The opening of Henry’s Lake was a little less than desirable compared to the last few years. Since the ice came off early this year the majority of the fish have moved off the banks and into the deeper water. The good news is the Midges are hatching and the fish have been keying into Chironomid patterns. Angler will also find success with crystal buggers and leach patterns fished on a sinking line.
Fish responding to BWO, caddisfly, and white miller hatches make the Firehole River the star of the show here. Water is lower than normal meaning that the river will warm up quickly as we pass through June. So go enjoy the action on this beautiful river ASAP. Duck Creek is producing big rainbows, a few big browns and some brookies. But this great small stream will challenge the heck out of you. If you do not like presenting streamer patterns, try a dragonfly nymph pattern or your favorite nymph pattern under an indicator. Bring all the stealth you possess!
Damselfly nymphs are very active on all reservoirs to the southeast (Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Springfield, Treasureton, Twenty-Four Mile), and patterns simulating them are producing very well. No reports of damselflies hatching big time yet, but fish are also taking midge pupa patterns on all these places. When we hear of big time damselfly hatches, we will pass that info on here.
Any stream not draining high country such as the Teton Range, the southwestern parts of the Madison and Pitchstone Plateaus of Yellowstone Park, or subject to an increase in irrigation water are currently in great fishing condition. Some of these include Willow Creek (tribs are closed until July 1), South Fork of the Madison River, Palisades Reservoir tributaries (catch & release for cutthroat trout), Warm River and Buffalo River. With action heating up on the Henry’s Fork and the South Fork, these make great alternatives with good fishing and a better chance of solitude. Come into the shop and let us advise as to which may be best to visit.
The water flows have leveled off at 10,300 cfs. The nymphing and streamer fishing is really good right now. The water temp is still pretty cold but the fish are beginning to move into the riffles and the banks. Right now Rubberlegs and a san juan worm have been killing it. Various other bead heads have been working as well. If you don’t mind nymphing the South Fork is an awesome place to fish right now and avoid crowds. This is a great oppertunity to do an overnighter as well. I have a feeling we will be seeing an early hatch this year for the Salmon flies. So get ready!
The Henry’s Fork is fishing really good right now! The Salmon flies have moved through the lower river and are up into Box Canyon. However the Fish are still looking up and are still eating big stonefly patterns on the surface. Chernobyl Ants have been working the best for stonefly imitations on the surface. The Golden stones are starting to emerge and there has been some Yellow Sallies and PMD’s hatching on the lower river as well. Things are about to come into full swing on the Henry’s Fork. This is prime time to be fishing up there.
Hatchery Ford
The Henry’s Fork could be the most famed trout stream in our country. That being the case it is a huge destination, and for good reason. It is one of my favorite rivers, but with its reputation I tend to seek out the the less visited reaches. My favorite part of this great river is in Cardiac Canyon which begins just below Riverside Campground and ends at the Warm River confluence. Within this reach are a number of places to access the river, and the best of these from an overall fishing experience require some physical effort. Two locations, in particular are my favorites: Bear Gulch and Hatchery Ford. Let’s look at the Hatchery Ford access for now and talk of the Bear Gulch later.
A boat ramp is present on the east side of the river here. It is the last place a boat from the Riverside Campground access can leave the river before entering the perilous waters beginning not far below. Because of relatively easy access, the boat launch is increasingly used by walk-in anglers. I prefer to access the Hatchery Ford area from the West Hatchery Ford Road off Highway 20. It’s a bit tricky to zero in on getting to the river, but if you travel down the road almost exactly a mile you come on your left to some boulders placed to discourage motorized access down the dugway to the river. Once you access the river after a quarter mile walk downward the river comes in view making a big bend. Below it drops swiftly to the Sheep Falls area. Above, for about a mile the gradient eases and becomes more hospitable for fishing, but either direction on the river will get you into great fishing. Walking upstream you skirt a cliff at the bottom of which is a long, deep run which hosts trout that rival in size those in Box Canyon. These large fish reside here until an event such as the giant and golden stonefly hatches bring them out. That event is happening at the time I’m writing this and it is an excellent time to fish here. That means right now for the next few days fish with big dry patterns that imitate the big stoneflies. If you cannot try it at this time try it in about a week to ten days depending on weather conditions. Fish will have digested eaten bugs and be looking for more. If you cannot try the river during this time, come back during the terrestrial season with hopper patterns. Try at the head of the long, deep run or go to the broad flat water above and try the same strategy you might choose for the earlier stone fly hatch. That means concentrate presentations around overhangs, rocky or vegetated banks, and boulders out in the stream. If you cannot fish here during the terrestrial season, come back in October and November (weather permitting) and present streamer patterns in the same manner you would use in the Box Canyon. In any of these time periods you have a chance at those famous big Henry’s Fork rainbows. And in the fast water they are sure to test your skill at handling large trout.
The fishing is pretty good on the South Fork right now. It’s all nymphing and streamer fishing. No dry flies yet. Look for fish on the seam lines and in the tailouts of riffles. The water is still pretty cold so a moderately slow retrieve is effective for streamer fishing. Stonefly nymphs, San Juan worms, and pheasant tails have been working well. Go deep on those nymph rigs 7-8 feet should get you on the bottom.
Flows have been dropped down to 11,400 cfs today. We were informed it would hold steady at 13,000 cfs however the demand for irrigation must not be there to warrant the higher flows. Once flows level out we will report it here. As for now if you want to get away from the crowds chasing dry flies on the Henry’s Fork, Rollin says he and a friend were the only boats on the river yesterday.
Lots to talk about for the Henry’s Fork. The Salmon flies are still hatching. There are really good numbers above Warm River through the Canyon. Walking into Hatchery Ford or Riverside is a great idea for wade fishing. The Box Canyon has very few Salmon flies as of yesterday. Nymphs are all over the banks and that section is literally going to explode any day now.
As far as the lower river goes the majority of the hatch has moved through. Warm River to Ashton still seems to have more Salmon flies that below Ashton dam. However fish are still feeding on them. I was between Ora and Vernon yesterday from 2-6pm and we caught fish on Dries and I saw many fish rise while floating with my family. Other insects flying were lots of caddis, some Yellow Sallies, and a few PMD’s. These bugs will continue to hatch during the next few weeks and expect the fish to key into those hatches.
If your looking for a shuttle on the Henry’s Fork Idaho Irresistible in Ashton does a great job.
This time last year Henry’s Lake Outlet was full of escapee trout from the lake. Flows as high as 300 cfs had flushed these into the outlet, and good fishing resulted down into the Flat Ranch well into the summer. Fewer fish are in the Outlet this year because flows out of the lake have not exceeded 80 cfs. Unless there is a flush out of the lake equal to that of last year, fishing will be slower here this year. If a significant increase if flow out of the lake happens, we will report it here because such an event would have a good impact on fishing.