Henry’s Lake 5-25-10
Expect as many people as fish, but look for good fishing.
May 2010
Still Waters 5-24-10
If you are heading southeast, we need warm weather for these to reach their peak. This includes Chesterfield, Daniels, Treasureton, 24-Mile and Hawkins, and even Springfield. Yes, they will be well attended for the upcoming three-day weekend, but if you present midge pupa patterns under indicators or damselfly nymph patterns on intermediate lines you will have success. Concentrate on shallow waters such as the upper end of Daniels, around the bays and willows near the dam at Chesterfield. See our Still Waters fishing report of 5/20 for suggested patterns. Because of our cold weather warm water fishing remains slow. With warm weather action will come around.
Henry’s Fork
Salmon Flies are out in really good numbers at Vernon bridge and Warm River to Ashton. With this cold weather I would not expect Salmon Flies in the Box Canyon for the opening day or weekend. However I would expect them about mid week if I had to guess. Lots of success on Stonefly nymphs in the morning and big dries in the afternoon. Put those Pale Morning Duns and Caddis in your fly box. If we get a nice afternoon those will hatch. If your having a hard time finding fish to rise on the big Stone fly throw a golden stone to change up the look.
South Fork 5/24
Flows have dropped to 11,200 cfs. We expect these flows to level out anytime. The water is a green color but still has a lot of clarity to it. Nymphing and streamer fishing is you best bet for catching fish. I would fish a stonefly nymph with a bright beadhead dropper. San Juan worms would be another option for indicator fishing on the South Fork. The water temp is still pretty cold so slow down the strip on your presentation for streamers.
We have called the Forest Service and I have been informed that the road to Cottonwood has been opened. With that said I only got to talk to the secretary at the Forest Service office. If you are traveling up to Cottonwood and you find a sign stating the road is closed do not go to cottonwood.
Remember Conant and Byington boat ramps will be closed this week and will reopen Sat. the 29th.
Today at Jimmy’s 5/24
Shop Talk
We have all been getting out and fishing this past week. Rollin has been on the Henry’s Fork everyday he has off. Jimmy has been chasing warm water fish, and I have been getting out when I can. I am getting out tomorrow to fish the South Fork, I’m planning on chucking streamers looking for some hungry brown trout. General Season opens this Sat. and we all are excited to go fish our favorite streams and sections of river that have been closed all winter.
Speaking of the holiday weekend we have received Yellowstone Park Licenses. Come down to the shop and get yours early to beat the rush for opening day on Saturday. If you get some good pictures while your out this weekend send them to the shop we need to beef up our photo gallery. Have a great Week and Holiday!
Mainstem Snake River 5-20-10
Feeling the effects of increased flows, especially on the upper river. Water is a bit discolored. Best fishing is below Blackfoot where a well placed streamer pattern can bring results.
Recommended patterns
- Bead head peacock leech
- Stenersen’s string leech
- Clousers
- JJ special
- Galloup’s sex dungeon
- Galloup’s bottoms up
- Double bunny
Small Streams 5-20-10
The Birch Creek family area is the star of the show here. Water conditions are just about perfect. Look for best action during the afternoon hours from caddis, BWOs, and yellow sallys.
Recommended Fly Patterns
- Soft hackles ( partridge & orange, partridge & purple, partridge & peacock, tungsten & orange)
- Elk hair caddis
- Butch caddis
- BWO comparadun
- Traditional attractors (renegade, humpy, wulff patterns, parachute adams)
- Sandy mite
- Copper john
- Bead head pheasant tail
- Prince nymph (with & w/o bead head)
Still Waters 5-20-10
During the next few weeks the Henry’s Fork will see hoards of anglers chasing the giant stonefly emergence. Now that the South Fork flush is past, fishing on the river is shaping up very well which will attract many anglers. So still waters offer an alternative. Right now many of these are open, or will open soon. Currently some of the best our still waters offer is at Daniels Reservoir. Concentrate on shallower waters like the upper end and east side shorelines. Damselfly nymphs are moving here and on all local still waters in the southeastern region. Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir is producing for anglers presenting damselfly nymph patterns. So are Hawkins and Springfield. Same for Chesterfield; try the willowed shorelines just above the dam. On all of these waters presenting midge pupa patterns below a strike indicator will also work when you find the taking depth. We have word that Treasureton Reservoir is coming back from the fish kill of a few years back. Rainbows have been re-established, and some good ones are being caught.
Interested in such as Twin Lakes, Condie and others for warm water types? We need thing to warm up a bit, but bluegill candy and damselfly nymph patterns fished below the surface can bring results.
Recommended still water flies
Damselfly nymphs
- Mity Mite
- Bead head damsel
- Olive crystal
- Philo damsel
- Henry’s olive/red
Midge pupa
- Bloodworm patterns
- Ice cream cone patterns
- Black sally chironomid
- Morrison high voltage midge pupa
- Griffith’s gnat
- Collaborator midge pupa
Nymph patterns
- Zug bug
- Prince nymph, with and w/o bead head
Henry’s Fork 5/20
The official word is the Stoneflies are out and crawling! You can find these bugs from the Vernon to Chester, and Chester to St. Anthony. They are also hatching from Warm River to Ashton. We are right at the beginning of the hatch so not every fish is up eating them. You will find a few hours during the day when the fish are up actively eating on top. Don’t be afraid to drop a huge stonefly nymph under the surface and fish the structure along the banks. I would put some Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies and Caddis in my fly box, these flies will be hatching any time, and I expect to see them this weekend.
Remember which sections of water that are closed. Ashton Dam to Vernon Bridge, is closed until Memorial Day Weekend. Warm River is closed as well, but the Henry’s Fork is open above Warm River to Riverside campground.
Recommended Flies for the Henry’s Fork
Dries:
- CFO Hummer Stone
- Berry’s Hedgehog
- Rollin Stone Salomon Fly
- Chubby Chernobyl
Nymphs:
- Pats Rubberleg Stonefly
- Jimmy Leg Stonefly
- Tungsten Yellow Sallie
- Delekta’s Mega Prince
- Bead Head Bubble Back Emerger PMD
- Redemption Nymph PMD
South Fork 5/20
Flows on the South Fork have remained steady at 14000cfs. The river is looking really good and the water clarity is really good for May. Nymphing is going to be the ticket to catching fish on the river right now. Until water temps warm up we will not see any dry fly action until late June at the earliest. Streamer fishing is also a good option for catching fish this time of year.
Safety note please check side channels before you float them. The river has changed since the flush and to make sure the channel is safe we recommend walking it before you float it. This is really important on the lower river below Byington. We have also been told that you can float Byington to Twin Bridges right now with the higher flows on the river. There was no work done on the channel this year and we do not know how long it will be open. We will keep you updated on any changes at this particular boat ramp.
Remember that Conant and Byington will be closed from Monday May 24th to Friday May 28th. Use Wolf and Spring Creek Boat ramps instead.
Recommended Flies
Nymphs:
- Pat’s Rubberleg Stonefly
- Jimmy Leg Stonefly
- Sunkist PMD Nymph
- San Juan Worm
Streamers:
- Sex Dungeon
- Peanut Envy
- Bellyache Minnow
- Clousers
- Double bunnys