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Fishing Reports

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / Fishing Reports (Page 22)

Henry’s Fork, July 22nd, 2023

The Tubs

Water Quality Information from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Henry’s Fork Drainage Report Filed Yesterday.

Water quality continues to exceed expectations throughout the watershed, especially given hot dry weather and very high reservoir outflow. Water temperatures yesterday were a little cooler than on Wednesday due to cloud cover and close to average. Afternoon high water temperatures exceeded 70 degrees at our usual warm spots—Buffalo River, Pinehaven, St. Anthony, and Parker—but the duration and magnitude of temperatures greater than 70 degrees was lower than on Wednesday. Water temperatures stayed within the optimal range of 53–68 degrees all day at all of our other sonde locations. Dissolved oxygen continues to stay good to excellent—and above the state cold-water standard of 6 mg/L—at all locations.

Turbidity is still well below average at all locations between Island Park Dam and St. Anthony and among the lowest readings we have observed during mid-July since first installing our water-quality network in 2014. This is despite outflow through Island Park Dam gates higher than we have seen this time of year since 2013. The common denominators among the years with lowest turbidity—2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023—are near- to above-average snowpack and high Island Park Reservoir levels.

Timing of aquatic insect hatches is still around 5 days later than average in the river reach between Island Park Dam and Pinehaven, 8 days later in the Warm River to Ashton reach, and 4 days later than average between Ashton Dam and St. Anthony.

Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

Henry’s Fork Foundation

P.O. Box 550

Ashton, ID 83420

208-881-3407 CELL

There are a few comments on why we continue to place Dr. Rob’s observations on the fishing report. We do so because many of these give reasons for fly fishing success. They also help in deciding where and when to try your luck on drainage waters.

Consider that although aquatic insect hatches remain a bit late in much of the drainage, terrestrial insect populations are building and are becoming quite important as a trout food along the entire river and its tributaries.

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Small Streams, July 18th, 2023

Bitch Creek

Most small streams are in great shape and access is good. The exception is Bear Creek where the road is open only to Calamity area.This means boating or hiking are the only means for getting to this creek which offers great fishing for cutthroat. Consult with the Palisades District Office to see if biking is appropriate along the closed section. Although caddis, PMDs and sallys remain, terrestrial insects are building everywhere, especially in meadow areas, where these are becoming a primary food source.

The Teton River in the Basin is rounding into good shape with aquatic insect hatches ( PMD, sallys, caddis, a few golden stones) going on and terrestrial insect populations building ( and so is recreational boating activity). The same can said for the upper Blackfoot River where recent stream habitation improvements appear to have increased resident cutthroat trout populations in the Blackfoot River Wildlife Management Area where there is little if any recreational boating. Warm River just below hits spring offers an escape from the nearby, but relatively crowded Henry’s Fork. The same can be said for the Palisades Reservoir Tribs and Palisades Creek compared to the nearby South Fork.

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Yellowstone Park, July 18th, 2023

Upper Slough Creek Meadow

Nearly all streams are in fishing condition, excepting the Firehole River where water temps have risen to the point making it difficult for caught, played, then released trout to survive. Major northeast area streams ( Slough and Soda Butte Creeks and Lamar River are in great shape). Drake mayflies, PMDs and caddis emerging and trout taking. Terrestrial insects will soon be dominant as a fish food especially in meadow areas which are plentiful on each of these. On the down side, much of these streams are roadside, and thus are heavily fished and visited. All the above comments apply to Fall River Basin streams, excepting the latter on crowding, which are physically equivalent in terms of meadow reaches. But Fall River Basin streams require some walking to approach. Thus they are less “hammered” waters.

On the Lamar River, crowds of anglers and tourists can be escaped the further one walks upstream above the Soda Butte Creek confluence. For Slough Creek, one must travel as far as the uppermost meadow to escape crowding. That requires a walk of several miles from the trail head. For Soda Butte Creek, there is no way to escape crowds on the best fishing locations.

