Fishing Reports

Small Streams, August 10th, 2004

Grey’s River

Just east of Alpine Wyoming lies one of the most beautiful rivers in the area. This is the Grey’s River which runs almost totally through Bridger-Teton National Forest. Snake River fine spotted cutthroat make up the major salmonid population with some brown trout in its lower reach where bait fishers, kayakers and other boaters predominate. The Murphy Creek bridge, just below the Murphy Creek confluence, see the above photo, is where the non motorized and fly fishing only portion of the river begins and continues on upstream. It is a riffle and run stream with forested and meadow reaches and with an early season run-off load, but is now down to base level with cool, clear water. Thunder showers can muddy it once in a while. Stoneflies and caddis flies are the major aquatic insects with some afternoon emerging PMDs and late season BWOs. The Grey’s River Road parallels the river nearly its entire length making for easy access.

Flies to fish:

• Dornan’s Micro Egg Sacker
• Willie’s Ant
• Sparkle Dun-PMD

Small Streams, August 8th, 2024

Afternoon western green drake emergence makes Big Elk Creek worth a try. Kokanee are staging in Elk Creek bay. On almost all other small streams terrestrial insect and traditional dry patterns (think renegades, humpys, Wulffs) are working after mid-morning with caddis coming on during afternoons. Some small streams ( i.e. Teton and Blackfoot Rivers) will have trico emergences.

Flies to fish:

• DJL Green Drake
• Slum Hopper Brown
• CDC Trico Spinner

Small Streams, August 3rd, 2024

Big Elk Creek

Big Elk Creek will soon host its afternoon western green drake emergence that attracts trout to forage without hesitation. With trout also responding to terrestrial insects big time, Big Elk becomes one of the best in the area to offer great top water fly fishing. Get above the cascade-like stretch to enjoy the best water for this event. This emergence happens to a lesser extent on all South Fork-Palisades Reservoir tributaries and peaks on all waters close to mid August. Any pattern that resembles a western green drake will do!