Main Stem Snake River 7-16-16
Increased turbidity in American Falls outflow has decreased fishing success in the river below.
July 2016
Yellowstone Park 7-16-16
The Firehole River is now warm enough that you do its trout a favor by fishing elsewhere. Brown drake hatches are done for the year on Duck Creek and the Gibbon River meadow reaches. Concentrate on presenting terrestrial patterns for better dry fly fishing on these. Slough Creek is fishing well through presenting terrestrial patterns (but hosts almost as many fly-fishers as fish). Also concentrate on presenting these on Bechler River and Boundary Creek. Yellowstone River is now open to fishing above the falls. Big stoneflies are about to go through. Fishing on Shoshone Lake tapers off this time of year, but picks up in September, same with Lewis Lake. If you intend to fish Fall River in the park, water releases from Grassy Lake much impact fishing success this time of year. These releases happen on irrigation demand, and can be irregular well into August. For a few days after such a release wet fly fishing (streamers, wooly bugger types, SJ worms, etc.) beats dry fly fishing if you want to encounter the large cut-bows present in the river.
Small Streams 7-16-16
Now begins the season to think terrestrial patterns for best dry fly fishing on small streams, especially when trying their meadow reaches. Examples include Bear Creek, Birch Creek in the Family Area, Jackknife Creek, McCoy Creek, South Fork of Tincup Creek, Upper Crow Creek (too bad absentee landowners dominate the lower part), Sawmill Creek, Blackfoot River in the Wildlife Management Area, and Teton River in Teton Basin. Some of these will host decreasing PMD hatches, and almost all have caddisfly activity on-going. Traditional patterns will always work, especially those that imitate horseflies and deer flies which take over from mosquitoes as pests on many streams. Fishing on some streams will begin to slow a bit as their run-off component drops to zero. Include Boone, Conant, and Robinson Creeks in these.
South Fork 07-11-16
Even though it is July 11th, there are still big bugs hatching. The Salmon flies right now are most concentrated on the Upper South Fork between Palisades Creek and Spring Creek Bridge. The PMD fishing has been the best it has been in years with PMD’s hatching all the way from the Damn to the Lorenzo take out. Between there you will find fish in riffles looking for PMD’s and Yellow Sallies. Lastly, fishing a Golden Stone and a small nymph underneath has worked well on the lower section.
Flies I would use:
Nymphs: Bennett’s Brown Rubber Leg size 6 & 8, Pearl Lightning Bug size 16, Red Copper John size 14, Bead Headed Pheasant Tail Crystal Flash size 16
Streamers: Gallop’s Yellow Dungeon, Kreelix Copper/Gold, Gallop’s White Peanut Envy, Sparkle Minnow, Flash Minnow.
Dry Flies: John’s CFO Yellow Sallie size 14, Kyle’s Yellow Sallie size 12, Super Chernobyl Golden size 6 (A.K.A Chubby), Brett’s Salmon Fly size 4, CW Pink Albert Dun size 16, Pink Albert Captive Dun size 16, Super Chernobyl Golden size 10
South Fork 07-07-16
The Salmon flies are still going strong and moving up the river. From about Spring Creek (the bridge in Swan Valley) down to Cottonwood/Fulmer, the Salmon fly fishing has been the best. Futhermore, the fishing has been really good in the riffles with PMDs and Yellow Sallies throughout the whole river from noon on. There are a few Golden-stones hatching out on the lower section, and fishing one of those with a nymph as a dry dropper has worked. Lastly, the South Fork is still flowing around 14,000 cfs, and the river is in great condition even though it is a little high.
Flies I would use:
Nymphs: Bennett’s Brown Rubber Leg size 6 & 8, San Juan Worm size 10, Red Copper John size 14, Super Flash size 14.
Streamers: Gallop’s Yellow Dungeon, Kreelix Copper/Gold, Gallop’s White Peanut Envy, Sparkle Minnow, Flash Minnow.
