mobile-logo
Top

September 2011

Fly Fish Food Jimmy's / 2011 (Page 10)

Small Streams 9-1-2011

September 1, 2011
0
0
Small Streams

Many of these will remain at their peaks for a few weeks to come.  For the smaller ones cooler weather and a drop to base flow will cause trout to migrate downstream to more overhead cover and less temperature extremes. Here’s a small one to consider before we begin cooling off.   Cascade Creek flows  north out of Wyoming  into Fall River in Yellowstone Park.   You cross Cascade Creek on the Ashton-Flagg Road a few miles west of crossing Grassy Lake Dam.  A trailhead  just off the road to Terraced Falls on Fall River is the access point to a  meadow reach through which the creek runs before dropping into Fall River.  It’s less than a mile walk to reach, and I’d be surprised if more than six folks fish this creek in a season.  You will need a Park license to fish here and enjoy the most colorful cutthroat-rainbow anywhere.  Bring a high resolution camera.  The stream has a bit of a gradient here, so caddisflies are the main insects active this time of year.  Terrestrial and attractor patterns in small and medium sizes will work very well.  A two-weight rod with a floating line is the best tackle, and if you catch  one of those hybrids in the lower teens of inches, you have a braggin’ fish.

Share

Main Stem Snake River 9-1-2011

September 1, 2011
0
0
Main Stem Snake River

With irrigation demands dropping steadily, river flows are dropping to where fly-fishing in becoming very practical from Menan to American Falls Reservoir.   Presenting terrestrial patterns along well vegetated banks can be very productive, but streamer fishing during early and late hours is the best way to encounter the big fish throughout the river.  Pattern selection is less important that presentation, but because there are more large trout in the main stem river than in any other eastern Idaho stream, you have plenty of locations to make that proper presentation.  We can help you pin point some of these, so come in to the shop, or get in touch.

Share

Henry’s Lake 9-1-2011

September 1, 2011
0
0
Henry's Lake

Although reports speak of action slowing a bit, creek mouths are the best places to give it a try.  Targhee and Duck creeks are the best locations, but don’t overlook in front of  Howard Creek.   Use patterns we have recommended in recent reports.  When we begin cooling off for sure and with less daylight later this month, look for action to pick up all around the lake.

Share

Henry’s Fork 9-1-2011

September 1, 2011
0
0
Henry's Fork

We are all greatly interested in effects of Ashton Dam construction on the river below.  It appears that water will continue to be released until late next week in order to get the reservoir water level down 17 feet for work to be performed.  Therefore look for silt to be released through this time frame and impact river clarity at least as far downstream as the Chester Dam backwaters.  So far it appears that released silt is within expected amounts.  The Henry’s Fork Foundation (www.henrysfork.org) posts pictures of the river and is monitoring the impacts on it.

On the upper river around Last Chance and the Harriman reach, PMD spinner falls are bringing AM action, and terrestrial insect patterns bring action during daytime hours.  Have you ever twitched a hair mouse around grassy banks here around twilight?

Share

South Fork 8/29

August 29, 2011
0
0
South Fork

Flows have remained steady at 9,000 cfs. Fishing has not changed much in way of hatches of dry fly action. I have had some success on flying ants and small stimi’s. Twitching Chernobyl ants in the morning have also bee producing fish. Side channels still seem to hold the most fish, look for fish to be holding in water that tucked away from the main channel.

Share

Henry’s Fork 8-28-2011

August 29, 2011
0
0
Henry's Fork

The most important event likely on the whole river is construction ongoing at the Ashton Dam and impact on the river below.  The best way to keep up to date on construction impact is to go the Henry’s Fork Foundation web site: www.henrysfork.org, and under the Latest News banner click on Ashton Dam Tunnel Tap in Progress.

Share

Yellowstone Park 8-26-2011

August 26, 2011
0
0
Yellowstone Park

It’s almost a blanket statement for all Park streams, but it is true: now is the time to fish terrestrial patterns. Be sure to have you favorite ant, beetle, and hopper patterns along.  If you want action, especially on still waters, Beula Lake is the place.  Gulpers (Yellowstone cutthroats, in this case) are going strong, and caddisflies coming down the inlet bring fish into shallow waters there in a mode similar to how PMD activity attracts fish to South Fork riffles. Trico activity is going on in many Park waters, so morning visits should include patterns for these. Then as mid day approaches, switch to those terrestrial patterns.

Share

Still Waters 8-26-2011

August 26, 2011
0
0
Still Water

Speckled dun activity is making for gulpers on just about all waters.  We visited Sand Creek Ponds (#4) yesterday, and fish were rising everywhere most of the time until mid afternoon. Reward for one deserving fly-fisher in our bunch was a big bow of nearly twenty-seven inches.  This big guy was returned to the pond and will be a bit tougher to fool again.  We caught a few on hopper patterns as breezes blow these in from surrounding grassy banks and near-by fields, but speckled dun nymphs and emergers were best producers.  Amazingly, we had the pond to ourselves.

Share

Small Streams 8-26-2011

August 26, 2011
0
0
Small Streams

Best chances for success on nearly all is to use terrestrial patterns.

Here’s another great small stream to try. It requires a bit of walking , four or so miles minimum, and a Yellowstone Park fishing license, but the rewards of fishing Yellowstone Park’s Boundary Creek are great scenery, solitude, and the chance for large cutthroat-rainbow hybrids.  Its another classic meadow stream in about the size of extreme upper Slough Creek, Duck Creek, and Flat Creek.  Access it from Bechler River Ranger station from which well maintained trails will take you to either the lower (Bechler Meadows Trail) or the upper (Boundary Creek Trail) reaches of the creek in Bechler Meadows.  As with any small stream, it is overshadowed in reputation by its larger neighbors, in this case Bechler and Fall rivers.  But the size that fish range to here is comparable to the two rivers.  To fool them requires more stealth and a near perfect presentation, whereas the numerous smaller trout here are aggressive and will take just about any pattern in small and medium sizes.  During this time of year terrestrial patterns are by far the best way to encounter large trout here.  Especially in the lower reaches, tricos will be numerous.  So morning visits should include their life cycle patterns.  As midday approaches begin switching to your favorite hopper and ant patterns.  Take a camera, insect repellent and a water purifier, and in case of thundershowers, a raincoat.

Share

Henry’s Fork 8-26-2011

August 26, 2011
0
0
Henry's Fork

We have reports of some silt entering the river below from construction activity on the Ashton Dam.  It appears that the amount is within expected limits, and if so let’s hope that it stays that way.  The Henry’s Fork Foundation is monitoring the river below the dam, and will have good information on effects of construction.

Fishing success on the lower river has slowed  as is usual for the time of year. Best chance for action would be to present terrestrial patterns or fish during spinner falls.  We also have reports of the same with respect to activity on the upper river during mid day hours.  Mornings (try tricolife cycle patterns) and evenings (terrestrial, caddis life cycle, rusty spinner patterns) remain good fishing here.

Share
« Previous PageNext Page »