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May 2014

Fly Fish Food Jimmy's / 2014 (Page 14)

Henry’s Fork 5-17-14

We have reports of good nymph fishing on the lower river, especially from Warm River to Ashton Reservoir. Large rubber legs and stonefly nymph patterns are producing especially for those folks fly-fishing from a boat.  Fish also are responding to BWO and caddis life cycle patterns with overcast skies or storms being best times for BWO activity.

So far very little water is coming out of Henry’s Lake into the Henry’s Lake Outlet part of the river. This means that few fish are present there.

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Small Streams 5-17-14

Flow out of Blackfoot River Reservoir has been increased to answer downstream irrigation demands. The flow at the Shelley gage, near the mouth of the canyon, has gone from around 200 cfs to 555 cfs in the last two days and likely will go higher. This will put an end to the best fly-fishing on the river below the dam as high and varied flows will be the norm until October.

Run-off in the Willow Creek drainage is nearly over. This will make Willow Creek good fishing, however its tributaries will not open to fishing until July 1st.

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Southwestern Montana 5-17-14

Montana general fishing season opens today. As of yesterday the Madison River below Hebgen Dam was running high and clear, but with warming weather look for Cabin Creek to put in murky water. The ice is off Hebgen Lake, and those fly-fishers wading the north shoreline to present woolly bugger patterns are having good success.

Further west the Beaverhead River is running about 170cfs below Clark Canyon Dam.  Caddis and BWO activities are making for good fishing there. In Clark Canyon Reservoir some fish are cruising the shoreline but more seem to be heading to areas where midge activity is concentrated.

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Stillwater 5/6/14

With the warmer weather we had last week, fishing has picked up on area lakes/reservoirs. Most, if not all lakes have turned over and water quality will continue to improve as the weather does. We have good reports from Blackfoot, Chesterfield, and Daniels this week. Daniels is still probably the most consistent, but Chesterfield and Blackfoot offer you a better shot at a big dog. Concentrate on the upper end of Daniels fishing with various chironomid pupa (summer duck pupa, black sally, chromie) and bloodworms (holo worm sz10) has been good.Fishing with a sinking line has been producing nice fish as well. I would be fishing a black CB, California Leech, or an Olive Mohair Leech.  Chesterfield seems to have woken up a little with a few reports of some real big fish showing up lately. The fish are most likely going to be scattered so cover some water until you find an active group of fish. Fishing an intermediate or type III Line (depending on how deep you are) would be a good bet. A black CB, Olive CB, or Black Mohair leech would be my first picks.  Blackfoot Reservoir has also been fishing really well lately. Blackfoot is usually not a great place if your into lots of fish, but there are some really nice fish in there if you put some time in. The key up there has been covering lots of water. Fishing with a full sinking line and trolling, or wind drifting has been most productive. The area around the dam has been most productive, but anywhere on the reservoir could be good.

It won’t be long now before we start seeing the first Callibaetis of the year, closely followed by the damsels. Stay tuned…

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Today at Jimmy’s 5/6/14

We just wanted to let everyone know we still have three slots available for the Spey Casting Class with Mike McCune and Whitney Gould on Sunday May 18th. If you are interested or would like more information on this class, please give us a call at the shop. This is an awesome opportunity to hone your skills as a caster or learn the basics if you are new to Spey casting!

Also, the Snake River Cutthroats are putting on a Free Casting Clinic TODAY May 6th and Thursday May 8th. This free clinic starts at 6:30 both days does not require you to sign up in advance. This will be a great time so be sure to attend!

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Big Lost River 5-3-14

Flow out of Mackay Dam is about 80 cfs. This means wading in the river below is easy. Midge and some BWO emergences still attract fish here, but flows are sure to increase when irrigation demands kick in. We will report here when this increase takes place.

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Small Streams 5-3-14

Flow out of Blackfoot River Reservoir Dam is still very low.  The Shelley gage miles downriver remains around 90 cfs.   Caddis life cycle, streamer and wooly bugger variations  will bring action.This flow means good fishing, but you had better hurry if you are considering a visit here because any day irrigation demands will raise the river to levels that will make fishing much more difficult.  We will report here when flows out of the dam increase.

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Stillwater 5/2/14

It hasn’t been a great spring so far if you like to fish stillwaters. We have been blasted with wind so much over the past few weeks it almost feels like somethings wrong if its nice outside! With all the wind, area reservoirs have been churned up more then normal causing the fishing to be a little slower then we would like. The weather looks like its slowly improving, so things should really start picking up in the next week.

Chesterfield- Fishing has been a little slow so far on Chesterfield and this has to do mainly with the wind. Fishing deeper water 12+ft has been best so far with darker leech patterns (Black CB, black mohair leech, Dk. Olive Angora Leech, Brown CB, have been best) and darker chironomid pupa (black bungie buzzer, black sally, summer duck pupa). Fishing should really pick up in the next week or two.

Daniels- Daniels has been the best, most consistent fishing so far this spring. Fishing the upper end with various chironomid pupa (see Chesterfield selection) and bloodworms (holo worm sz10) has been good. For those who prefer sinking lines, fishing with darker leeches and scuds on a type II or III line have been producing as well.

Other Waters- We have not heard much this year from places like Springfield, Hawkins, American Falls, Etc…. Look for all those reservoirs to start really fishing well as the weather continues to improve. We will be sure and update this report as conditions change.

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Henry’s Fork 4-29-14

Now is a good time to visit the lower Henry’s Fork. Flows are slightly less than normal, and look for water temps climb to the mid 40s in deg. F by late afternoon.  A good caddis emergence is ongoing and peaking in the afternoon. BWOs are also emerging during the PM hours, especially if weather returns to what it was last weekend. Then there are the ever present midges. March browns should become significant any day.  Don’t put away those streamer patterns just yet; save them for evening presentations.

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Today at Jimmy’s 4-23-14

We have another awesome book signing coming up on Thursday the 24th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Al Ritt will be in signing copies of his new book 25 Most Versatile Flies. This is a great book and another great opportunity to get your copy personalized! Come on down and check it out.

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