Author: Bruce_Staples

Small Streams 8-12-17

What a difference a year makes with respect to small stream fishing success! Last year such as Palisades Reservoir tribs as McCoy and Bear Creeks were slow dry fly fishing most of the summer. Now both host some large cutts that have remained in-stream because of abundant food, better cover, and cooler water.  Traditional dry patterns (humpys, renegades, wulffs, p-chute adams & cahills), caddis life cycle, and terrestrial insect patterns bring action with the chance for a trophy cutt responding from late morning to early evening.  Afternoon western green drake (flav) activity on Big Elk Creek, in addition to what works on other reservoir tribs, makes that creek particularly fun to visit.  Look for the kokanee run to start there soon, and let’s see if the same happens on Bear Creek where IDF&G transplanted some last year from Big Elk Creek.  Teton River PMD and speckled dun activity is bringing action in the river in the Basin.  But the canoe, kayak, row boat, and paddle-board emergence can hinder mid day fishing. So best chance for uninterrupted fishing there is during early AM spinner falls, and evening caddis emergence, but do not overlook presenting terrestrial insect patterns during daytime and early evening. The Blackfoot River above the reservoir features cutts responding to the great grasshopper abundance in not only the wildlife management area but the Monsanto purchase downstream of the narrows.

So it goes on and on with great small stream fishing in the area. Come to the shop, or get in touch with us for more info on our abundance of great small waters to visit and current conditions on them.

Small Streams 8-5-17

For fishing all our small waters it is the time of year when you can rely on caddis life cycle and especially terrestrial insect patterns as being effective for taking trout. Particularly effective mayfly patterns this time of year vary water to water and are generally less important as trout food.  Here are some exceptions. On the Teton River in the canyon and below gray drakes are important.  Western green drake patterns (flavs, etc) will be important on South Fork and Palisades Reservoir tribs, particularly Big Elk Creek. These are also important on the Big Lost River. Any small stream of low gradient, sandy/silty bottom and adjacent or in-stream still water (think beaver ponds) will have some speckled dun populations. In a few weeks tricos will be important in attracting trout on many streams. So don’t switch all your mayfly patterns to storage!