Run-off is peaking now. So in a few days we can say that all smaller streams will be worth fishing unless, like the lower Blackfoot River, irrigation demands impact fishing. These will offer great chances for some solitude and many offer surprisingly large fish. Now is the time to contact us about which ones to fish when.
We don’t like to repeat old information, but in this case we do so because of the potential for enjoyable fishing. On our still waters to the south (Chesterfield, Daniels, Twenty-Four Mile, Hawkins, Treasureton, Springfield, and other reservoirs) trout are responding very well to adult damselflies. Wind free periods are best, if you can find them. Try early in the day, or even late. Off-the-beaten-path places like Weston , Condie, Deep Creek, and Devil Creek reservoirs also offer trout responding in this manner. Some will offer bass which like adult damselflies, too!
Along the Last Chance-Harriman reach green drakes are coming off during mid day, and a few flavs appear during afternoons. PMDs are making for action during daytime with AM spinner falls also bringing responses. On lower the lower Harriman State Park reach brown drakes are making an appearance evenings. The peak of that event is yet to come. Expect crowds when you fish anywhere here. Want to enjoy fish responding to green drakes, some PMDs, and later in the day caddis without crowds of fly-fishers? Go to the Nature Conservancy’s Flat Ranch reach on Henry’s Lake Outlet. The drakes emerge from about 11AM to 2PM with some fish responding to PMDs. The caddis take over later. In general the fish run smaller than on the Harriman reach, but don’t let that fool you because some dandy hybrids inhabit the Flat Ranch reach. Also a few rare three to four pound cutts could surprise you.
Flows were bumped again yesterday afternoon to 13,000cfs. Again this is response to irrigation demand downstream. I don’t know how much more the water will increase but I will keep you all updated as soon as we know.
At this point I would only be fishing nymphs and streamers. The river has been raised 2,000 cfs in 2 days and that is a lot of water. Enough water to cool things down and slow any hatches that were happening and mix things up enough to have the fish a little confused. The good news is it doesn’t take long for things to settle down and the fishing to pick back up again. If we don’t have anymore increases tomorrow we will be back in action.
I had thoughts of Salmon Flies sometime this week but the increase in flows could very possibly push that back into next week. Call the shop for any and all questions or just stop by and we will be happy to help you.
Damselfly activity, with adult and with nymph patterns is the way to action almost everywhere now. That means concentrate on shallow waters holding submerged vegetation. Best to present you favorite nymph pattern with a slow troll or a slow hand-twist retrieve. Intermediate lines apply real well for these kinds of fishing, but a floating line with long leader can also work in shallow water. Using a floating line also makes it quicker to switch to an adult pattern when surface action begins.
Ashton-Flagg Road will open on July 1st. USFS asks to give it a chance to dry out completely for best passage. Any stream not draining high country is a good choice for fishing now. Anglers tend to pass by Idaho’s Salt River tributaries, but these can offer some very interesting fishing. Jackknife, Tincup, Stump and Crow creeks all host cuts and browns. PMDs, flavs, caddis, and golden stones are present. Add damsel and dragon flies in their meadow reaches. Ant and beetle patterns will now work. You will be surprised at the size of the cutts and browns range to in these streams. Our area is loaded with small streams. So many anglers by-pass them for the waters they see in the media. Want some solitude? Want to see some new country? But you still want to encounter good fish? Contact us for the best of small streams throughout the season. Now is the time to begin fishing these.
Off-shore fishing is best in front of cliffs and creek mouths. Use small leech patterns of your choice. All seem to be working. Damselflies should soon be active soon, so fishing close to shore around weed beds will pick upmore.
Still a lot of run-off coming down Fall River Basin streams. Firehole River still fishing good (PMDs, white millers, other caddis), but warming up. PMDs and caddis are bringing action on the Madison River. Look for brown drakes soon making for great evening fishing on Duck Creek and meadow reaches of the upper Gibbon River. Shoshone Lake is rewarding anglers who venture out to its weed beds with juvenile lake trout and some terrific browns. Better hurry if you want to enjoy some huge cut-bow hybrids in Trout Lake. It”ll begin warming soon and fish will become less active.
Gray drake emergence on the lower river was pretty sporadic this year. It’s pretty much over now, but green drakes, flavs, PMDs, and gobs of caddis are active. Fish are responding to these between Ashton & Chester dams. Late afternoons are best times for fishing, especially after 7 PM when wind begins to die and most folks are gone from the river. Yes, the river is somewhat discolored because of activity at Ashton Dam, but that does not seem to hurt the fishing much. From Warm River to Aston same emergences are going on, but fish will take a dry golden stone pattern, too.
Flows were increased last night to 12,000 cfs. The increase is due to irrigation demand and unfortunately we do not get any word when these increases will happen. Things will settle down in a day or two and the fishing will be back at it. As Jimmy mentioned yesterday lots of Yellow Sallies on the lower river and some PMD’s. I was in the canyon Sat. and we had really good success on stonefly nymphs, yellow sally nymphs, Zebra Midges and Lighting bugs. I didn’t have any fish hit the indicator so I didn’t throw any dry flies with droppers. I still found most of my fish in the gravel bars and side channels. I did however pick up a few fish on the bank which means they are starting to move out of the winter water. A beetle or ant would work this time of year if your really needed a dry fly fix.