Dry Flies: John’s CFO Yellow Sallie size 14, Kyle’s Yellow Sallie size 12, Super Chernobyl Golden size 6 (A.K.A Chubby), Brett’s Salmon Fly size 4, CW Pink Albert Dun size 16, Pink Albert Captive Dun size 16, Super Chernobyl Golden size 10
Henry’s Fork 7-2-16
Emerging PMDs and their spinner falls are providing action on the upper river and brown drakes are still emerging during evenings on the river from Wood Rd 16 up to the Osborne Bridge. Select locations within can become somewhat crowded. Flavs are coming on, too. Nymphing is the best way for action in Box Canyon. The lower river, mainly below Ashton Dam, is warming to the point that choosing another location to fish is worth considering. With summer coming on and accompanying low water, looks like mid-day fishing may not pick up until September. That means fruitful lower river fishing visits will take place during early morning and evening hours.
Southwestern Montana 7-2-16
Here’s a notice recently given by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (Montana FW&P) of interest to all anglers. Hoot Owl closures are in effect from 2 PM to midnight on certain areas of the following Montana Rivers:
Beaverhead
Big Hole
Gallatin
Jefferson
Madison
Ruby
For details go to the Montana FW&P web site.
Small Streams 7-2-16
Any small stream with a campground nearby will be heavily fished this holiday weekend. One exception might be the upper Blackfoot River. The river within the Blackfoot River Wildlife Management Area is the best water above Blackfoot River Reservoir and likely will not be crowded because of the South Fork turning on and the lure of the upper Henry’s Fork and the Madison River. Camp at Mill Creek campground to enjoy the evening brown drake emergence which may be relatively sparse during this low water year. PMD and caddisfly life cycle patterns and patterns to simulate the few gray drakes during afternoons will bring some action as will patterns to simulate a growing terrestrial insect population.
Palisades Reservoir tribs are in good shape now with PMDs, caddis, and sallies providing hints for effective patterns. South Fork tribs are also now open and in good shape with same insects as in Reservoir tribs providing food for trout and pattern ideas for fly-fishers. In fact, all area small waters not impacted by irrigation diversion are offering good fishing. Now may be the best time to fish small waters during the next several months because of the low water year we are having. So consider visiting a small stream now, then get in touch with us to see which may be fishing best at a given time.
South Fork 07-01-16
The South Fork has been fishing excellent lately. The Salmon flies are out from above Cottonwood to Heise (Lower Canyon Section). Also, fishing Yellow Sallies, Green Drakes, and PMDs has been great in the riffles. The upper South Fork still has no Salmon flies, but the fishing with nymphs and streamers has been the best method to catching the most amount of fish. Lastly, there are a few PMDs starting in the afternoon and I would start to look from some Yellow Sallies on the Upper South Fork.
Flies I would use:
Nymphs: Bennett’s Brown Rubber Leg size 6 & 8, San Juan Worm size 10, Red Copper John size 14, Super Flash size 14.
Streamers: Gallop’s Yellow Dungeon, Kreelix Copper/Gold, Gallop’s White Peanut Envy, Sparkle Minnow, Flash Minnow.
Dry Flies: John’s CFO Yellow Sallie size 14, Green Drake Wulff size 10, Kyle’s Yellow Sallie size 12, Olive Hare’s Ear Parachute size 12, Super Chernobyl Golden size 6 (A.K.A Chubby), Brett’s Salmon Fly size 4, CW Pink Albert Dun size 16
Henry’s Fork 06-27-16
The fishing on the Henry’s Fork on the lower section is starting to slow down and be an early morning and late evening game due to the hot water. The upper Henry’s Fork from Harriman State Park and up has been fishing well. The lower section has been most consistent with Caddis in the evening and a few mayflies in the mornings. Harriman has been fishing well with PMDs and Box Canyon has been fishing well with nymphs even though the river has been raised to 1300 cfs.
Flies I would use:
Dry Flies: Rusty Biot Spinner size 16 & 18, CDC PMD Thorax Dun 18, Elk Hair Caddis Tan 14,
Nymphs: Bennett’s Rubber Leg Brown size 10, Psycho Prince size 16, Pheasant Tail size 16, Bead-Headed Crystal Pheasant Tail size 16 & 18.