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Fishing Reports

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / Fishing Reports (Page 30)

South Fork, April 30th, 2023

Flow out of Palisades Dam, now about 3400 cfs, is going up two reasons. First are Magic Valley irrigation demands, and second flood control because run-off from snow melt in upstream drainages is just beginning. Look for the flow of cold storage water to increase and thus have a negative impact on fishing for a while.

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Henry’s Fork, April 25th, 2023

Headlines from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s SWE Report Filed Yesterday for the Henry’s Fork Drainage

  • Precipitation overachieved yesterday, pushing SWE to yet another seasonal peak, at 119.2% of average.
  • Dry weather and a warming trend start today, which will greatly increase snow melt across the watershed.
  • Island Park Reservoir will start today’s freshet delivery at 91% full and just a few inches below the rubber spillway collar.
  • Outflow from Island Park will be increased to 2,000 cfs in four hourly increments this morning.

Outflow will be increased to 2,000 cfs in four hourly increments this morning and held at 2,000 cfs until at least Thursday and most likely until Friday morning. Post-freshet outflow is tentatively planned to be set at 650 cfs, but the exact figure will be determined by inflow rate. Current inflow is around 500 cfs, but I expect that to jump quickly over the next few days to 800 cfs and likely to exceed 1,000 cfs by the weekend. This will impact flow downstream to Ashton Reservoir and has purpose of helping to flush silt from the river bed.

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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South Fork, April 22nd, 2023

It is the time of year for IDF&G to resume their South Fork Rainbow Trout suppression activity while low flow (1130cfs out of Palisades Dam) prevails. This will take place in steps throughout the river from Palisades Dam on downstream to Lufkin Bottom. Rainbows captured through electro-shocking will be transported to other waters around the region. See the schedule below and see more information on this action on: F&G begins rainbow trout suppression on South Fork Snake River to benefit native Yellowstone cutthroat trout | Idaho Fish and Game.

South Fork Snake River Suppression Schedule

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Still Waters, April 22nd, 2023

If you are looking to try for trout in still waters your choice right now is in the “Slim Pickings Range.” The only open waters nearby are Hawkins and Springfield Reservoirs. Hawkins is scheduled to receive a plant of about 1600 IDF&G rainbows. Give them a chance to equilibrate, and they will provide some action to supplement that from hold-overs. Springfield has been spotty in providing action with AM and evening hours being the best times.

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Henry’s Fork, April 18th, 20-23

Headlines From Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s SWE report for the Henry’s Fork drainage filed yesterday.

  • A little precipitation yesterday kept the water-year total at 115% of average.
  • Snowmelt was very modest yesterday, keeping SWE around 2% below its annual peak.
  • At an outflow of 271 cfs over the past week, Island Park Reservoir is 89% full and filling very slowly.
  • A freshet operation designed to transport fine sediment out of the Island Park to Riverside reach will occur next Tuesday-Friday. See details on the Henry’s Fork Foundation website.
  • We have posted a lot of information about the ecological benefits of the freshet, as well as information on other aspects of the freshet on the HFF web site and will continue to add to that information as the freshet approaches.

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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Henry’s Fork, April 15th, 2023

Although snow currently dominates the banks of the river and limits access, here is a soon-to-be-performed action that will impact flow and therefore fishing from Island Park Dam downstream at least to Ashton Reservoir. Normal flow out of Island Park Dam is around 200 cfs this time of the year.

The Drought Management Planning Committee (DMPC) approved a spring freshet for April 25-27. Freshets are most effective at sediment scour and thereby aquatic insect habitat improvement when flows increase rapidly, to high outflows, and last for 48-72 hours. Flows are expected to be bumped to 2,000 cfs on the 25th and remain there until morning of the 27th. This was not easy to accomplish and has been most of a year in the making. For more information on this action, visit the Henry’s Fork Foundation web site.

FAQ: What is a Spring Freshet?

Updated: 2 hours ago

Freshet:

A high rate of streamflow for a short amount of time. Typically a natural process in rivers caused by heavy rain or rapid snowmelt.

The Two Freshet Types on the Henry’s Fork

On the Henry’s Fork, a freshet can be:

  1. Natural: from heavy rain or rapid snowmelt into a full or nearly full Island Park Reservoir, requiring a rapid increase in outflow from the dam
  2. Managed: a planned freshet, negotiated with water managers and decision makers, to achieve (or even improve on) the benefits a natural freshet brings

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Still Waters, April 11th, 2023

Springfield Reservoir provides the best access these days. Early AMs and evenings seem to offer best fishing. Present midge pupa patterns at the taking depth. Some success is possible through nymphing or by presenting black or olive leach patterns and fly rod jigs.

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South Fork, April 11th, 2023

The USBUREC kept its word about releasing about 900 cfs out of Palisades dam throughout the winter. Yesterday they increased flow from the dam a bit to 1150 cfs. Priority is to fill Palisades Reservoir for the upcoming agricultural season, but with at least 120% of normal snow pack in the drainage above, this should be readily done. Flood control will enter into the water management picture for a while as the amount of water released will be at a rate not to add to the potential for such in the valley below.

Fishing season has begun along the river below as receding snow pack means increasing access. Exception is that all USFS roads will remain closed until May 1st because of the effects of the past winter. To date whitefish seem to be more active than trout, especially to nymphing, but that will change as the season warms. Midges (snowflies) currently provide the major insect emergences with a few skwalas showing here and there.

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