Small Streams 6-25-19

The Blackfoot River drainage above the reservoir opens to fishing Monday (July 1st). The river flow is about normal, but best fishing will be with steamers and wooly bugger types. A minimal evening brown drake hatch occurs in the meadow reaches not long after opening.  PMDs are not numerous, and green drakes, if any, are very few. For faster water, such as in the narrows,  stonefly nymphs  (#6-8) and streamers are a good choice until we reach warmer conditions, then terrestrial patterns are best anywhere in the river.  The Teton River (and Bitch Creek) is high with run-of and will be that way for a while. Believing that  is easy on viewing the snow fields remaining on the west slope.  Most other small streams are in fishing condition and roads to them are passable. Warm River just below the spring and across from Bear Gulch and Robinson Creek are fishing well (caddis, PMD life cycle, beetle/ant and traditional attractor patterns) and will get you away from the crowds.

Here is some information on back country roads going to fishing spots.  The Ashton-Flagg Road is open west of the Bridger-Teton Forest boundary, but quite rough, meaning access to Fall River upstream drainage (including Beula Lake) is possible.  The Fish Creek Road is open at the Chick Creek Road junction, but closed above and below it. The Cave Falls Road is open but scarred with connecting potholes (gives a vehicle suspension quite a workout!) from the Horseshoe lake junction on east.