With flows out of Mackay Dam at just under 700 cfs, wading here is not for the faint of heart. Small & medium sized leech patterns presented on a sink-tip line will bring the most action until waters get down to a more suitable level for wading.
It’s the same as earlier this week: damselflies are what’s bringing the best action on all these. Now speckled duns are beginning to show here & there, so they may be the next bug to bring action. Want to escape to new waters? Try such as Aldous Lake (cutthroats only), Paul Reservoir (cutthroats only), Horseshoe Lake (put and take grayling & ‘bows), or Harriman Fish Pond (‘bows and brookies). Get in touch with us to see how to get to these and fishing strategies for fishing them.
Big news here is Madison River big stonefly hatch. They are up the river as far as between Hebgen and Quake lakes. So is the “fly-fisher hatch”!.
It’s hard to find one that is not fishing well. Expect the most accessible to be crowded on weekends. Do you enjoy fishing traditional attractor patterns? Any riffle and run areas of these will be a great choice. Some of our small streams have a good number of large trout. This applies to the Blackfoot, Teton, Portneuf and Warm Rivers. It also applies to Bitch, Stump, Crow, Palisades, Big Elk, Medicine Lodge, Bear, and Sheridan creeks. Get in touch with us for more information on these.
Fishing remains spotty even though damselfly nymphs are numerous. The west side seems to provide the best action for now. Let’s see what a week of real summer weather coming up will do.
We have waited a long time to have a good report for the mainstem Snake River. Water flows have dropped to near normal levels, so we can recommend that one should consider the river for streamer fishing. There are many places to access the river. We can make recommendations as to which might produce and we can recommend streamer patterns for this time of year. Get in touch or come to the shop for information on how to approach this great and often overlooked fishery.
We are not far way from terrestrial insect season here. For now be sure to carry ant and beetle patterns any where you plan to fish the river. Use them along grassy banks, overhangs, and dry slopes. Flavs are still active on the upper river. PMDs are decreasing in size are now down to size 18s and 20s but numerous throughout. A few brown drakes are left on the upper river. Don’t overlook damselfly adults especially on slow reaches of the river such as in Harriman State Park. Say goodbye to the big stoneflies for this year, but get ready to break out those hopper patterns!
This weekend will be a great time to fish Park waters as entrance fees are waived on both Saturday, 7/18 and Sunday, 7/19. However, a valid fishing license is required. A three-day license costs $15, a seven-day license is $20 and a season license costs $35. Children under 15 years of age fish free. Check the Park web site for non-fee permit requirements for children. It is a great time to fish Park waters as all are in fishable shape now. Be aware that there are temporary fishing closures along the Gibbon River from a half mile above Gibbon Falls to a mile south of the falls because of road construction.
Flow out of Palisades Dam has been steady at 12700 cfs for two days now. This is very close to historic flows for this time of year. And the river is clearing noticeably. The golden stoneflies are numerous from the canyon into Swan Valley, and PMDs are emerging up and down the river. The upper river provides the best fishing now. With gravel bars emerging and riffles stabilizing look for a great season for fishing PMDs and later mayflies all summer. Come in or contact us about the best strategy and flies as the South Fork returns to it famous reputation for summer fishing.
The river continues to fish well from Palisades down through canyon. Folks are still catching fish above Spring Creek on the big stones but the most consistent fishing has been with golden stones and the smaller yellow sallies. The flow has dropped a little more and is down to 12,700 cfs.
One note of caution about the upper river at the Fall Creek falls. On the left bank below the falls there is a log that comes out into the river and this week two boats hit the log and sunk. You can easily avoid this tree by staying on river right.
The lower river from Heise down has been fishing much slower than above. I don’t know the explanation for this but the flow has dropped another 2000 cfs since last weekend so we look for things to improve on the lower river.