On Tuesday, 3/17 Chad Hill lost a white, 12 ft Don Hill drift boat with 2 Sawyer oars inside. It fell off his trailer somewhere on US Highway 20 between Teton and Highway 33. Please keep your eyes open for this. If you have any info on this boat, contact Chad at 208-351-7036.
The only information we have is on Springfield Reservoir which is ice free. Last weekend water was about two feet low, discolored, and fishing slow. To the south Treasureton and Hawkins Reservoirs are ice free, but we have little information on fishing them. Most waters at higher elevations remain ice covered.
With the great weather pattern we are in getting out on the river is a pleasure. Presenting midge life cycle patterns and streamers during low light conditions is the name of the game for the most part. Other than these, trying an occasional rubber leg or golden stonefly nymph might be effective. Flow out of Palisades Dam has been consistent at around 2200 cfs for weeks and around 2800 cfs at Heise. Water temperature has been in the high 30’s in degrees F. that long. So water conditions are stable but cold.
BWOs are beginning to emerge along the lower river where flows are currently around normal. Afternoons are the best time to enjoy fish responding to them, and with the nice weather we are having, even though cloudy weather would bring out more, getting onto the river makes for a good time. Drifting some big stonefly nymphs deep can also be effective. If you stay into the evening hours, consider presenting streamer patterns around overhead cover. It is also easier to get up during these daylight savings times when sun-up is a bit before 8AM. Before strong sunlight gets on the water is another good time to pitch streamers in hope of encountering a big ‘bow or brown. Don’t fall in, though. That water temperature in the low 40’s to high 30’s in degrees F. will make you head for that spare dry clothing in a hurry!
We surely have been lucky to have such good warm weather recently, and it looks like more is to come during this second half of winter (Let’s hope summer isn’t correspondingly as warm!). All this means getting out to fish should be really enjoyable. Much of the South Fork, even around Swan Valley is free of ice and snow, now offers many locations for wading. Since February 6th flows out of Palisades Dam have been stepped up from around 900 cfs to around 2100 cfs today (February 10th). This change in flow should not have a major impact on fishing and certainly will not have a big impact on choosing a wading location. Water temps are around the mid thirties in degrees Fahrenheit, so don’t get in over those waders!
See that picture above? It was taken just above the far side of the Heise Bridge. Look at all the accessible river just in this view alone. There is good water in front of the far side gravel bar. And you cannot see it that well, but even better water is in the upstream bend with another gravel bar giving easy access. That is typical along the river. The river road above Heise is passable with care, but close to motorized travel above where the road from Table Rock joins, and offers many places where you can get to the river to fish. For sure come springtime, all this accessible water such as we have now will not be available for wading.
If you want to enjoy top water fishing, midge emergences provide the most consistent action. Some will take place on sunny days, but densest activity takes seems to take place overcast days without wind (if that’s possible). Pack such as black or red zebra midges, high voltage midge pupa, and spent midge patterns. Don’t overlook those old favorites the Griffith’s gnat and the renegade. You can fish these on top or as an emerger just under the surface. Use all these in sizes about the same as the natural insect. Expect most of the action to take near or at the surface, so go with a floating line and long, fine leader. A downstream drift with a gentle rise of the rod tip when the fly reaches rising fish will bring strikes. Expect many of these to be from whitefish. If you prefer to present wet flies in deeper water golden stonefly nymph patterns are numerous, and each can be effective when drifted along riffles and into tops of runs and holes Try the same with rubber leg patterns. Usually a sink tip line allows the best presentation, but a full sink line can be used for fishing long slow runs. Try patterns that simulate an aquatic worm. San Juan worm and wooly bugger patterns are some of these. Another favorite technique for encountering bigger fish is presenting streamer patterns. Best time for presenting these is during low light conditions. That means early or late in the day and when overcast conditions prevail. Clouser minnow types are very effective and therefore popular, but small fly rod jigs work just as well during these times. Presenting feather wing streamers also have enthusiasts. Sink tip fly lines seem best for presenting streamers. Be sure to use a stout leader. And bring that camera!
After his Saturday, December 6th tying demo at Jimmy’s, Gregg Messel is offering a hands-on knot tying workshop at Jimmy’s. It will begin about 2 PM and last a few hours. Attendance is “First Come, First Served,” up to the first fifteen entries. Gregg will supply old fly lines on which to practice knots, but if you have one of such experience, bring it. There is no fee for this workshop, but Gregg suggests considering a contribution to the Snake River Cutthroats.
Flow out of Palisades Dam was reduced to 938 cfs from around 2400 cfs on November 4th. Flow at Heise is now 1290 cfs. This is great for wading, but makes boating a bit tougher. Fish will be concentrated. So it is time to get out and pitch your favorite streamer pattern or enjoy the BWO’s emerging and trout responding, especially in some of the predicted upcoming stormy weather.
If you intend to fish in Yellowstone Park waters, better hurry! The fishing season winds up there at the end of the day on Sunday, November 2nd.
Currently Daniels Reservoir provides some of our best still water fishing. Midge pupa patterns under an indicator and presented two to ten feet in depth are producing. A scud bloom is ongoing, and fish seem most interested in them. So pack you favorite patterns to be presented on an intermediate line. Weeds are beginning to break up in Springfield Reservoir making fishing below the surface (mostly a midge pupa below an indicator, small nymph or leech patterns) a lot easier.
We have recently been fly fishing the Blackfoot River about ten miles below the dam. Water flow is less than normal meaning fish are concentrated in deeper runs and holes. Streamers and small wooly bugger types worked for us in these waters. We noticed that hoppers were still around, so a variety of hopper patterns worked. Some BWOs came out in shaded areas such as in the shadows of cliff faces, and fish responded. Roads were in great shape.