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Author: Bruce_Staples

Fly Fish Food Jimmy's / Articles posted by Bruce_Staples (Page 19)

Henry’s Fork, September 5th, 2023

September 5, 2023
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Fishing Reports, Henry's Fork

Now that cooling weather has arrived and fly fisher populations are dropping, some the best fishing days anywhere on the river are arriving. True, the autumn mayfly activity peak is not as great as that of late spring-early summer, but terrestrial insects will thrive along the river to feed trout until a killing frost. Streamer patterns will become most effective in interesting trout in the entire river, but as autumn marches on, brown trout in the lower river will become increasingly interested as they begin migrations to spawning areas.

Headlines from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Henry’s Fork Drainage Water Status Report of September 2nd

  • The month of August was slightly cooler than average but 2nd wettest in the 1989-2023 record, with 215% of average precipitation for the month.
  • Natural flow continued to decrease yesterday, while diversion increased again, dropping lower Henry’s Fork stream flow right to the irrigation-season target.
  • At an average outflow of 507 cfs, Island Park Reservoir dropped by 109 ac-ft and is 62.6% full, compared with 49.4% full on average.
  • Our Island Park Reservoir sampling yesterday confirmed well-mixed, turbid conditions on the West End, but so far that turbid water has not traveled to the dam. I still expect the possibility of increased turbidity this weekend, depending on whether all outflow is transferred to the power plant.

Details

Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

Henry’s Fork Foundation

P.O. Box 550

Ashton, ID 83420

208-881-3407 CELL

208-652-3568 FAX

[email protected]

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Yellowstone Park, September 5th, 2023

September 5, 2023
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Fishing Reports, Yellowstone Park

Colonade Falls

September is perhaps the best month to visit the park for fly fishing and tranquility as well as enjoying scenery. Fall River Basin is one of the best location for doing so. Bechler River Soldier Station is where to begin a visit. A walk of a bit more that three miles from the station gets one into Bechler Meadows the home of a river that holds a trout population undisturbed by human development. Hosted here are cut-bow hybrids with a few Yellowstone cutthroats. No rough fish or other salmonids are present! With a huge population of terrestrial insects, it is obvious what to use for top water fishing. Streamer patterns of choice are also effective when presented into holding water. The trout population inhabits the river upstream into the timbered reach with Colonade Falls being its limit. It is a seven mile walk to this unusual waterfall, but it is worth the effort from the fishing and sight seeing standpoints.

The river along the way offers an unheard of number of points to stop and offer a hopper or ant pattern. For sure, getting to Colonade Falls and back makes for a long day, but the experience of doing so will not easily leave your memory.

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Yellowstone Park, September 2nd, 2023

September 2, 2023
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Fishing Reports, Yellowstone Park

Lamar River

With a stormy weekend in the works, consider that certain streams will be discolored. For example, northeast corner streams in the Park can color up quickly after storms. It’s a long trip to fish such as the Lamar River and Slough and Soda Butte Creeks. If you intend to try these, consider contacting one of the West Yellowstone fly shops for information on each.

Look for the Firehole River to begin returning to water temperatures that favor trout comfort and activity. Anywhere you fish in the Park (and elsewhere), try not to play fish to exhaustion and release them facing into the current. We want as many as possible back in the water for the remainder of the season as well for as upcoming years.

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Southwest Montana, September 2nd, 2023

September 2, 2023
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Fishing Reports, South Western Montana

The gulper hatch and subsequent trout activity has been down compared to that in past years, but a few speckled duns are active on Hebgen Reservoir’s Madison Arm. But you have to search a bit to find where. Flying ants are becoming somewhat numerous and spruce moths have declined on the Madison and Gallatin rivers. With a stormy weekend in the works, it will be time to try streamer patterns just about everywhere. Lake trout will soon become active in Elk Lake, so if you venture there have big streamer patterns and a fast sinking line. In Centennial Valley creeks, cutthroat trout and grayling will begin moving back into the Red Rock Lakes as fall begins it approach.

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Big Lost River, September 2nd, 2023

September 2, 2023
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Big Lost River, Fishing Reports

It’s still flowing too high for good wading conditions below the Dam ( currently about 550 cfs). When and if it drops to around 300 cfs, it will be worth a visit. It can be a beautiful place to fish during the fall season with great scenery, abundant BWOs, caddis and a good residual hopper and ant population. We will keep track of its flow situation and report when to consider a visit.

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South Fork, September 2nd, 2023

September 2, 2023
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Fishing Reports, South Fork

Just Above Twin Bridges Area

Up to this weekend hopper patterns with and without a dropper pretty much ruled the effective game. With a stormy weekend being in the forecast, streamer patterns could take over because of relatively dormant hoppers and such unless we have some wind. Flow is not an issue as it remains within the summertime range (currently 8500 cfs at Irwin, 8700 cfs at Heise and 3800 cfs at Lorenzo).

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Small Streams, September 2nd, 2023

September 2, 2023
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Fishing Reports, Small Streams

Looks like stormy weather will prevail almost everywhere this weekend. Such weather will put terrestrial insects down relative to their activity on bright, sunlit days. Switching to wet attractor patterns is worth considering. Try nymph patterns such as two bit hookers, copper johns, hare’s ears, princes, and zebras, all with or without beads. If the stream you visit is discolored, do not overlook such as San Juan worm and small woolly bugger types as well as small streamer patterns.

BWOs could make an appearance ( with peak autumn activity yet to come) on certain places if you favor top water fishing. Warm River just below Warm River Spring would be a better location than by the crowded major campground at Three Rivers. Consider the Teton River in the Hog Hollow area and in the Basin as well as Buffalo River. Bring a raincoat wherever you go!

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Henry’s Fork, September 2nd, 2023

September 2, 2023
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Fishing Reports, Henry's Fork

With the great overhead cover coming during this weekend’s stormy weather, streamer patterns should be very effective, Box Canyon, above and below Coffee Pot, and the Tubs areas on the upper river should be good locations for trying these. On the lower river, with its great brown trout population, deep runs, undercut banks, submerged structure, soft water below islands, are among good locations for browns. Evenings will be the best time for trying streamers anywhere on the river. Also proper presentation trumps pattern selection.

If streamers are not your preference, BWOs will make an afternoon appearance when cloudy weather prevails around certain locations, but peak activity will come later this month..

Bring a raincoat anywhere you venture on the river this weekend!

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Southwest Montana, August 29th, 2023

August 29, 2023
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Fishing Reports, South Western Montana

Elk Lake from Hidden Lake Road

Spruce fly numbers are beginning to diminish, but fly ants are making an appearance on both the Madison and Gallatin Rivers. As with so many other streams, hopper dropper combinations are working on both rivers. Above Hebgen Reservoir, an important fly fishing event is beginning; the migration of brown and rainbow trout from Hebgen Lake into the Yellowstone Park portion of the Madison River. True, numbers are small, but are increasing. So what is worth considering is that the number of streamer pitching enthusiasts is also small compared what will be encountered in October!

Elsewhere, lake trout in Elk Lake will be moving into shallower waters having rocky substrate to spawn. Streamer patterns presented on full sink lines will give the best chances to encounter them.

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South Fork, August 29th, 2023

August 29, 2023
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Fishing Reports, South Fork

Minor ups and downs in flow continue but with no major impact on fishing. We hear that the lower river seems to offer better fishing success than the river above. Hopper dropper combinations rule the roost with respect to good fishing results anywhere on the river. When overcast days arrive, be sure you have streamer patterns in that fly box.

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