Springfield Reservoir offers the most convenient still water fishing around. It has been stocked with hatchery catchable rainbows ranging to around 18″ and has a population of holdover rainbows running to larger sizes. Midge pupa patterns under an indicator, small black or purple leeches, and fly rod jigs seem to offer the best way to encounter these.
Looks like flow we now have coming out of Palisades Dam will be with us through the winter. Some good walk-in areas for pitching streamers are just below Palisades Dam, channels above Squaw Creek dugway, locations along the river road above Heise, and near Twin Bridges. Evenings and early AMs have best potential for success.
Lower river offers good streamer fishing for browns late and early in the day, but some ‘bows and browns are taking midge and BWO life cycle patterns. You may have to search river locations to find just where such activity is going on.
Flow is a bit below seasonal normal throughout the river, and brown trout are chasing streamers from Menan to American Falls Reservoir. Evenings and early mornings are best time to encounter these browns. The river below American Falls Dam is flowing a measly 400 cfs. That concentrates fish, and presenting streamers can be productive. Beware of weekend crowds.
Flow below Mackay Dam is 108 cfs. That makes wading easy. BWO and midge activity bring trout to the surface, but nymphing might bring better action during these nice days.
Fly Tying Demos
It is time to announce the 2019 portion of our Saturday wintertime fly tying demos, the first off which takes place on Saturday, November 30th. The demos will continue on Saturdays through February 29th, 2020. Each demo runs from 10 AM to 12:30-1 PM. Look at our web site or Face Book for bios submitted by each tier to describe some of the fly patterns on which they will focus.
Saturday, November 30th Ben Swaner
Saturday, December 7th Chris Williams
Saturday, December 14th Gary Barnes
Saturday, December 21st Buddy Shaw
Saturday, December 28th Shawn Bostic
We will present the 2020 section of the demos as soon as we confirm the tiers demonstrating on given Saturdays.
Flow throughout the river is at seasonal normal or slightly lower. There are numerous walk-in wade locations from Menan downstream to American Falls reservoir. The same applies to float fishing. We can help pinpoint the best locations for either way of fishing. The river below American Falls Dam is at it seasonal low, around 450 cfs, and offers the same ways of fishing. Shorelines there get particularly crowded during weekends. Up and down the river streamer fishing is the “name of the game.”
It looks like the flow currently coming out of Palisades Dam, around 1000 cfs ( 1400 cfs at Heise, 850 cfs at Lorenzo), will be that which will last throughout the winter. This flow situation means many walk-in wade fishing locations and some tough locations for boating. Currently presenting streamer and rubber legs patterns are best ways to encounter larger trout, whereas BWO and midge life cycle patterns will get attention of trout in general.
The lower Henry’s Fork has been offering great but sporadic fishing during these beautiful “Indian Summer” days. Sporadic meaning fish seem active in certain areas, but not in others. Active means responding to midge and BWO activity. Case in point is our yesterday’s experience where there was little activity on the river just below the Ora Bridge ( some discolored water coming from construction actions on the far side of the river but the Ashton side features crystal clear water). Whereas in the Vernon Bridge area fish were numerously responding to midge and BWO activity. So consider scouting out the river to find active fish before committing to a certain location.
Our winter Saturday fly tying demos will begin on November 30th and extend each Saturday to February 29th, 2020. They will be offered with the same format as in the past. That is, beginning at 10 AM and extending to 12:30-1.00 PM with the guest tier presenting flies of choice and willing to answer subject questions. We are lining up demonstrating tiers for each Saturday, and will soon post the demo schedule through the remainder of 2019 on our web site and on Face Book.
We look forward to the fun, information, and camaraderie the demos offer.