The flush is on with flows out of Palisades Dam up to 18000 cfs. Flow at Heise is about the same. So it may be best to try elsewhere this weekend! As the flows lower to around 12000-14-000 cfs, likely next week, the South Fork will be back to what we all like this time of year.
No; all the wind has not blown our reservoirs away. But the hi-speed winds have made getting out on them difficult. So there is not a lot of experience to talk about. The best fishing seems to be on Springfield and Hawkins reservoirs for now. Midging is the way to go on both, but small damselfly nymph imitations seem also to work on both. At Hawkins best fishing is near the dam.
Flow in the lower river has been mostly stable for many days. Normally this would mean great fishing, but that cotton pickin’ wind messes things up except for very early mornings and just before dark. We think the result is that caddis, BWOs, midges, and March browns emerging there end up in Yellowstone Park where the season is closed. Nevertheless, early and late in the day when the wind slows should be a great time to pitch streamers. Concentrate your casts on the shaded banks or near overhead cover.
Because of increased flows out of Palisades Reservoir and the beginning of run-off the river flow is up from Menan to Blackfoot. Wading is still possible, but fishing has slowed a bit. Streamers are still the best bet. Look for flows to increase (because of downstream irrigation demands) making walk-in wade fishing tougher as we advance through the spring season.
As streams succumb to run-off and irrigation water, our reservoirs will become more important as fishing destinations. Some including Chesterfield and 24-Mile recently became ice free and best fishing is yet to come. The upper end of Daniels Res. is beginning to produce for those using small leech and damselfly patterns. Don’t overlook using dragonfly nymph patterns in the shallow waters there. Big woolly bugger types an even big stonefly nymph patterns fished slowly along the bottom in a direction toward the shoreline can effectively imitate dragonfly nymphs this time of year. Springfield has recently filled with irrigation sub water. Fishing is a bit slow there but will improve as fish get use to the water change. Midges are active there. Damselfly nymphs will become active soon. Best reservoir fishing in the region currently is at Hawkins Res. Fish are moving toward the dam to look for spawning areas. Damselfly nymph, small leech and BLM patterns are effective when fished on intermediate or faster sinking lines.
Flows are up a bit, but not enough to influence trout activity. Likewise, some canals along the lower reaches are open meaning lower river flows for the time being. Streamers are your best choice to encounter big browns and ‘bows. Anywhere you can find access on the river from Menan to Tilden Bridge you will find action through using them. There is a lot of river here, so get in touch with us or come into the shop. We will recommend places to fish based on the information that is coming in.
Warmer weather has made fishing the river from Warm River to below St. Anthony a great choice. Remember the closure in effect between the Vernon Bridge and Ashton Dam until general season. There is plenty of access to enjoy the BWOs especially because Fall River runoff has not begun. Weather coming up the next few days should be ideal for BWO emerging in the late PM after winds die. Streamers will be effective up & down the river, and above the Chester backwaters be sure to have big stonefly nymph patterns. Hard to believe, but these big nymphs will begin to move in numbers in about a month.
Many of these are ice-free now, so get your tubes and boats in shape to launch. Daniels Reservoir has been ice-free for several days now. Midge pupa below strike indicators and small leech or other patterns to simulate damselfly nymphs are the flies to use. If you fish the shallower waters, don’t overlook dragonfly nymph patterns. Trout love these big nymphs in the early season. It’s a reason why big woolly bugger types fished close or on bottom are effective. Ice is off Chesterfield Res., but so far fishing is slow. For 24-Mile Reservoir getting there is the question. Recently doing so required a long walk meaning the road is not in the best shape yet. That’s great for keeping down the crowds, and means either walking the shore line or carrying a float tube for getting out on the water. Evenings and early AMs are the best time to be on Springfield Res. Big midges are emerging, and small leech patterns are effective to simulate damselfly nymphs. Don’t forget the words given above about dragonfly nymphs. Their patterns work at Springfield Res. this time of year.
We screwed up and the road to Cottonwood is not open. It will not open until the Palisades Ranger District, which actually manages the road to Cottonwood, officially opens it for summer travel. This date varies from year to year depending on snow, weather and road condition. When the road does open the Palisades District will announce it through the media and their web site. If you have any questions you can contact them at 523-1412.
We apologize for publishing incorrect information and now have a thorough understanding of how the road is managed and by whom. When the road does open we will post it on the fishing report.
We have much news for the South Fork. First, the USBLM opened the road to Cottonwood and Burns Creek on April 15th. All boat launch sites are open. Flow out of Palisades Dam is up to 1450 cfs (2060 cfs at Heise) making float fishing safer, but walk-in wade fishing remains a great alternative. As water moves down the river at these still low flows ( no significant runoff yet) it warms considerably. The result is that BWOs are emerging on the lower river, so add their life cycle patterns to your fly box when targeting that part of the river, particularly in the afternoon. Use the info Tim posted in the 4-14-10 South Fork fishing report for best success chances. Keep those streamers and rubber legs in that fly box, too. For the upper river and its colder water (canyon and upstream to the dam), those rubberlegs and streamers should be in your fly box, and add red or white zebra midges in smaller sizes.
Ice is just beginning to leave Daniels Reservoir. Springfield remains the only reservoir free of ice to date. Midge life cycle (floating lines) and small leech (intermediate lines) patterns remain the most effective patterns.