Cardiac Canyon of the Henry’s Fork

Hatchery Ford

The Henry’s Fork could be the most famed trout stream in our country.   That being the case it is a huge destination, and for good reason.  It is one of my favorite rivers, but with its reputation I tend to seek out the the less visited reaches. My favorite part of this great river is in Cardiac Canyon which begins just below Riverside Campground and ends at the Warm River confluence.   Within this reach are  a number of places to access the river, and the best of these from an overall fishing experience require some physical effort.  Two locations, in particular are my favorites: Bear Gulch and Hatchery Ford. Let’s look at the Hatchery Ford access for now and talk of the Bear Gulch later.

A boat ramp  is present on the east side of the river here.  It is the last place a boat from the Riverside Campground access can leave the river before entering the perilous waters beginning not far below.  Because of relatively easy access, the boat launch is increasingly used by walk-in anglers. I prefer to access the Hatchery Ford area from the West Hatchery Ford Road off  Highway 20.   It’s a bit tricky to zero in on getting to the river, but if you travel down the road almost exactly a mile you come on your left to some boulders placed to discourage motorized access down the dugway to the river.  Once you access the river after a quarter mile walk downward the river comes in view making a big bend. Below it drops swiftly to the Sheep Falls area.  Above, for about a mile the gradient eases and becomes more hospitable for fishing, but either direction on the river will get you into great fishing. Walking upstream you skirt a cliff at the bottom of which is a long, deep run which hosts trout that rival in size those in Box Canyon. These large fish reside here until an event such as the giant and golden stonefly hatches bring them out.   That event is happening at the time I’m writing this and it is an excellent time to fish here.   That means right now for the next few days fish with big dry patterns that imitate the big stoneflies.  If you cannot try it at this time try it in about a week to ten days depending on weather conditions.  Fish will have digested eaten bugs and be looking for more.  If you cannot try the river during this time, come back during the terrestrial season with hopper patterns. Try at the head of the long, deep run or go to the broad flat water above and try the same strategy you might choose for the earlier stone fly hatch. That means concentrate presentations around overhangs, rocky or vegetated banks, and boulders out in the stream. If you cannot  fish here during the terrestrial season, come back in October and November (weather permitting) and present streamer patterns in the same manner you would use in the Box Canyon.  In any of these time periods you have a chance at those famous big Henry’s Fork rainbows. And in the fast water they are sure to test your skill at handling large trout.