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South Fork

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / South Fork (Page 24)

South Fork 8-3-19

 

South Fork 4

Since July 27th to today (8/3) the flow out of Palisades Dam has dropped from just over 11000 cfs to 8700 cfs.   This has not impacted fishing much. Consider the same conditions and strategy suggestions as in our last report except anywhere on the river hoppers are becoming more important to imitate. Drop in flow also helps make walk-in wade fishing a better option.

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South Fork 7-30-19

SF With Baldy 2 (640x480)

Flow out of Palisades Dam was dropped to 10100 cfs ( 10400 cfs at Heise) yesterday. Normal flow out of the dam today is 11000 cfs.  With PMD’s, pink alberts and some yellow sallys coming off in the riffles, the South Fork is just about at the top of its fly-fishing reputation.  Add to these growing hopper populations up & down the river and it will soon be tough to beat the fly-fishing the South Fork offers.

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South Fork 7-27-19

 

 

 

Alex Asante

The river continues to live up to its mid-summer reputation with great riffle fishing thanks to PMD (use life cycle approach as described in recent South Fork fishing reports), PM caddis, and yellow sally activity.  Presenting such as a super renegade or chernobyl variation trailed with your favorite bead head nymph (in sizes 12-16) is effective when float fishing.  Hoppers are coming on, so whether wading or floating, it is time to have patterns of them in that fly box. A few big stoneflies are left in the river just below the dam.  Flow is about steady as can be at this date with only a slight reduction coming on July 22nd.  However, further flow decreases are coming.

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South Fork 7-20-19

The South Fork is doing what it is famed for this time of year. Flows are consistent, (12300 cfs out of Palisades Dam and at Heise, whereas normal flow is 12900 cfs),  good hatches in the riffles, terrestrial insect importance coming, and a few big bugs still out  above Conant.

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South Fork 7-16-19

Big bugs are up into Swan Valley meaning plenty of boats there, but PMD life cycle and sally patterns do best in riffles anywhere therefore offering some walk in wade fishing.  Before riffle fishing becomes active try rubber legs or even a “Duracel ” jig dropper under your favorite Chernobyl variation.  Flow out of Palisades Dam was dropped a few 100 cfs’s. This small of a drop does not impact fishing.

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South Fork 7-13-19

Big stoneflies are out nearly to Conant. This means a float downstream from there is a good option. Strong PMD activity is ongoing up and down the river,  yellow sallys are in good numbers, and a few green drakes remain.  When fishing riffles during mayfly activity, use the life cycle progression of nymph, emerger, dun, spinner because fish will key on each of these as the day progresses. Do not overlook the side channels. Presenting super-X or super renegade patterns near overhangs while drifting by remains effective.

Flow in the river is normal for this time of the season, and the future looks good with time-to-time minor flow changes because of downstream irrigation demands.

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South Fork 7-9-10

From Bryce Oldemeyer, South Fork Initiative Project Manager, HFF: Discharge from Palisades Dam was reduced 1,000 cfs this afternoon (7/8, 2pm) and will be reduced another 1,000 cfs tonight. Discharge from Palisades Dam will be 13,300 cfs tomorrow morning. Dependent on irrigation demand, small decreases to Palisades Dam discharge may be made later this week.

Riffle fishing from PMD and yellow sally activity offers best action by early afternoons.  Beforehand use your favorite small beadhead nymph patterns there.  Rubberleg patterns may also work here during the early hours. Stonefly hatch is below Cottonwood and has been doing a great job of taking boats from the lower Henry’s Fork.  Don’t forget the tip of slowing down your boat and pitching super renegade patterns underneath or just in front of  overhangs and retrieving as you drift on by!

 

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South Fork 7-6-19

Stoneflies are out up to Byington. Action begins during  afternoons.  Fish seem just as interested, for now, in sallies and mayflies. Try for these around riffles. Rubberlegs still work and so do super-X’s presented from out in stream towards banks.  Cast  super-x’s towards overhangs, then pull back into the river, or just let them drift  by overhanging vegetation.  Flow out of Palisades Dam has been raised a bit (to 1480 cfs) from Jackson Lake output.  In several days, look for flow to be ramped back to normal for this time of year

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South Fork 7-2-19

Palisades Reservoir is at full capacity, and in-flow is dropping.  Flow out of Palisades has been raised some in the last week. Now is 14000 cfs  (about the same at Heise, 7160 cfs at Lorenzo), which is  a bit above normal.

PMDs, green drakes and yellow sallies are emerging  upstream to Cottonwood making for improving dry fly fishing. Presenting flies around riffles is best strategy for doing so.  Big stoneflies are emerging up to Byington, but fish are just beginning to key on them. Rubber legs and streamers still working.

Fishing interest here is still well below that on the Henry’s Fork, but as fish become more interested in big stoneflies, look for boating crowds to appear.

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South Fork 6-25-19

It’s about ready to turn on the big stonefly hatch on. A few stoneflies are flying on the river below Lorenzo, and any day the fish will begin to notice. Warm weather coming up means their emergence will soon march up the river providing exciting dry fly fishing and crowds. Right now there are not many folks fly-fishing here, even though flow out Palisades Dam ( reservoir is about 95% of capacity and bulk of run-off is over) is about normal for the time of year.  This makes the South Fork a great alternative to fishing the crowded lower Henry’s Fork. A few early season sallies are showing up. For now streamers, a variety of nymphs with and without beads, rubber legs, and big stonefly nymph patterns provide best action especially around riffles and side channels.

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