South Western Montana 8-05-2011
Big news here is the gulper action on Hebgen Lake. Mornings are the time to be on the water until afternoon winds and breezes hit. The Madison Arm and the west side bays are good locations to try on the lake.
August 2011
Henry’s Fork 8-05-2011
Action on the lower river has slowed as is typical this time of year. With hoppers coming on, and ant and beetle pattern having been effective for a while, we have to suggest that you concentrate on presenting these. If not, try small bead head nymphs. Don’t forget that streamers at twilight can bring out that big guy.
Still Waters 8-05-2011
Damselfly nymphs and adult (dry) patterns seem to bring the most consistent action on just about all of these. We fished Sand Creek Ponds a couple of days ago. The best fishing was during the rain on Tuesday, 8/2. See a fish rise, cast a damselfly nymph to it, and you would have a take. Fishing slacked bit the next day, but was good enough to keep us on the water until evening. Even caught a few on dry damsel patterns. We saw a few speckled duns, but no gulpers to speak of. When they begin on this and any reservoir fishing will be very interesting.
Small Streams 8-05-2011
These are all fishing quite well these days. Caddisfly life cycle, terrestrial, and standard attractor patterns work well on all. And for almost every one afternoons will be the best time to find action. Here is another great stream to consider visiting: Tincup Creek. Most of the best water in Tincup Creek is paralleled by Idaho State Highway 34 in Targhee-Caribou National Forest from the Wyoming state line on upstream. Higher up this creek is paralleled by a well maintained gravel road. Throughout it is a classic riffle and run stream. Being close to roads makes Tincup ideal for a fly fisher with physical restrictions or for family fishing. Yellowstone and Snake River fine spotted cutthroat trout dominate in population with some brown trout in lower reaches. Anything over sixteen inches is a braggin’ fish, so scale your gear accordingly. Caddisfly life cycle, terrestrial, golden stone life cycle, and standard attractor patterns work well on the surface. Bead head nymph, soft hackle, and leech patterns in smaller sizes work beneath. As with all high elevation streams, afternoons hold the best fishing. Two developed campgrounds are located on the creek, so an overnight stay to enjoy Tincup and near-by creeks is a pleasant consideration.
Henry’s Lake 8-05-2011
Creek mouths remain the best locations for action. Targhee and duck creeks remain the best of these, but try in front of Howard Creek. These creeks bring not only food but cooler water having higher dissolved oxygen into the lake. Trout seek both of these, so almost any creek with significant flow has potential to be a place for action. If you are being successful in fishing, however, expect company arriving soon.
Yellowstone Park 8-05-2011
Recent rains have raised flows significantly in Fall River Basin streams. This will prolong wet fly fishing as the most effective way to encounter the great cutthroat-rainbow hybrids there. Looks like hoppers will not be important in meadow reaches for a while. These have to dry out for that to happen. Beula Lake is producing well. Float tubing is the best way to get into action from the native Yellowstone cutthroat population. You will have to carry that tube 2.75 miles up the trail to do so, but those cutts make the effort worth it.
South Fork 8-05-2011
Flow out of Palisades Dam dropped to 12500 cfs yesterday. The USGS reports a water temp at 4PM yesterday 56 Deg. F. just below the dam. So warming water and lower flows mean we are headed in the right direction for improving dry fly fishing. Currently the best way to find action remains nymphing and presenting streamers, but dry fly fishing is coming on. See Jimmy’s report for 8/3/2011 for dry and wet fly recommendations.
South Fork 8-3-11
We are getting a lot of calls and questions as to when the dry fly fishing will finally turn on the South Fork. So here is our take on the situation. The river flow is very fishable at the present flow of 13,400 cfs. There are plenty of riffles, drop offs and structure to fish around. Water clarity is slowly improving but what we really need is for the water to warm up so that the hatches start earlier in the day and last longer. We are catching some fish on dries in the afternoons on Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies and Chubby Chernobyls.
Nymphing and Streamer fishing has been excellent. We have been using a size 6 or 8 dark rubber leg with a smaller golden stone or yellow sally nymph below it. For streamers we have fishing the slower banks and drop offs with a sink-tip. Brighter colored streamers that have some flash have been the best.
Still Waters 8-01-2011
Right now Sand Creek Ponds offer the most consistent fishing with damselfly nymph patterns the best way to find action. Expect speckled duns to take over soon as the best way to encounter fish. Action on Springfield Reservoir is finally picking up, but weeds are growing into mats in many places. So try dry damselfly patterns, especially if you see rises.
Small Streams 8-01-2011
The choice of great small streams in eastern Idaho to fish now is almost endless. Right now it doesn’t matter which major drainage you wish to visit, the tribs will offer great fishing and a great chance for solitude. Here is a great trib in the South Fork drainage—Palisades Creek. It’s off US Highway26 about halfway between the town of Swan Valley and Palisades Dam. Park at the campground, and walk up the well-maintained trail as far as time permits. It’s a riffle and run stream hosting mostly cutthroat with a few cutbow hybrids with lots of water adjacent to the trail. Trout here range up to eighteen inches, and are they great fun in the fast water. This time of the season a dry caddis pattern, terrestrial patterns, and standard attractors will get you action. If you can, walk the five and a half miles up to the creek just above lower Palisades Lake. Here the gradient is slower as the stream flows through a brushy meadow. There are more of the larger fish here than below the lake. Next report we will feature another great small stream to consider.