Flow out of Palisades Reservoir ( about 85% full ) was reduce slightly ( now 12800 cfs, 1500 cfs at Heise, 6540 at Lorenzo). River still a bit high and with some discolor. Rubber legs, annelid patterns and streamers might work in calmer waters. Only midges emerging.
Daniels Reservoir
The Kelley-Toponce road will remain closed a bit longer limiting direct access to Chesterfield Reservoir facilities. Fishing is improving at Daniels Reservoir with midge pupa patterns under an indicator and small woolly bugger patterns being effective. Any day now damsel flies will be appearing in increasing numbers.Try slow trolling small black leech patterns using an intermediate line. Crowds are increasing, especially the nonresident component. All this applies to Hawkins Reservoir. We have no information on Twenty-four Mile Reservoir.
The giant stonefly hatch is heading up the river but at a pace slower than last year. If you own a soft- sided boat ( rubber raft, etc.) a good trip considering active fish and lack of crowds, put in at the lower Mesa Falls access and float down to the Stone Bridge access just below the Warm River confluence. It is a beautiful trip, just beware of little Surprise Falls about a third of the way down the trip. Afternoon caddis activity is going on good up and down the river.
Let’s let them spawn in peace during June in tributaries below Palisades Dam
Flow out of Palisades Dam was raised to 14000 cfs yesterday (now 1,6000 cfs at Heise, 8600 cfs at Lorenzo). Discolored water in the river below is from run-off from tributaries. All South Fork tributaries below Palisades Dam will be closed to fishing during June to protect spawning cutthroat.
True to usual, the Firehole River provides the best fishing. Running a bit high, but cool promotes the insect activity, so caddis, PMD, BWO life cycle patterns bring action. Do not overlook swinging soft hackle patterns such as partridge and olive, partridge and orange, Syl Nemes’s suggestions, etc. A few large post spawning rainbows are in the Madison River heading back to Hebgen Lake so streamers should bring some action in such places as the Barns Holes and Baker’s Hole Campground. Caddis and PMDs are making and appearance along the river.
Duck Creek is over its banks and flooding the meadow. The Gallatin River is flowing high and discolored.
It will be a while before the Fall River Basin area can be approached. The Cave Falls Road is closed beyond the Horseshoe Lake turn-off and the Ashton-Flagg Road is closed east of the Jackass Loop west of Calf Creek Hill.
The big stone flies are out along the river from Ashton Dam down to Chester backwaters, but the same with fly fishers, wading and boating. It is likely the big bugs are also out in lower Cardiac Canyon just above the Warm River confluence. If you are looking to get away from crowds, here are a few locations that will help do so.
Park at the old Bear Gulch Ski area and walk down the service road to the river. When you arrive at the river, walk upstream for the best fishing.
From Riverside Campground walk downstream on the marked trail. The trail is adjacent to the river going almost to the west side of Hatchery Ford. The last out take for boats before Cardiac Canyon is on the east side of the river at this point. This place can also be reached by taking the West Hatchery Ford road from U. S. Highway 20.
Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
P.O. Box 550
Ashton, ID 83420
208-881-3407 CELL
The park fishing season begins tomorrow, and the Firehole River will be the best stream to give action with BWO, PMD and caddis emerging and fish responding. Soft hackled patterns representing emergers will be quite effective Top water activity will depend on inflow of snow melt. Best activity will begin in late morning as cooler weather will likely prevail limiting snow melt remaining at higher elevations in the drainage. Some Hebgen Lake rainbows remain in the Madison River and provide a chance for streamer action. Any stream draining higher country will not be in fishing condition. Nearly all lakes in the park remain iced over and some are yet to be approachable.
General season begins tomorrow, so expect plenty of fishing company and watch for the infamous Henry’s Lake opening weekend weather. The catch and release season, ending today, produced good fishing for some folks and lesser fishing success for others. Fish might soon be moving deeper waters as we warm up. But leach, scud, snail and small streamer patterns presented on intermediate lines and midge pupa and snail patterns under an indicator should remain effective for a while.
As waters warm fish will move to shallows to forage. This is beginning to taking place at such as Chesterfield, Daniels, and Hawkins Reservoirs. It’s a bit early for damselfly activity but midges emerging in shallower waters can bring activity. Just find the taking depth. Scud and snail patterns can also be effective. We have no information on whether Twenty-Four mile Reservoir can be approached,but you can expect plenty of angling company this weekend at any easily approached still water,
Flow out of Palisades Dam was upped to 12000 cfs (15000 cfs at Heise, 6000 cfs at Lorenzo) yesterday. Water management plans are to keep it at this amount until May 28th when flow will be increased step-wise to 14000 cfs. Whether going into Palisades Reservoir or the river below, all tributaries are bringing in snow melt which impacts water quality. The above photo taken looking down Big Elk Creek Arm gives an example of snow remaining on mountains within the drainage. It also shows that the reservoir has enough room to capture resulting runoff given that flow out of the dam is being increased to satisfy downstream agricultural demands but not having the best impact on fishing success.