Snake River 8-05-09
Getting better all the time, especially as flows drop and days shorten. Its mostly streamer fishing, but terrestrials are now important if you fish banks and overhead cover.
August 2009
Henry’s Lake 8-05-09
The name of the game is go to creek mouths and spring holes. Use the traditional Henry’s Lake patterns we have suggested as well as midge pupa/indicator techniques. Expect crowds where the fishing is good.
Henry’s Fork 8-05-09
Mid summer slow down is on unless you fish very early or towards sunset and twilight. That means caddisfly and streamer patterns. Try some speckled dun life cycle patterns on slower reaches.
South Fork 8-05-09
Flow out of Palisades Dam dropped another 1000 cfs to 10200 cfs last night. Watch the riffle fishing pick up after soon. There could be more flow reductions coming. Meanwhile, the lower river is turning on while the upper river has had most of the attention. For the lower river present chernobyl types and terrestrials towards banks as well as trying the riffles where PMDs are beginning to bring responses from trout. Concentrate on emerger patterns. Dry golden stone patterns still work throughout the river. Streamers bring responses early in the day just about anywhere on the river. We look for mutant stones to appear any day now.
Today at Jimmys 8-04-09
After too long of absense from our shop we are happy to have Peterson’s Liquid Cork floatant back on the shelf. Its made locally by Lance Peterson and his floatant has a strong following. Its a very liquid floatant that works well on all kinds of dries – tiny sizes as well as big dries. For those of you that like to mix up white gas and mucilin I would suggest Lance’s stuff because its safer and works just as well. (Especially around cigar smoking flyfishers)
We are closing out our supply of the the Simms Felt Sole river sandals at $65.00 down from $89.95. We still have plenty of sizes. The new Simms sandal with the vibram sole has become very popular so its time for the felt models to go.
South Fork 08-04-09
There was another drop last night of 1000 cfs which brings the flow down to 10,200. These last three drops should cause the wingless golden stones to crawl out which makes the chernobyl fishing better. The riffles continue to fish real well. The cold water and normal summer flows are making August fishing what we hoped for earlier in the year. Remember that the hatches don’t really get going until noon or later. Consider fishing a streamer or chernobyl from daylight until the sun hits the water.
A word of caution about the lower river. There are some very tricky hydraulics right under the Lorenzo Bridge before the takeout. The best passage is down the right channel that takes off above the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast. Its a new channel and when you look down it doesn’t look real good but its seems to be the best choice at this flow. If you do choose to take the left channel consider running under the bridge on river left on the left side of the furthest left cement bridge pylon. (That’s alot of lefts) You then have to pull immediately back across the river to the takeout. If you still are not sure about what you want to do get out and look. We offer these suggestions based on what we see from our own experience but keep in mind as the river flows change each day you will see new situations form so take the appropriate actions to get through safely.
Small Streams 8-03-09
Most of these are in great shape. with terrestrial insects nearing their peak and most featuring ever present caddis and sallys. It really is too much to relate information on each here because nearly all are good fishing and will remain so until fall. So get in touch with us for particulars on any you may be interested in visiting.
Main Stem Snake River 8-03-09
Each day we go past mid summer this river becomes more attractive. Right now there are many walk-in wade locations and float fishing is a great way to really see what this river offers. Streamer fishing especially early and late in the day is the best way to encounter the large trout here. But with the great and growing terrestrial insect populations, slamming hoppers towards banks and other overhead cover out of direct sunlight is productive. Use your South Fork bank fishing techniques if you float fish this river.
Yellowstone Park 8-03-09
Almost everywhere except the Firehole River would be a good choice. For some like the Madison and Gibbon rivers early and late in the day offers the best times. Terrestrials insect are now a major food item for trout everywhere. Concentrate on banks and overhangs not in direct sunlight On still waters, such as Beula Lake shown below, speckled dun emergences are bringing gulpers to the surface. Adult damselfly patterns will also bring top water responses.
Beula Lake
Many small stream are great places to try now. They remain relatively cool because of the high elevation. Some of the more convenient, because of roads nearby include the upper Gallatin River, Grayling Creek, Soda Butte Creek, Gardner River, Lava Creek, and Aster Creek.
Big Lost River 8-03-09
Flow out of Mackay Dam is 580 cfs, still a bit high for serious walk-in wade fishing along river below.