Since July 27th to today (8/3) the flow out of Palisades Dam has dropped from just over 11000 cfs to 8700 cfs. This has not impacted fishing much. Consider the same conditions and strategy suggestions as in our last report except anywhere on the river hoppers are becoming more important to imitate. Drop in flow also helps make walk-in wade fishing a better option.
We have some reports that using small leech patterns presented on an intermediate line is interesting smaller fish on Henry’s Lake. Try the creek mouths (Targhee, Hope, Duck, etc). Get to these locations as early as possible, and as usual, expect company to move in.
Flow out of Palisades Dam was dropped to 10100 cfs ( 10400 cfs at Heise) yesterday. Normal flow out of the dam today is 11000 cfs. With PMD’s, pink alberts and some yellow sallys coming off in the riffles, the South Fork is just about at the top of its fly-fishing reputation. Add to these growing hopper populations up & down the river and it will soon be tough to beat the fly-fishing the South Fork offers.
Becker (300 fish), Riverside (300 fish), Jim Moore Pond (900 fish) and Rexburg Nature Park Pond (300 fish) were stocked with catfish on July 24th. Bottom fishing is the way to catch them, and for sure they are good eating!
Almost any area small stream is currently worthy of a visit. All have afternoon caddis activity with varying amounts of PMD and yellow sally activity. Terrestrial insect activity is ongoing, so having hopper, beetle and ant patterns are almost a must. So are those traditional attractor patterns (renegade, humpy, p-chute adams, royal wulff, stimulator) so many times overlooked.
A few caveats include the Teton River mid-day recreational boat hatch, high and variable flows in the Blackfoot River below the reservoir, decreasing flows out of Henry’s Lake into the Flat Ranch portion of the river below, and crowded waters around popular campgrounds (Warm River, lower Big Elk Creek, lower Palisades Creek).
Wading wet is comfortable in the lower river. Fishing there is fair early mornings (a few spinners) and evenings (caddis activity). The big early summer mayfly emergences are pretty much done on the upper river. Now it is time to of think terrestrial insects, PM caddis and a few speckled duns.
The river continues to live up to its mid-summer reputation with great riffle fishing thanks to PMD (use life cycle approach as described in recent South Fork fishing reports), PM caddis, and yellow sally activity. Presenting such as a super renegade or chernobyl variation trailed with your favorite bead head nymph (in sizes 12-16) is effective when float fishing. Hoppers are coming on, so whether wading or floating, it is time to have patterns of them in that fly box. A few big stoneflies are left in the river just below the dam. Flow is about steady as can be at this date with only a slight reduction coming on July 22nd. However, further flow decreases are coming.
Flow out of Mackay Reservoir is just a bit below 400 cfs and dropping. Further drops will make for safer wading to enjoy the western green drake, golden stonefly and upcoming terrestrial insect activity.
We have reports of Sand Creek Pond #4 water temperatures in the low 70s in degrees Fahrenheit. Consider how tough this condition is on fish being hooked, played, then released. The bigger the fish, the tougher high water temps are on them.
Flow out of Palisades was lowered to 11300 cfs ( a bit below average for this date) yesterday. The irrigation season peak has been reached, so more flow reductions are likely. Riffle fishing is at the quality for which the South Fork is famed. For active mayflies there begin the day with small nymph patterns, graduating to emergers on first sight of rising fish, then with more surface activity switch to duns.