Fishing in the largest Park Lakes, Heart, Lewis, Shoshone, Yellowstone ( excepting its endangered cutthroat) has slowed as warming waters mean fish are migrating to deeper areas until cooling fall weather brings them back to shallower waters either to spawn (lake trout ) or forage.

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Henry’s Lake, July 18th, 2023

It’s been a relatively slow fishing season on the lake, so far. Here is a way that can improved results. Try fishing at creek or spring inlets. This is where cooler water enters the lake as well as bringing in sub-surface and surface food forms. The trick is to get to these locations as early in the day as possible, even at first light. East side inlets such as Targhee and Howard Creeks are good locations, and there are a number of such creeks an spring inflows on the west side. Floating lines apply as well as patterns suspended under strike indicators. Nothing beats Bill Schiess’s book ” Fishing Henry’s Lake” to find appropriate fly patterns for this or any other strategy for fishing the lake.

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Henry’s Fork, July 18th, 2023

With the warming weather and bright skies up and down the river, it is time for terrestrial insects to become an important food form for trout.. That means long, drag free drifts in front of well vegetated banks and dry structure such as snags, rocks and logs. Have hopper, ant, beetle, and even crane fly patterns on hand.

A productive trick follows: I swat any horsefly that lands on my self, then toss the splatted results into the water to drift downstream. On hearing or seeing a trout rise to take it, I have located another fish to try. Do the same with hoppers or any other resident terrestrial insect to locate a feeding fish. You might be accused by your fishing partners of low grade chumming, but the act is legal and informative!

Henry’s Fork at Bear Gulch

Water quality information from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Henry’s Fork drainage water status report filed yesterday.

The big (positive) story continues to be how well water quality is holding up so far this summer, despite high outflow from Island Park Reservoir and warm weather. Water temperatures have stayed near average and well below last year’s readings at most locations. Daily maximum water temperatures exceeded 70 degrees yesterday at Buffalo River, Pinehaven, at St. Anthony and Parker. However, both duration and magnitude of high water temperatures are lower than at this time last year. For example, water temperature exceeded 70 degrees at Pinehaven yesterday for a little under 6 hours yesterday, compared with 7.5 hours on July 16 2022. Maximum water temperature yesterday was 71.8 degrees F at our sonde, compared with 72.9 degrees last July 16.

Turbidity is well below average at all locations except Flat Rock, where relatively high outflow from Henry’s Lake has kept turbidity a fraction of a turbidity unit above average.

Timing of aquatic insect hatches is still 5–6 days later than average in the river reach between Island Park Dam and Pinehaven, 8 days later in the Warm River to Ashton reach, and 4 days later than average between Ashton Dam and St. Anthony. At this point, I do not expect much change with respect to average.

Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

Henry’s Fork Foundation

P.O. Box 550

Ashton, ID 83420

208-881-3407 CELL

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Small Streams, July 15th, 2023

Want to have some real fun and satisfaction in helping someone learn how to fish? Take a kid fishing. Especially if a youngster asks to go, there are many safe waters hosting aggressive trout. First, it is a good idea to preface a visit with some time of instruction on how to prepare and use a fly rod. So for now, let’s discuss a first time visit, with more details later. Action is the big enjoyment for youngsters, and it is sure to keep their attention. So in a first time visit one could begin by hooking a fish, then letting them play, retrieve, and then land it. Point out to the young one where the fish occupy the water visited and be sure to show an approach that minimizes startling.

Big water can be intimidating and overwhelming to a youngster. So a best first time visit would be to a small, easily approached stream or still water holding readily aggressive fish. These waters are usually physically safer and have all necessary features within easy sight. It’s a bit like comparing a laboratory situation to a production size situation. So what are some good locations to consider? For this purpose, It is hard to find any better than the Birch Creek Family area a few miles above Lone Pine on State Highway 28. The creek here is a meadow signed stream with abundant open areas. It holds a great population of brook and rainbow trout that are always hungry. Middle of the day is the best time for a visit, and it leaves time to end that a visit with time for an ice cream treat or something like it. We will offer more information later, but the above discussion is “just to get the ball rolling.”

