Fish are mostly at depth, so leeches presented deep or midge pupa at depth and under a strike indicator are the best ways to find action. We are past the peak of best still water fishing, but things will pick up. Springfield Res. has been slow fishing. Chesterfield Res. is spotty, Daniels and Hawkins reservoirs both have good water pool which bodes well for fall fishing.
Flows out of Mackay Dam are dropping, now near the 400 cfs mark. So we are heading in the right direction for safer wading and better surface action. Tricos are making an appearance, so with dropping flows, they will become more important in trout diets.
With flows a bit less than normal on most of the river, now is the time to consider walk-in wade fishing. As on the South Fork, riffles are now great locations for dry fly action. There are several locations along the river for trying these. Get in touch with us for information on which seem to be worth trying. Be sure to include streamer pattern in your fly box if you fish the river during evenings.
Terrestrial and attractor patterns work on all these this time of year. Some such as Birch Creek, Warm River, upper and lower reaches of the Teton River, and Stump Creek have morning Trico spinner falls.
Bear Creek
The pic above shows Bear Creek about 1.5 miles above the campground/trailhead. Current Creek Guard Station sits at the edge of the fenced meadow. From here upstream as far as time permits the creek is a beautiful destination to fish. Resident cutthroat trout ranging to eighteen inches readily take terrestrial and attractor patterns. To enjoy Bear Creek; cross Palisades Dam, go past the Calamity area and bear right where the road forks. From here Bear Creek is about an eight mile drive. Get in touch with us for strategy thoughts on fishing this and other small streams.
No real change here in that terrestrial patterns are the most consistent producers on Park streams. On higher gradient streams like the Gallatin, the middle and canyon reach of the Gibbon, lower Gardner River and Lava Creek add caddis life cycle patterns. For still waters gulpers are active and approachable on smaller waters such as Beula, Cascade, Grebe, Riddle and Wolf lakes. Trty a dry damselfly pattern on these where you see rises.
Evenings and early mornings are the times to be on the river. It is terrestrial insect season, so especially during late afternoons and evenings be sure to have patterns for these in your fly box. Early AMs, look for trico spinner falls which will end just before mid day. Evenings be sure to add caddis life cycle and streamer patterns. Other than that an end to summer weather will bring improvements in fish activity, so tough things out the next four or five weeks and rewards will surely come.
Because of hot weather irrigation requests, the flow out of Palisades Dam has been raised to about 8900 cfs. This poses no problem for fishing. Riffles up and down the river are now great places to enjoy rising trout. Try PMD and slate cream dun life cycle patterns during daytime, and caddisfly life cycle during evenings. If you fish during evenings, be sure to have streamer patterns in your fly box. If you prefer fishing banks; hopper, beetle, ant, and chernobyl patterns are producing very well throughout the river.
Spruce moths are now the big addition to trout diets. This holds true on the Madison, Gallatin, Ruby, and Beaverhead drainages. Tricos are coming on everywhere, too. On the Madison River just about any type of fly for trout will bring action. Gulpers have been slow to get started, but should pick up any time.
They are all fishing well whether you choose Salt River tribs, South Fork tribs, Henry’s Fork tribs, Birch Creek and other sinks streams, Portneuf River drainage streams, and others. Terrestrial and attractor patterns are the way to go. Sawmill Creek (below) at the head of Little Lost River has fast action for brookies, bull trout, and ‘bows. Thirty and forty fish days are common here.
Pretty much everywhere go deep to find fish in coolest water unless you see gulpers in action. When you tie into gulpers bring them in as quickly as possible, and revive them thoroughly in order to improve their survival chances in the warmer surface waters.