the past week was primarily observed below the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery in location code 19. Angler effort in other areas of the Upper Salmon River was very low.

Average catch rates were once again good upstream of the East Fork, and anglers interviewed within this area averaged 10 hours per steelhead caught. Anglers interviewed downstream of the East Fork in location code 18 averaged 32 hours per steelhead caught, and anglers interviewed downstream of the Pahsimeroi River in location code 17 averaged 12 hours per steelhead caught. Few anglers were interviewed below the Lemhi River in location codes 15 and 16, and no anglers reported catching a steelhead from either of those areas.

Steelhead in net (USR)

Warmer weather throughout the week resulted in a large jump in river flows by the weekend (see figure below). Currently, the Salmon River is flowing at 2,690 cfs through the town of Salmon, ID which is 163 percent of average for today’s date. Along with increased flows, the river’s visibility was poor in all areas downstream of the East Fork over the weekend. Water temperatures also climbed throughout the week and ranged from the mid-40s near Stanley to the low 50s below North Fork by Sunday afternoon. 

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South Fork, April 20th, 2024

April 20, 2024
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Fishing Reports, South Fork

Flow out of Palisades Dam has been stable at around 10300 cfs for several days, but increases are coming as water management plans are to reduce the reservoir capacity to 73% in order to contain what looks to be a very large run-off. So it will be a while before the South Fork will be in good fly fishing condition.

Another happening for the river is that Caribou-Targhee National Forest has opened the river road above the Table Rock-River Road intersection as winter closure for big game has ended. However above this point the road remains mostly snow covered or muddy. This makes getting to Cottonwood boat launch not advised, even through using four wheel drive vehicles, until the road dries out. Boat launch sites downstream of this intersection are open.

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Still Waters, April 12th, 2024

April 13, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Still Water

Mackay Reservoir is free of ice and open to fishing. Daniels Reservoir is also open to fishing but access must be made by going through Malad City then north because the Dairy Creek Road is yet to open. Hawkins Reservoir is also open to fishing. We have little information on fishing success in all these waters except for Springfield Reservoir in which fish are responding to midge activity when the taking depth is found. Nymph and fly rod jigs can also bring some fishing success there.

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Henry’s Fork, April 12th, 2024

April 13, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Henry's Fork

The information below reveals that run-off has begun only in the Teton River drainage and is reflected by around or slightly more than normal flows in the lower river down to the Teton River confluence. It also suggests that the next few days will offer the most comfortable times to enjoy trout responding to BWO, March brown, and midge activity.

Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.

Details From Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s SWE Report Filed Yesterday, April 11th, 2024

Snow melt increased natural flow in the Teton River yesterday (120%) while flow in the Fall River 76% 0f normal and 78% of normal in the Henry’s fork..These amounts will increase until Monday when cooler atmospheric temperatures will begin to take place for several days.

Senior Scientist

Henry’s Fork Foundation

P.O. Box 550

Ashton, ID 83420

208-881-3407 CELL

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Henry’s Lake, April 12th, 2024

April 13, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Henry's Lake

Nate Tillotson, fisheries biologist for the IDF&G’s Upper Snake River Region gave a superb meeting on Henry’s Lake fishery status last Wednesday evening. The public meeting at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, open to the public, was sponsored by the Snake River Cutthroats club resulted in many attendees. Nate’s presentation featured good and bad news, too much to totally describe here, but we will offer a few highlights from what Nate and his crew determined.

First, the bad news. Recently there are fewer, but larger than average fish ( cutthroat average 16.7 inches in length, hybrids 20.6 inches, and brookies 12.5 inches ) in the lake. Slim fishing success is upcoming in the lake for the next few years because hatchery and wild cutthroat ( only 9% occurs in tributaries) spawning has been lower than normal for the last several years, and summertime water temperatures have not been ideal. Now the good news. Ice fishing appears not to impact trout population in the lake. Nate expects that this will be a great year for fishing the lake because the 2017 cutthroat spawn was very good and the result should be a better number of and larger on the average of mature fish than recent years. Tributaries ( mostly Targhee and some of Howard Creeks) are being studied to determine what needs to be done to offer increased wild cutthroat spawning ( hybrid trout and brookies in the lake are sterile). Recently a few brown trout have been caught in the lake, but the source of these ( adjacent private ponds) have been discovered and hosted browns are being or will be eradicated. Water quality studies are beginning to reveal conditions that impact fish population.

So this is the best chance in recent years for fishing success and perhaps catching the ” cutthroat trout of a lifetime” from Henry’s Lake

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South Fork, April 12th, 2024

April 13, 2024
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Fishing Reports, South Fork

The rate of flow increase out of Palisades Reservoir has slowed temporarily (10400 cfs at Irwin,11400 cfs at Heise, 8400 cfs at Lorenzo), but as we warm up it will increase to make room for run-off . Much of the reason is concern for down stream flooding resulting from near future run-off and that American Falls Reservoir is at full capacity. This water management activity has a negative impact on fishing in the South Fork and also on the main stem Snake River down to American Falls Reservoir. Husky, Conant, Spring Creek,, Byington, and Lorenzo launch facilities are fully open. Better days are sure to come—Be patient!

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Main Stem Snake River, April 6th, 2024

April 6, 2024
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Fishing Reports, Main Stem Snake River

Because of the increasing flow out of Palisades Dam the Snake River is much higher than normal for this time of the season. This condition will continue well into the irrigation season and makes presenting large streamer patterns the best option for fly fishing success during this time. The same applies to the river below American Falls Dam.

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