We at Fly Fish Food have all appropriate equipment for the interested youngster, and we are more than willing to assemble such and begin the process of how to use such. We also welcome visits to scope out equipment and to obtain more information.

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Southwest Montana, July 15th, 2023

Elk Lake

The big news here is the advance of big stone flies up the Madison River. But for the still water fly fisher there are a couple of lakes offering some good fishing. These are Elk and Hidden Lakes just north of Centennial Valley.

Elk Lake is the easiest to approach ( From Red Rock Pass travel the road to where the South Valley and Elk Lake Roads diverge). Follow Elk Lake Road to the lower part of the the lake where a public boat launch and the Elk Lake resort are situated. Damsel fly and speckled dun activity will provide good top water action along shorelines holding submerged vegetation. West Slope cutthroat inhabit these areas. Fish deep water with a full sink line and stout leader to offer streamers to lake trout ranging up to twenty pounds.

Hidden Lake is tougher to approach. A four wheel drive road leaves the resort and ends about a quarter mile from the lake. Packing a flotation device to the lake is practical, but the best way o fish is to rent a boat from the resort. For a rental fee the resort provides oars and a key to unlock a boat at their livery on the lake. Damsel flies and speckled duns can provide top water action from resident rainbow trout ranging well into to trophy sizes. If these events are not ongoing, slow trolling of leech, nymph, and streamer patterns on intermediate lines ill attract the rainbows.

You will not encounter recreational floaters on either lake, and a forgotten camera would be almost tragic.

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Henry’s Fork, July 15th, 2023

Flav

The river below Ashton Dam is beginning to warm to the point that best fishing is early or late in the day. Big stonefly activity and the same for drake mayflies is about over. Afternoon caddis action remains , and PMD and flav spinner falls at these times of day will bring some top water action. Streamers can also be effective when direct sun light is off the water. Big bows and browns come out to forage at these times because of increased overhead cover.

After the July 10th increase in flow out of Island Park Dam, conditions have stabilized in the river below. Brown drake, flav, little PMD, and afternoon caddis activity still provide top water fishing with AM spinner falls and evening action. Expect recreational floaters to increase during day time hours.

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Still Waters, July 15th, 2023

Sand Creek Pond #4

For most of our irrigation reservoirs the summer doldrums have arrived with dropping and warming water levels due to irrigation demands. This means fish will remain deep in order to have the coolest water. So fishing early in the day or going to the depths will bring best chances for action. Expect these conditions throughout the irrigation season, then as we cool by late summer and irrigation slows, these water bodies will offer much better fishing. We have heard, however, that Mackay Reservoir is providing some good fishing away from the inflow of discolored water.

If you are a still water enthusiast, the Sand Creek Ponds open today for non internal combustion engine aided float fishing. Expect crowds of floaters for a while at this easily reached and popular area. If you try these ponds, with Pond # 4 being the best, look for damsel fly, speckled dun and midge activity. So bring their life cycle patterns and use floating lines, strike indicators and long leaders to present these. Early AMs an evenings will be the best times for activity.

Still want to learn of some still waters not impacted by the summer doldrums? Take a look at our southwest Montana discussion.

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South Fork, July 15th, 2023

Flow out of Palisades Reservoir has been essentially constant for about a week. It is clear and cool enough to slow mayfly activity, but not that of caddis.The big top water happening is the giant stone fly hatch. Some green drakes and PMDs are following downstream. The stonefly peak activity is above the canyon and fish near it are full of them. If you travel from Swan Valley to Victor via Highway 31, you will not only see them flying, but also have them splatting on your windshield at least as far as the Pine Creek crossing. So the best float fishing strategy would be to launch at Huskey’s and float to Spring Creek or Conant ( both very busy) in order to find where the fish have realized their presence and started feeding.

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