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July 2014

Fly Fish Food Jimmy's / 2014 (Page 8)

Head North for good Stillwater action

Area stillwaters have slowed down for the most part due to the summer heat and water levels being drawn down. The reservoirs to the southeast have been most affected by the summer heat. The only real option on lakes like Daniels and Chesterfield is fishing deep and fishing early. Fast sinking lines and deep indicator fishing with double chironomid set ups have been most productive.

Lakes and Reservoirs to the North have fared a little better as far as water levels and water temperatures. We have received good reports from Hebgen, Cliff, Wade, Island Park, and Henry’s Lake in the past week. Henry’s Lake has been fishing well around the Targhee Creek area early in the morning with patterns like the Henry’s Lake Pheasant tail, Henry’s Lake Renegade, Lt. Olive Crystal, and Henry’s Lake scud. Concentrate on shallow water early and work your way to deeper water as the sun continues to rise.

The Sand Creek Ponds have been fishing well lately too. After a slow opener, things seem to have picked up a little bit. The best fishing has been early and late in the day with damsel and Callibaetis nymphs under an indicator. On certain days, the dry fly fishing on Callibaetis spinners has been very good. If you prefer to fish sinking lines, a slow sinking line and darker brown/olive mohair leeches have been producing well.

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Today at Jimmy’s 7-18-14

We have received word that the Nature Conservancy is temporarily closing access to Silver Creek because of low flows, high water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels. We will post any changes we learn about on this closure.

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Small Streams 7-22-14

Looking for another great small stream to take a youngster or physically challenged person to for a chance for a good fly fishing experience?  For sure Birch Creek is a great selection, but McCoy Creek is another. It is currently in great fishing shape. Go south on US Hwy 89 from Alpine, Wyoming, then about three miles below town, take the McCoy Creek Road back into Idaho along the Palisades Reservoir southeast shore. After the road crosses McCoy Creek and closely parallels it going upstream, you will see a number of pull-out with the creek close by. Meadow and riffle-run stretches are present.  This time of year dry terrestrial patterns, caddis life cycle patterns, traditional attractor, and on occasion flav life cycle patterns will bring cutts up. It will be rare to attract a cutt over fifteen inches, but you never know for sure.  So easy to access, scenic country, and eager trout makes for a good selection!

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Big Lost River 7-22-14

Flow out of Mackay Dam  is currently about 185 cfs and has been just below 200 cfs for several days now. This is a great flow for not only good wading conditions in the river below, but also enough to provide good cover for trout residing there.  Look for PMDs, afternoon flavs, and evening caddis activity to attract trout into a feeding mode. So bring life cycle patterns for all of these, plus traditional dry and wet attractors.

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Small Streams 7-19-14

Interested in fishing small streams? They offer solitude, scenery, and aggressive salmonids. Some are roadside, others require some effort and time to be enjoyed.  Right now nearly all are in great shape and capable of offering a fun outing. With so many are in this shape right now, the best strategy here is to get in touch with us for suggestions.

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South Fork 7-19-14

No big change since our 7/14 report.  Flows are stable (13200 cfs at dam, 13700 at Heise) with water temps in the mid 50s coming out of the dam.  The upper river offers the best fishing.  A few golden stones remain.Try PMD and pink albert life cycle patterns in the riffles. Timing is nymphs early, then emergers as the day progresses, on to duns if you see fish taking on the surface.  Afternoon caddis activity can bring fish up. Terrestrial patterns will be important soon. Try your favorite streamer pattern early in the morning, and around sunset. And remember that for all your dry patterns, presentation and ability to see them on the surface trumps choice.

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Still Waters 7-19-14

Sand Creek Ponds opened to boating Wednesday. Results were mixed. Most reports we have talk of smaller fish coming from Pond #4. Water temps seem to be in the mid 60s in degrees F., so water temp is not yet an issue. could be the best days are ahead

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Yellowstone Park 7-19-14

Essentially every stream, except for the Firehole River (getting too warm, so give the fish a break), is worth a visit now. Fall River Basin streams continue to get cooling water coming from snow melting on the Madison and Pitchstone Plateaus.  But mosquitos remain in huge numbers throughout the Basin. Evening PMD spinner falls and brown drakes make for excellent late in the day fishing on all these. During afternoon hours some emerging green drakes, down from their peak,remain here. On any of the Park meadow streams do not overlook presenting dry damsel patterns. On such as Slough,Boundary and Mountain Ash Creeks, Fall, Gibbon, Bechler, Yellowstone, Lewis, and Snake Rivers, these patterns can be very effective, but seem to be overlooked.  Now that the meadow reaches on all these are drying out, terrestrial patterns should be in your fly box. And do not forget that ancient favorite, the humpy.  It remains an excellent horsefly and deer fly pattern.

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Still Waters 7-15-14

Thinking of visiting Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, or Twenty-Four Mile Reservoirs? You’d better hurry!  All are being drawn down for irrigation purposes during this hot,dry summer.  Fishing is slowing on each because of warming water. We have no good reports on fishing at Chesterfield Reservoir.  Daniels offers the best fishing of these, but likely will come to an end in a few weeks.  Some fish are taking adult damsel patterns on the surface at Daniels, and midge pupa patterns under an indicator can produce there.

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South Fork 07-14-14

Fishing on the lower South Fork from the lower canyon downstream has slowed down a lot from last week. The best fishing is in the upper river from the dam through the canyon and that is where most folks are targeting until fishing improves on the lower river.

If you do venture out on the lower river look for nymphing to be your best method. We should start to see the mutant golden stones appear first on the  river below byington which should makes thing better for that stretch.

 

 

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