Top

South Fork

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / South Fork (Page 3)

South Fork, October 14th, 2023

Flow throughout the river has been constant for about a week ( about 2800 cfs out of Palisades Dam). With high quality water and great dissolved oxygen concentrations, fish activity will be good. Mahogany duns, BWO and midges continue to make for good top water fishing. Streamers, fly rod jigs, woolly buggers and rubber leg patterns are good choices for fishing deep. The more frosty mornings that happen, the fewer terrestrial insects will be around.

Share

South Fork, October 10th, 2023

No big changes since our last report. Even flows remain much the same. Palisades Reservoir is about 56% full with water storage by USBR beginning. Unsettled weather expected for the rest of the week should enhance top water fishing success and responses to streamer patterns presented to aggressive brown trout anywhere on the river. Better get out to enjoy what is left of the Fall colors: they won’t last much longer!

Share

South Fork, October 7th, 2023

Low flow: tough on boats, but great for wading

Flow has dropped like a rock ( now 2750 cfs at Irwin, 3750 cfs at Heise, 1240 cfs at Lorenzo) in the last few days. What is coming out of the dam now is about half of what was going out earlier in the week and signals that water storage season has begun in the reservoir above. It’s great news for walk-in wade fishing, tough news for folks using hard sided boats and telling fish to concentrate in water providing best cover. Unsettled weather is expected during upcoming mid-week and should will improve top water ( mostly through BWO and mahogany dun activity) and streamer fishing.

Share

South Fork, September 30th, 2023

Flow was reduced a few days ago to about 5000 cfs at Irwin ( now about 5600 cfs at Heise, and 2500 cfs at Lorenzo). Reduced flow is great news for walk-in wade fishing but making it a bit tougher for navigating boats. Look for more flow reductions coming up in October. Unsettled weather for the next few days will enhance BWO and mahogany dun activity but reduce terrestrial insect activity. Streamer pattern enthusiasts will have much good time for presenting such throughout the next few days.

Share

South Fork, September 26th, 2023

River in Swan Valley

Flow out of Palisades Dam is reduced to seasonally normal amounts (about 5000 cfs at Irwin, 6100 cfs at Heise, 3000 cfs at Lorenzo) with Palisades Reservoir not quite at 60% of capacity.

The photo above shows why visiting the South Fork this time of the season offers an unforgettable experience. Unsettled weather predicted to begin Friday means an uptick in fish taking BWOs and those chasing streamers. Enough terrestrial insects remain that hopper-dropper combos are still effective after surface waters warm up by afternoon

Share

South Fork, September 23rd, 2023

Fall Colors at Clark Hill

Flow out Palisades Dam has dropped enough to notice (about 5700 cfs at Irwin, 6500 cfs at Heise, and 3000 cfs at Lorenzo) and can drop further as irrigation season winds down and water storage season begins. These flow levels make for more walk-in wade locations (On request, we at the shop can help locate the best of these ) and means drift boats will leave more gel coat streaks on the river bottom. With cooling weather and fewer daylight hours coming on, the opposite ends of the fly fishing spectrum ( BWOs and midge life cycle patterns then over to streamer patterns and big woolly bugger variations) will offer the best ways to fishing success. In between these ends terrestrial insects will be diminishing and the same for most stone fly species because of killing frosts and less daylight. Fall colors will offer another reason for fishing the river for days to come. Thus the South Fork offers more than great fishing if you enjoy its natural beauty peak this time of the season.

Share

South Fork, September 19th, 2023

South Fork Along the River Road

No significant changes in flow or water quality have taken place. Palisades Reservoir is about 60% of capacity, so irrigation water outlook for next year looks good. Unsettled weather coming up can only improve fly fishing whether it is top water ( mahoganies and BWO) or pitching streamers but slow terrestrial insect action. Such weather will also intensify fall colors which this year will peak a bit later because of the abundant ground water resulting from last winter’s great snowfall.

Share

South Fork, September,16th, 2023

Low flow gives more walk-in wade opportunities

Look for unsettled weather predicted for next week to increase BWO and mahogany dun activity as well as streamer fishing success. Terrestrial insect patterns remain effective throughout the day, and afternoon caddis activity remains reliable. With normal late summer flow of cool, clear water ongoing without major changes, walk-in wading locations ( boat traffic is down) are numerous along the entire river. We at the shop can suggest which walk-in wading locations have been most productive for fishing success because so much of our customer traffic targets the South Fork.

Share

South Fork, September 12th, 2023

No significant change in water conditions or fishing recommendations since our last report. However, if you want a top water fly fishing challenge the Warm Springs Pond on the river road above Heise is the place to try. A high water river channel, now dry because of reduced flows out of the Palisades Dam, feeds into the pond earlier in the season. That channel enters what use to be a small impoundment above the pond. It, too, is now only spring-fed and holds a few trout. Very large, but finicky brown and cutthroat inhabit the spring pond and feed on scuds, shrimp, and any emerging mayflies. A stealthy approach, long leaders, minimal wading, and precise casting are in order here for fishing success. Early in the day or evening visits are best times for fishing success.

Share