Our weekend rain keeps many of these higher than normal. Some, however remain fishable. These include the “ever-fishable” Birch Creek, Warm River, Buffalo River and Portneuf River (above Pebble and Dempsey creeks). For all of these PMDs, sallys, caddis and attractor patterns in sizes 12-18 will work on top. Any standard nymph including princes, hare’s ears, copper Johns, and zug bugs, with and without beads and in small and medium sizes will work underneath.
Fishing remains slow, especially near shorelines. Best thing to do is get a good supply of damselfly nymphs whether you “tie or buy”. And get that intermediate line ready. Come the end of this month and into July, the damselfly emergence will be a great chance for you to get into a fish of the year.
The lower river is the best fishing location. Green drakes are out in the afternoon, then the gray drakes take over in the evening. PMDs and caddis are abundant at these times, too. Use your favorite patterns for these. Expect much boat traffic on the lower river until the South Fork “high tide” diminishes. On the upper river the PMD emergence is the big event and there are plenty of caddis in many kinds. Green drakes have been sparse to non-existent.
As of this morning the South Fork has jumped to 22,200 cfs below Palisades Dam. The reservoir is full and now outflow will have to match inflow so the flows will probably go higher as Jackson Lake is a day or so from filling. The big question is if we are finally near the runoff peak and how long the inflows into Palisades will stay this high. We will report what we hear and see.
The cool rainy weather is helping make the mayfly emergences on the Madison below Quake Lake live up to its name. PMDs and BWOs are leading the way here. The north shore of Hebgen is the place to go if you enjoy presenting midge pupa at taking depths. Along the Hebgen south shore small leech and damselfly nymphs continue to produse and will until weeds interfere. The upper end of Elk Lake is a great remote water experience with small leech, midge pupa, and damselfly nymphs attracting the big resident cutthroat. Yellow sallys and PMDs are attracting very nice fish on the Beaverhead River.
All of those in southeastern Idaho, that is from Bingham County southeast are doing great. Here’s another bunch of candidates if you must get that boat out. On any of these: Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Springfield, Twenty-Four Mile, Twin Lakes; go for structure. That is bays, inlets, and coves. Also look for shoreline vegetation. Damselfly nymphs, leech patterns, scuds, and midge pupa all in your favorite patterns presented at taking depths all are proving effective.
Recent rains have kept many these high. With more rain expected this weekend some will stay that way. Warm River, Buffalo River, Tom’s Creek, Portneuf River, and Birch Creek should remain fishable. PMDs, Caddis and a few BWOs will be the fare for top water fishing.
Rain has kept streams high, but this bodes well for a good seson extending into late summer and autumn. The Madison River drainage is probably best bet for moving water with PMDs, a few gisnt and golden stones, and caddis on almost all waters. The Lewis River between Shoshone and Lewis lakes is a great palce to try streamers. Here and below Lewis Lake the green drake emergence wiil begin in about a week. Trout Lake opened on the 15th, and it hosts the largest cutthroat-rainbows in the Park. Scuds, midges, damsels and small leech patterns are the best here until it mosses up with the onset of warmer weather. In the southwest corner of the Park, runoff reigns supreme and will for a while yet. The Ashton-Flagg Road is days away from opening all the way through. You can use it now to access lower reaches of Fall River in the Park, but run-off makes the river almost unfishable.
The best activity here would be to go to the tying bench and produce damselfly nymphs for the emergence beginning around the end of the month. If you need to get out, head for deeper water to try midging or presenting scud patterns.
With the South Fork at “High Tide” this river offers some great float fishing alternatives for this weekend. Here’s what’s going on if you like dry fly fishing and need to get that boat out. First, the river is in great shape. From Riverside to Hatchery Ford look for caddis, PMD’s, a few golden stoneflies, and even a few green drakes. From Warm River to Ashton look for big time PMDs, afternoon green drakes, evening caddis and some gray drakes. From Ora Bridge to Chester Backwaters look for PMDs big time, afternoon green drakes and evening caddis and lots’a gray drakes. Predicted cool rainy weahter won’t hurt the fishing a bit. You can even do well through walk-in wade fishing on all of these. With respect to the river below Chester and the Fall River confluence, you can almost float a battleship. Fall River and Teton River are making very generous contributions. But don’t forget the Henry’s Fork Days event at the Last Chance rest area. Stop in for breakfast, to hear incredible fishing tales, and meet folks. Who knows; maybe some upper river green drakes and PMDs will appear to enhance that event.