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Author: Bruce_Staples

Fly Fish Food Jimmy's / Articles posted by Bruce_Staples (Page 148)

South Fork 5-30-17

May 30, 2017
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South Fork

Flow out of Palisades Res. is reduced to 9700 cfs as the reservoir is filling (nearly half full) for the agricultural season. Flow at Heise is a bit over 10000 cfs.  Flows are likely to increase later as  irrigation demands kick in.  Currently the lower flows make for good fishing, whether boating or wading, mainly by presenting nymphs. Try riffles and drop offs. For best responses try rubber legs trailed with small bead head nymph patterns, San Juan worms, and small bead head patterns by themselves. Use sink-tip or floating lines depending on depth of water to be fished.

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Still Waters 5-23-17

May 23, 2017
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Still Water

Harriman East Fish Pond, non-motorized, is scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout this week. It’s a good action because up to now it appears that there are very few or no trout in the pond.  Horseshoe Lake is schedule for rainbow stocking next week. The same is for Teardrop Lake, but will the road be open?

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Henry’s Fork 5-23-17

May 23, 2017
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Henry's Fork

There is a good number of escapee trout from Henry’s Lake now in the Henry’s Lake Outlet. These fish are mostly cutthroat trout with some hybrids and brook trout.  Until stressed by wading anglers, these fish will take streamer and woolly bugger types. Fishing space in the outlet is somewhat limited above the Highway 20 crossing, and will likely be crowded the upcoming holiday weekend.  Eventually these fish will disperse into the river going through and offering good fishing in the Flat Ranch property.

The big news for this river is that the giant stonefly hatch is out big time with adults flying from Warm River to Ashton. Look for the hatch to expand to the river below right now and angler presence to expand greatly.  Boat traffic is thick and will increase on the lower river above Chester during the upcoming holiday weekend.  Cooler weather expected later this week means that presenting big nymph patterns may be the best way to go for now in such as Box Canyon and upper Cardiac Canyon, but because the progress of this hatch is so unpredictable, be sure to have dry stonefly patterns along.

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Southwestern Montana 5-23-17

May 23, 2017
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South Western Montana

Post spawning rainbow trout are now in the South Fork of the Madison River estuary.  These fish range from around sixteen to over twenty inches and will attack any streamer or woolly bugger type pattern presented nearby. With time these fish will disperse into Hebgen Lake, but for the next several days they will offer good localized streamer fishing.

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Big Lost River 5-20-17

May 20, 2017
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Big Lost River

It’s worth the time to drive to Arco just to see the Big Lost River doing something it has not done in decades. That is flow through town (currently 383 cfs) and beyond.  Flow out of Mackay Reservoir is currently 1300 cfs and has been at least as high for weeks, so it is no wonder that Arco is experiencing the river again.  This high flow below Mackay Dam makes approaching the river tough and fishing slow.

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Still Water 5-20-17

May 20, 2017
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Still Water

Chesterfield and Twenty-Four Mile reservoirs have been stocked. We have no fishing success information for these as well as for Treasureton Reservoir.  Daniels Reservoir has been fishing fairly well, and action at Springfield Reservoir has been picking up. Midge pupa patterns under an indicator work after the taking depth is found on both waters. Damsel fly, leech patterns and small fly rod jigs also produce on these.

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Small Streams 5-20-17

May 20, 2017
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Small Streams

Many back country roads are opening up meaning that some of our quality small waters are now approachable. However those that drain high country remain high and discolored.  The Blackfoot River provides a good example of this situation. The river above the reservoir is running very high, but opens to fishing on July 1st.  Roads leading to the river below the reservoir are open, but the river, now open to fishing, is running very high.   The same applies to Fall and Teton rivers: approachable but running high and discolored. Expect the same for Palisades Reservoir tributaries, Salt River tributaries, Little Lost River drainage, Medicine Lodge Creek, and Robinson Creek.  Warm River above Robinson Creek is running high and clear. Birch Creek is the exception. It is in good fishing shape.  Being mostly of spring creek origin, it will remain so through the season.

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South Fork 5-20-17

May 20, 2017
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South Fork

Flow out of Palisades Dam has been reduced sequentially over the last several days. Currently it is 10400 cfs, and 11100 cfs at Heise. Palisades Reservoir is about 29% full but rising because the upcoming irrigation season will soon be demanding water. This demand will counter run-off coming in, so BuRec is doing a “balancing act”  by catching in-flow, lowering flood potential, and storing water necessary for irrigation.  With lower flows below Palisades Dam, look for the river, although somewhat discolored, to be safer, more easily approached, and fish easier to encounter.  Because waters remain cold, nymphing and presenting streamers will be the most effective means for hook-ups. Bead head nymphs, rubber legs, San Juan Worms, and streamer patterns of choice should be effective when fished through riffles and into runs, slower water, and below islands.

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Henry’s Fork 5-20-17

May 20, 2017
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Henry's Fork

Whether it is Box Canyon, Cardiac Canyon, or the lower river, you can bet that large stonefly nymphs are on the move towards shallow water. That means the whole array of large nymph patterns available from rubber legs to fancier renditions will be effective in waters such as these. Flow out of Island Park Dam is just under 1000 cfs and appears likely to remain at that level for the time being, so look for a stable river at least down to the Warm River-Robinson Creek and Fall River confluences for now. In addition to stonefly nymphs being effective, March brown and caddis  life cycle patterns bring responses on the lower river, and bead head nymphs of choice bring action there and in Box Canyon waters.  During our recent cold spell flow into the river coming from Fall River has decreased. However look for Fall River to put a lot more water into the river during the upcoming predicted warm weather.

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Yellowstone Park 5-20-17

May 20, 2017
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Yellowstone Park

Yellowstone Park fishing licenses are in the shop.  These include:

Season permit ($40)

7-day permit ($25)

3-day permit ($18)

Non-Fee permit (Fifteen years or younger)

We also have 2017 Park fishing regulations, and they are on the Yellowstone Park Official Web Site under “THINGS TO DO.” Consider looking them over.

The Park fishing season opens on Saturday, May 27th. Most streams will be high with run-off opening day weekend and longer. The Firehole River will be the best place to fish. Look for BWO life cycle, white miller, small bead head and traditional nymphs of choice, and various caddis life cycle patterns to be the most effective there. Also expect plenty of accompanying fly-fishers.  Nez Perce Creek may also be fishable, but certainly less crowded.

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