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Author: Bruce_Staples

Fly Fish Food Jimmy's / Articles posted by Bruce_Staples (Page 47)

Henry’s Fork, July 9th, 2022

July 9, 2022
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Fishing Reports, Henry's Fork

The river from Ashton Dam downstream is beginning to warm as our “dog days” are here. This means best fishing will be early AMs and evenings, Major aquatic insects are diminishing, but terrestrial insects will soon be plentiful. Wading and boat traffic on the Last Chance-Harriman section is high, but fishing is good as the usual aquatic insect hatches continue at good levels.

Plenty of water ( currently about 170 cfs) is flowing through the river at the Flat Ranch Preserve. This flow started late because of water managing efforts in this drought year. That means fewer fish were swept downstream out of Henry’s Lake than usual. Nevertheless, the river here is worth a try.

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South Fork, July 9th, 2022

July 9, 2022
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Fishing Reports, South Fork

All major aquatic insect hatches are moving up the river. For example, a few of the big stone flies have been seen in the Conant area. It seems like the best time of day for fishing up and down the river is early AMs and evenings. Boat traffic is increasing throughout. Flow has changed little throughout the river ( now 11600 cfs at Irwin, 11900 at Heise, 5650 cfs at Lorenzo) and remains slightly below normal for the time of year.

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Yellowstone National Park, July 5th, 2022

July 5, 2022
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Fishing Reports, Yellowstone Park

With the Firehole River beginning to warm to levels detrimental to fish, the Madison and Gibbon rivers becoming relatively crowded and the Yellowstone River time-taking to get to, Fall River Basin streams offer a great alternative. True, you may have to walk a ways and fight off mosquitos on the way in, but the rewards are the chance for a fish of the year ( Sallys, PMDs, Green Drake, damsel flies emerging) and a tranquility unmatched on those aforementioned Madison River drainage waters. Then there is Beula Lake for which we will offer more information soon.

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Still Waters, July 5th, 2022

July 5, 2022
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Still Water

We tend to gravitate to the larger still waters because of big fish lore, but many of the smaller waters have something to offer. Here are a few in our area. Springfield Reservoir, Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir, Teardrop Lake and the Harriman Fish Pond host some very large fish, Horseshoe Lake offers grayling, Aldous Lake, although requiring packing in a flotation device for best fishing, offers trophy sized cutthroat. Pauls Reservoir can be fished equally well through walking ( not necessarily wading) the shoreline or from a non-motorized boat or flotation device. It also is one of the best still waters for an entry level fly fisher to experience action.

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South Fork, July 5th, 2022

July 5, 2022
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Fishing Reports, South Fork

Flow throughout the river has been nearly constant (10700 cfs at Irwin, 10900 cfs at Heise, 5200 cfs at Lorenzo) for about a week. The activity we described in this report for July 2nd is moving upstream past Byington and into the canyon. The fun in this fly fishing game will be in finding which of the insects the fish will be keying on at any given time and location. Traffic at launch sites will now increase as will boats on the river. So the time to be considerate have arrived for all of us.

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Henry’s Fork, July 5th, 2022

July 5, 2022
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Fishing Reports, Henry's Fork

We have reports of recreational floating traffic on the river; Box Canyon and the entire lower river between above Chester seem to be favored locations. Consider that these folks do not understand angling etiquette. So be patient. They have just as much right to enjoy the river as do anglers. Best time to fish around them is early and late in the day.

