With flow out of Mackay Dam dropping near 300 cfs, the river below is in great shape for walk-in wade fishing. This time of year tricos begin attracting fish in the mornings, and flavs take over in the afternoons. Of course the tricos are more numerous! The other big attraction to fish will be terrestrial patterns. The real old-timers fishing here prefer to fish streamers as darkness falls. So consider!
This is the time of year when they are at their best. Terrestrial patterns are likely the best choice on any of these. Here is one that is a great choice if you want to minimize your traveling time and plan on easy access. Beaver Creek above Spencer, Idaho is the place, and travel all the way is on Interstate-15. A good access point is the Interstate-15 interchange a few miles north of Spencer. From here one can walk upstream into the canyon (look out for an occasional freight train) to fish free-flowing water or beaver ponds or walk downstream to fish the same. From this Interstate-15 interchange one can also take the frontage road on the west side of the creek to access parts further downstream. Brookies and rainbows are the residents and they are eager enough to take any terrestrial, caddisfly life cycle, or traditional attractor pattern you present. Fish here range up to the mid-teens in inches with a very few of the bows getting larger, especially in the beaver ponds. Afternoons offer the best fishing.
As some folks have noticed, the road accessing Big Elk Creek has been closed. The reason is road work to widen narrow stretches close to US Highway 26. The road opened today but will be closed from time to time for finishing work. The best way to learn of the closings schedule is to contact the Palisades District Ranger Station at 523-1412.
Flow out of Palisades Dam was dropped to 8500 cfs early this AM. That is the normal flow for this time of year. Look at Tim’s South Fork report on 8-16 for strategies up and down the river. If he has been on the river for that many days, he is a first hand source for information. The only thing I would add is that with decreasing flows likely coming up, dry fly fishing will improve.
Fishing is holding up very well for this time of year. Again, best locations are in front of Targhee, Duck and Howard creeks. Use intermediate or floating lines with mity mites, beadhead peacock leeches, peacock A. Hs., crystal leeches and your favorite damselfly nymph patterns. Expect crowds if you get into fish.
Big news here is that construction will soon begin on the Ashton Dam. To begin, the reservoir will be drained by 17 feet over the near future after an outlet tunnel is blasted. We are all hoping that this will be done in a manner that will not silt the downstream river bottom. Nevertheless with increased flows of warm water, fishing will be impacted downstream likely through the Chester Dam backwater. Terrestrial patterns presented along vegetated banks, outcrops, and overhanging logs should bring interest during daytime. Evening caddis activity should bring action, too.
Flow out of Henry’s Lake has been well over 100cfs all summer, so a lot of large lake fish have been washed into the river below. Yesterday flow out of the lake was dropped to 98cfs. That means those big fish escaped from Henry’s Lake will move downstream. Want a chance to catch a really large cutt, hybrid or brookie? Try the Flat Ranch reach within the next few days. Try streamers or terrestrial patterns for the best chance to encounter these big guys.
Hi all Tim here, checking in from the river. I wanted to write up the fishing report for today because I have been on the river almost everyday for the last month, and I think I have some insight you might want to hear.
Flows seem to be holding well at 9,000 cfs. There are lots of good riffles and banks to fish. Yesterday was the first day I didn’t tie on a strike indicator! We fished chenobyls with beadhead droppers against the banks and we fished streamers. The streamer fishing is really good this summer. I have had my best success on Olive and White streamers. Nymphing is still the best of way to get into a lot of fish but if your sick of looking at thingamabobbers (like I am) you can fish dries. Its not red hot but fish are eating them. Not many fish up in the riffles eating mayflies but I have found a few every once in awhile.
Most sections seem to be fishing the same. Fish hard and fish at different times of the day, like early morning and late into the evening. As the flows drop look for the mutant stoneflies to start hatching and the hoppers should be turning on anytime now.
Best way to get action up and down the river this part of the season is through using terrestrial patterns. Expect them to work very well in less frequented locations such as Hatchery Ford, above and between Mesa Falls, below Riverside campground, and above and below Coffee Pot Rapids. They certainly will be effective at Last Chance, up and down the Harriman State Park reach, and around Wood Road 16, but you will have more company presenting the same and a greater variety of life forms for fish to choose from.
Almost any of these will be a great choice at least to the end of the month, but some of the very smallest will begin to fade as water reaches base levels and trout go downstream to seek more overhead cover. Want to try a small stream with super-abundant trout and quite a ways off the beaten path? Sawmill Creek is a great candidate. Go to Howe, Idaho on State Highway 33. Turn north on the paved county road and travel for miles up the Little Lost River Valley. The pavement ends just above the “almost township” of Clyde, Idaho. From here travel further up the well-maintained gravel road bearing to right to where it forks for final time. Take the right fork (left hand fork goes on to the Pahsimeroi Valley), and follow it to the Sawmill Creek crossing. You can stop here, about 130 miles north and west of Idaho Falls, and fish or travel further up the creek to drop off at any worthy looking spot, and there are many of them, to give it a try. Rainbows, brookies and bull trout are the residents, and anything over fourteen inches is a “braggin’ fish” , so plan your tackle accordingly. They will take just about any attractor, caddisfly life cycle or terrestrial pattern you offer on top water, and sub-surface they do the same for any soft hackle or nymph pattern presented. Yes, it is a long haul, but the country is gorgeous and good fishing almost a sure thing. Don’t forget that camera.
Almost across the board speckled duns are beginning to emerge and take over as the best reason for dry fly fishing. Dry adult damselfly patterns are also great at bringing fish to the surface. Without wind great fishing can be had the entire day. In fact, with such still waters as Springfield, Treasureton, Harriman Fish Pond, Hawkins, prime locations on Chesterfield and Twenty-Four Mile weeding up, dry fly fishing is the most practical way to present. Everywhere consider using as stout a leader (at least 3X) as practical because those big fish will head down into the weeds attempting to escape. The only way you will get them out is to have a leader that can withstand your efforts on one end and that big one’s efforts on the other.
Flow out of Palisades Dam is where it should be for the time of year—9000 cfs. With lower flows, the river below is clearing and not scouring banks & bottom to release annelids, nymphs, grubs, etc. as in weeks past. That means fish will go to the surface more often to seek food. So dry fly fishing is finally improving with caddisflies and mayflies emerging and stream side terrestrial insects present in abundance. Chubby chernobyls, Berrett’s golden stone, your favorite ant, beetle and hopper patterns, PMD and caddisfly life cycle patterns should be in your fly box. If you plan to take out of the river at the Twin Bridges south channel site be prepared to push your boat over an upstream gravel bar that has emerged from the dropping flows. This gravel bar should be visible in the clear water.