Chesterfield Reservoir is down at least ten feet from full pool. But fish are taking damselfly nymphs with enthusiasm. But enjoy fishing there soon because further draw-down is coming and could warm this reservoir enough to slow fishing. Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir offers the same good fishing through using damselfly nymphs but the threat of for draw-down is much less. Fishing is good on Daniels, Hawkins and Treasureton reservoirs for the same reason: damselfly activity.
We packed float tubes down DeLacey Creek trail to Shoshone Lake two days ago and were met by eager juvenile lake trout trout that would not quit hitting. A few good sized (up to 15″) brookies joined in, but the browns did not. If you are looking for back country fly-fishing that is sure to produce a great experience, and this big lake offers it, here is what you need: good enough physical shape to back-pack a float tube, fins, INSULATED waders, fly-fishing gear, raincoat, etc., six miles round trip. Here’s what works: get out in the lake and present small leech (black in size 10 is best) or scud patterns (orange in size 14 is best) on top of weed beds through using a full sink line. The lake trout average 17-21″ and in the cold (47 Deg. F.) water put up a credible fight. The Park Service encourages keeping these fish, but carrying out five fish this size makes the walk out tougher. So take out the results of using that filet knife, and put the rest back in the lake. Elsewhere in the Park, fishing on the Firehole River is holding up very well (see our last report on fishing Yellowstone Park waters). PMDs are making great PM fishing on the Madison River, and a few golden stones are showing up there. Run-off is beginning to leave Fall River Basin streams. Streams in the northeast corner of the Park are high but beginning to drop in flow.
For all you Steelheaders out there we just received the new Skagit Master 4 DVD “cracking the code”. I have not watched it yet but I am sure it will be just as good as the previous three with a little more fishing in this one.
Second is a new book called “Fly Fishing for Carp” written by Kirk Deeter. Fly Fishing for carp is pretty popular in the area and this would be a great book to read over and pick up some new tips and flies from. If the carp thing is something you enjoy or want to learn more about, this book is a must have.
The flows on the south fork have stabilized at 12,800cfs at Paslisades Dam and 14,000 at Heise. This should be the flow for much of the summer. Run off has peaked according the Bureau of Reclamation and Palisades Reservoir will not fill this year which points to an early stonefly hatch. Traditionally the hatch starts the last week of June but I’m sure we’ll see it start earlier. We floated from Byington to Lorenzo yesterday and had very good fishing with a pair of Bennett’s brown rubber legs. The fish were holding below the drop offs and troughs in the riffles. We did not see any stone adults but we saw a hand full of yellow sallies and green drakes. Some of the fish had bulging bellies from eating stone nymphs.
We’ll keep you updated on the status and progress of the hatch. Meanwhile the fishing with nymphs and streamers should be very good. The river is the perfect “south fork green” color for this time of year.
If your not fishing the Henry’s Fork right now you missing some great dry fly fishing. I have been fishing in the evenings on the lower river and have great success with Chernobyl ants and Caddis flies. There have been good hatches of PMD’s, Caddis, Golden Stones and Yellow Sallies. No reports on Green Drakes yet but they should be hatching anytime now and I would have a good selection in you fly box.
The Ranch will be opening this weekend after that happens the entire river system will be open for fishing. This is the prime time for fishing the Henry’s Fork. June is the magical month for fishing this river. Make some time and go fish it.
I have some some good news and some bad news. Its come time to say goodbye to all of you. In the past I have left for the summer to guide on the South Fork until October. Than returned to the shop working full time for the remainder of the year. This summer I am excited to announce that I have accepted a full time position outside of the fishing industry. In my personal life my family is continuing to grow and the cost of supporting this family is increasing daily. I was presented with a very good oppertunity and through some long discussions with Jimmy and my wife I decided to not pass it up. This oppertunity is going to allow me to build a career but also spend more time with my family during the summer months fishing, camping and being outside.
Although I will be making my full time wages outside of the fly shop. I am happy to inform you that I will still be involved with the shop through educational classes we offer teaching fly tying classes and helping organize special classes with industry professionals.
So as my last post in Today at Jimmy’s, I want to say thank you to all of the customers and friends I have gotten to know over the past 7 years. I also want to say thank you to Jimmy for being the best boss I have ever had. I have learned so much from you Jimmy and working in your shop. The last 7 years will not be forgotten and I feel lucky to have been your employee and friend. Thank you Jimmy for all the advice and mentoring you have graciously offered over the years. I look forward to many more years of friendship and swapping fishing stories.
It’s a hit or miss situation here. For every success story there seems to be a “goose egg” story or close to it. It appears that fish have mostly moved away from shoreline. Midge pupa patterns under an indicator may provide your best chance for action until the fabled damselfly hatch begins around the beginning of July.
With flows out of Mackay Dam around 700 cfs into river below, wading is not easy. Be careful!
High water and all below American Falls Dam, but the river there offers some success to those presenting streamer patterns. Try shallows where you find them and along overhangs.
Damselflies are hatching in great numbers on all reservoirs (Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Twenty-Four Mile) to the southeast. Densest hatch is on Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir. So try your favorite damselfly nymph patterns, and do not overlook trying midge pupa patterns as fish remain interested in them, too. Now is the time to try these reservoirs because if draw-down comes along with warming weather, action will slow. Springfield Reservoir with its discolored water seems to offer the slowest action of these.