Early AMs (spinner falls) and evenings (caddis swarms, speckled duns) remain the best times to fish anywhere on the river. During mid day terrestrial patterns along shaded banks are your best bet for action. Small bead head nymphs work daytime in Box Canyon. Streamers work there, at the Tubs, below Coffee Pot rapids, and along the lower river during evenings.
We are starting to see some of the new products that will be available beginning this Fall and into next year.
SIMMS is coming out with a line of insect repeling clothing named “No Fly Zone” next Spring. We’ll be ordering it this Fall to make sure we have a good inventory for next year. We’ll have the new Sage XI3 rods in soon. They are made primarily for salt water and are light than the XI2 rods they are replacing.
We are going to reorganize our fly tying materials area late this Fall (after fishing and hunting slows down!) and bring in some new materials that we think will work for this area. We are always open to suggestions on what material to carry so feel free to recommend a material that you would like us to add.
This week we did add 11 new colors of Arizona Simi Seal. Simi seal as a wet fly/streamer dubbing that we use on the bodies of nymphs, leeches, steelhead flies and streamers.
We will be open Labor Day, Monday, September 7th, 9AM to afternoon hours to help you enjoy the South Fork and other great area waters
It had to come sometime this summer but after some of the best riffle fishing we have had in years we have to report that the Pale Morning Dun hatches have really slowed down. Now its time to start using everything else that you can pull out the fly box.
Happiness is a cutty to release!
Use chernobyl ants and streamers early in the in the mornings on the flats. If you don’t find feeding fish later in the day try a hopper against the back with a small nymph dropper. A rubber leg/HEAVY TUNGSTEN BEADHEAD San Juan worm combo would be my next idea. Flow out of Palisades has been stable at 8600 cfs for several days, but expect it to drop further with most of the irrigation season behind us. This means great days are ahead for walk-in fishing during the fall season.
27″ South Fork Hybrid
Finally consider stopping and fishing some side channels and places that can’t be reached by boat. You might find fish that haven’t been bothered all summer.
The upcoming months can be the best to try Park waters. The number of tourist-anglers is down, insect pests are decreasing, and more comfortable weather is coming. Terrestrial insects and caddisflies will be active for weeks to come, the fall mayfly emergence (BWOs, mahogany duns, Slough Creek green drakes) will take hold, and streamer fishing will become increasingly productive. Get in touch with us for “where to fish” information, flies, equipment, and strategies for the fall season.
A good shot of cooler weather will make fish more active. All it take is some time in September!
Hopper and ant action on most streams goes on. As we cool off and gulper action and that from spruce moths begins to decrease, begin thinking BWOs and streamers.
As we cool during September some of these will see less insect activity, but the larger ones such as the Teton, Blackfoot, Greys, Portneuf, Warm and Fall rivers, creeks including Robinson, Big Elk, the Salt River tribs and Palisades will remain good choices because of BWO, mahogany dun, caddis, cranefly, and terrestrial insect activity. On any of these streams hosting brown trout, streamers will become important.
With 350 cfs coming out of Mackay Dam, the river is wadeable with caution. Trico and midge activity is present, and terrestrial patterns will produce. As we go through September look for flow out of the dam to decrease and for BWOs to become important.
The Snake River should now be considered a destination during through November. With dropping flows and seasonal cooling fish are not only more active, but more approachable. The river from Blackfoot to American Falls Reservoir is hosting record sized rainbows coming out of the reservoir. Streamers, wooly bugger and San Juan types fished deeply as possible give the best chance to encounter them. Within the next few days, if not already, the snowflake dun hatch will attract trout in the same reach of river. Look for BWO activity throughout on overcast days, and terrestrial patterns will be effective for several weeks to come. We have word of a 29-inch cutthroat being caught just below Am. Falls Dam on a fly. So don’t overlook that part of the river! To get more information on this great seasonal fishery get in touch with us or stop in.
Fishing has been really spotty here, but as we cool during September action will pick up. As we hear of improvements, we will post them here.