All traditional hatches are in full swing along the river: Green drakes, flavs, PMDs, PM caddis abound with a few golden stones. Brown drakes are appearing in evenings on lower the river at Harriman East making Wood Road 16 an up and coming favored location. AM and PM spinner falls are good times to be on the river whether it be Last Chance-Harriman State Park waters or the lower river. These times of day minimize recreational traffic. Also dry-dropper combos seem to work everywhere. Try a dry blond humpy over a bead head nymph of your choice

Headlines from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s latest Henry’s Fork drainage water conditions report follow:

Headlines:  

  • The first 4 days of July were slightly on the warm side of average, and a few thundershowers kept water-year precipitation at 91% of average.
  • Natural flow has dropped by 1-2% per day over the past four days, while diversion has stayed relatively constant.
  • Since an outflow increase on Saturday, Island Park Reservoir outflow has averaged 991 cfs, and the reservoir has drafted at 930 ac-ft/day. Additional incremental increases in outflow are expected.
  • Water quality: Water temperatures have been optimal except at St. Anthony, while turbidity is still above average at all locations upstream of Ashton Reservoir. 

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

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Small Streams, July 5th, 2022

July 5, 2022
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Fishing Reports, Small Streams

The Ashton-Flagg ( Reclamation Road) Road is open, but rough beyond the South Boone Creek crossing. Sedans can pass with care, but towed recreation trailers are discouraged from even trying. This opening gives access to some of the best and varied fishing available in the area. Numerous small streams can be approached in both Idaho, Yellowstone Park, and Wyoming. Tillery Lake and Grassy Lake Reservoir, also in Wyoming, offer great flotation device fishing. In Yellowstone Park Beula and Hering Lakes can now be reached as well as many of the Fall River meadow reaches. In Idaho, the Fall River can be reached before it drops into its canyon.

The Blackfoot River drainage above Blackfoot River Reservoir is open to fishing. A no-kill order for cutthroat trout and no bait and barbless hooks restrictions apply to the entire drainage here. Below the reservoir, high and variable flows dampen fishing success, but float fishing is possible and can be effective through using streamers, rubber leg, and woolly bugger patterns.

Palisades Reservoir tributaries, Palisades, Pine and upper Rainy Creeks and Salt River tributaries coming out of Idaho are in good fishing shape with PM caddis, PMD life cycle and traditional attractor patterns working well. Terrestrial insects are “coming into view” on each. Warm River below Warm River Spring and Robinson Creeks adjacent to the Cave Falls Road offer good fishing.

Warm River below Warm River Spring and Robinson Creek where it parallels the Cave Falls Road offer good top water fishing with PMD, PM caddis and traditional attractor or patterns working well.

So here is a narrative suggesting that our fishing season is full blown with respect to choices. Get out and enjoy!

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South Fork, July 2nd, 2022

July 2, 2022
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Fishing Reports, South Fork

No significant change in flows at this date. Best fishing on the river is from Byington downstream. Significant hatches going there include, yellow sallys, PMDs, green drakes, some giant stones and golden stones and PM caddis. Take your pick on which fish key on at any time. Rubber legs continue to work and small nymphs of choice attract fish in riffles. Look for all this activity to move upstream in the coming days.

You will see recreational floaters on the river. They are asked not to use boat launch areas. There are designated locations just above Byington and Conant for them to launch and debark.

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Still Waters, June 25th, 2022

June 25, 2022
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Fishing Reports, Still Water

Action on Daniels Reservoir is improving for midge pupa patterns under and indicator during wind free times. During windy times, switch to a sinking line to present leech patterns. We have some success reports coming from 24-Mile Reservoir where intermediate lines used to present damsel fly nymph and small leech patterns bring action. The road in has dried out, and we are awaiting the damsel fly and speckled dun activity. Action on Chesterfield Reservoir is slow and seems a spotty on Hawkins Reservoir. Expect Hawkins to have a lot of week-end visitors, angling and recreational. A fun experience is to go to Horseshoe Lake and try for grayling. Small emerger patterns presented in the surface film or just below will work. You will catch more moderately sized rainbow trout but the one in eight to ten chance for a grayling is worth the trip.

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South Fork, June 25th, 2022

June 25, 2022
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Fishing Reports, South Fork

Some yellow sallys and green drakes are beginning to show on the lower river, but not in significant numbers to date. Water needs to warm for these to really get going. Flow has not changed significantly since our last report. Palisades Reservoir is about three-quarters full.

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