Small Streams 10-8-18
As flows approach base levels this time of year, fish generally are moving down from our head water streams to seek better cover.
Thus put such as Jackknife, Rock, Modoc, Wyoming Creeks on the back burner until next year.
Fishing Reports
Henry’s Fork 10-8-18
If you enjoy streamer fishing, now begins the time that Box Canyon is great, especially during a stormy day like today. Another such location is “The Tubs” where Henry’s Lake Outlet and Big Springs Outlet combine above Mack’s Inn. This time of year fish move downstream from the river in the Flat Ranch to the deep cover in these holes. There are several other locations along the river where streamers are very effective now. From Warm River to Ashton is particularly good. So is the river just below Ashton Dam. Want to pitch streamer patterns in a tranquil location free of boats? Try the river at Bear Gulch, just above Mesa Falls Park, and below Coffee Pot Rapids as well as “The Tubs.”
If you enjoy the BWO emergence anywhere along the river, do not overlook using soft hackle patterns (partridge and olive , size 14) for emerger imitations.
South Fork 10-8-18
Here is a note describing USBoR South Flow management for this week: “To account for decreases in diversion, BoR is decreasing flow out of Palisades Dam 470 cfs this evening (Oct. 8th). Discharge out of Palisades will be ~5,230 cfs tomorrow morning. Cool, wet weather throughout the week will likely warrant another reduction in flow before the weekend. Anticipate a similar drop in flow Thursday night or Friday.” BWO and mahogany dun life cycle patterns continue to produce. As the month goes by streamer patterns will become increasingly effective.
Big Lost River 9-29-18
Flow out of Mackay Dam is a bit higher (around 250 cfs) than normal ( around 160 cfs) for the time of year, but the river can be waded here with care. Presenting BWO life cycle and terrestrial insect patterns are the ways to find action.
Henry’s Fork 9-29-18
The lower river offers a variety in dry fly fishing, and the turn in the weather predicted for next week can only help with respect to active fish. Along the lower river terrestrial insects still inhabit banks in good numbers. BWO and mahogany duns numbers will increase with the change in weather. The evening caddis emergence continues. Streamer fishing is improving, and get even better with unsettled weather. Tricos, a few remaining PMDs, and increasing BWOs make for good fishing in the Last Chance-Harriman section. Box Canyon offers good nymphing, with streamer fishing sure to pick up. The river in the Flat Ranch is pretty much done for the season.
Main Stem Snake River 9-29-18
Have you noticed the number of boats increasing here? That is because the river is dropping and big browns are beginning to migrate. As is usual this time of year, they will take big streamer patterns especially early and late in the day. There are a number of public accesses from Menan down to McTucker from which to begin and end a float trip. We will begin to receive information on where the best action is along the river, so get in touch if you are considering a main stem float trip or a walk-in wade outing.
South Fork 9-29-18
Predictions say that the upcoming week will feature cloudiness, higher relative humidity, and possibly some rain in the region. All these will be a “shot in the arm” for making the BWO and mahogany dun emergences thicker up and down the river. Flow out of Palisades Dam will surely decrease from being relatively steady for several days, especially because the reservoir is about half full and storage for next agricultural season is on water managers minds. Decreasing flows mean more walk-in wade opportunities. As we advance through October, look for streamer fishing to steadily improve everywhere along the river. Best of all, the number of anglers will be down from now to till freeze-up.
Yellowstone Park 9-29-18
This is the best time to be fishing in the park. Biting insects are about gone, bull elk are providing natural sound effects, most recreational fly-fishers are also gone, so only the hard core is left. It seems that almost every piece of water will offer something to those hard core fly-fishers that stay within. With respect to still waters, Beula Lake will remain the best still water (with respect to action, not size) in the park. The Lewis Lake shoreline, especially below the campground and near the channel inlet will be a streamer junkie’s delight with migrating browns. If you do not mind the three-mile walk carrying a flotation device down DeLacey Creek trail, there will be plenty of juvenile lake trout lurking around submerged weed beds in Shoshone Lake to take black marabou leeches or scud patterns presented on a full sink line. Late in October the big cuttbows in Trout Lake will take scud patterns in efforts to stock up for the coming winter. There are more streams that are offering good fishing than you can try in the remainder of the season. Anywhere along the Madison River, through pitching big streamer patterns, you will encounter those big, beautiful run-up browns and ‘bows from Hebgen Lake. Late in October the brief run of browns into the Snake River and some of its tributaries and the run of Yellowstone River browns into the lower Gardner River will give streamer lovers some variety. The Firehole River fall baetis and white miller activity will be the place for the small dry fly pattern purist. All meadow streams ( Fall River Basin streams, the river in Gibbon Meadows, Slough and Soda Butte Creeks, Lamar River) will offer early morning trico activity followed by mid-day terrestrial insects shaking off the morning chill. It is truly a late season fly-fishing heaven.
Henry’s Lake 9-28-18
Henry’s is finally starting to show some signs of life the last week or so. Although there aren’t a lot of the bigger fish being caught right now, a fair amount of fish have moved into the shallows and are providing decent action. Most of the good fishing has been from the pintail point area south all the way to hope creek. The wind has been mostly out of the southwest this fall, so the western shoreline is a little more protected and has cleaner water. The fish have been relatively shallow 3-8ft so a type 1 or an intermediate line is really all you need. Fly choice doesn’t seem to be critical, darker leeches in size 6-8 have been best (Black Crystal Bugger, Brown Crystal Bugger, Canadian Brown). Hopefully the lake continues to pick up and we have a good October, stay tuned for more reports.
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