Flow out of Palisades dam has been constant at just under 16000 cfs for about a week. That’s a few thousand cfs higher than average and may not remain at that level, particularly if our weather warms. Palisades Reservoir is filling and is near 60% full. Most effective fishing currently is through boating to present rubber leg patterns deep and the same for streamers under low light conditions.
To minimize crowding here avoid fishing on weekends, particularly Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday afternoons. Because the South Fork is still high for the season and not yet fishing up to par, many enthusiasts are going to the Henry’s Fork to not only wade-fish but to fish from boats. This is the case mainly from Warm River to Chester where flow is about normal for this time of year. Monday or Tuesday are likely the best days for experiencing reduced crowding along this part of the river. No reports yet of significant big stonefly activity, but streamer patterns produce under low light conditions and large rubber leg and stonefly nymph patterns will produce when drifted deep through runs. For sure, giant stonefly nymphs are beginning to move meaning some are breaking free and drifting. For good top water fishing look for trout responding to PM caddis activity, to BWO activity, and diminishing march brown activity.
Biggest concern here is Fall River inflow and impact on fishing the river below Chester Dam. Currently Fall River flow below Yellowstone diversion is about 50% higher than normal and sure to increase. With warming weather much more snow on YNP’s Madison and Pitchstone Plateaus will melt and come down through Fall River Basin streams and into the river. This means an abundance of cold, discolored water coming into the Henry’s Fork just above Chester Dam, and this activity could continue through June. Let’s see how this shakes out after a winter of abundant snowfall.
Looks like the South Fork is on its way to reasonable fly-fishing conditions, but has a way to go. On May 1st flow from Palisades Dam was dropped to 13900 cfs (now 15400 cfs at Heise, 11200 cfs at Lorenzo) and remains there this day. The reservoir is currently about 47% of capacity and slowly filling. Warming weather and abundant remaining snow could speed up the filling rate. So for now stock up on well-weighted streamer, San Juan worm, and rubber leg patterns because better fly-fishing days on the river are soon to come.
We’ve had a few inquiries about Big Lost River fishing conditions just below Mackay Dam. Right now flow out of the dam is not far below 400 cfs making for difficult and dangerous wading there. That’s about double normal flow for this date. It might be a while before run-off and water demand allow for better wading conditions.
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With most of our approachable streams running high with runoff, folks are looking at still waters for an outing. Most reports we have indicate slow fishing on most still waters. At Springfield Reservoir presenting a midge pupa pattern under an indicator at depth is the best bet. Chesterfield Reservoir action is as slow as molasses in January, and Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir seems to feature only small fish. We have no reports of action on Hawkins and Treasureton Reservoirs. Roads to Horseshoe and Teardrop Lakes remain snow covered.
You will have to go the long way around (through Malad City) to fish Daniels Reservoir. The short cut of Dairy Creek Road above Hawkins Reservoir is currently impassable but will soon be worked on.
If/when we hear of action picking up anywhere, we will post such here
Fishing success along the river from Warm River to Chester Dam has been about normal for this time of year. Flows here are a somewhat high. BWOs, and March browns have been providing top water action for those enthusiasts presenting emerger and dun patterns along with midge life cycle patterns. Big rubber leg and stone fly nymph patterns drifted through runs and into upstream portions of holes and pockets will produce with chances for more interest from larger fish. The same goes for streamer patterns presented under low light conditions.
Be ready to see more anglers, whether wading or boating, present anywhere along the Henry’s Fork because of the South Fork’s high water situation.
Yesterday flow out of Palisades Dam was increased to 18000 cfs. That flow makes for difficult near-term fishing. Over the last month the Palisades Dam flow graph looks like a step function, and for good reason. There is more than normal snow pack in the upper Snake River drainage. Thus the Bureau of Reclamation placed a public announcement on April 3rd giving their Snake River water management strategy. Here is an excerpt from it that impacts the South Fork reach and the main stem Snake River to just below American Falls Dam. Note Reclamation’s estimate of 114% of the recent decade average. That’s the basis for their management strategy.
Reclamation’s April through July volume runoff forecast for Heise is 3700 KAF, which is 114% of the 1981-2010 average. To begin advancing on updated flood control targets for Jackson Lake Dam and Palisades Dam the following changes have or will be made this week.
· Jackson Lake Dam discharge will be increased Thursday (4/5) at 10 am from the current 630 cfs up to between 1,000 cfs and 1,500 cfs.
· Palisades Dam discharge will be increased Thursday (4/5) evening into Friday (4/6) morning to go from the current 10,000 cfs up to between 14,500 cfs and 16,000 cfs by Friday morning.
· American Falls Dam discharges were increased today from 11,000 cfs to 13,000 cfs. Another increase will occur Wednesday (4/4) morning at 10 am to go from 13,000 cfs to 15,000 cfs.
The intent with respect to Palisades Reservoir is to decrease its capacity to around 50% ( Currently at about 70%) in order to contain expected run off. More increases in flow out of these three dams are possible, with weather being a factor in determining flow management. For additional information and resources, please visit Reclamation’s website at: https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/uppersnake/ .
This is the time of year where we are starting to see the bug activity picking up on the Henry’s Fork. Around mid-day there has been the long awaited emergence of Blue Winged Olives, and the midge hatches continue to be pretty steady. Fishing midges and BWO in the slower water has been pretty productive, so try using BWO and midge clusters in sizes 16 and 18, and single midge patterns in sizes 18 and 20. I will fish a sparsely tied BWO size 16, or a well dressed BWO in 18. I usually fish 2 flies 2 feet apart on 4 and 5x Rio Suppleflex tippet, on a 9 – 12 foot Rio Powerflex 4x leader.
As for the nymph angler, running a Pat’s Rubberlegs trailed 18″ off the back with a size 14 Pheasant Tail or chartreuse Glo Bug, have been producing good numbers of fish. We are starting to see plenty of beds dug by spawning rainbows, so like every year, please watch your step if you see areas of dug, clean gravel. There are plenty of fish that are pushed in to a little faster water right now, and they are feeding well on nymphs, so don’t just focus on the deep water. I have caught some nice fish in only a foot or two of riffle water, and there seems to be a good amount of them sitting right off the drop offs of fast water in 2-4 foot deep buckets. The slow pools are kind of tricky to nymph, but running a little lighter setups while slowly bouncing the bottom will produce some nice size fish. I know it sounds like fish are all over the river, and they are, but if you focus your efforts on drop offs and slow pools, you will find fish.
Streamer fishing can produce some nice fish right now. Try fishing a slower retrieve with a pause, or a fly on the swing to produce some feisty fish. I usually swing or dead drift sculpin patterns, and strip some larger articulated patterns, usually in the Galloup variety. Color is going to be a day to day, or hour to hour thing, so bring a good selection of streamers to fish. I can usually get fish to eat olive or brown sculpin patterns on every trip, so you should at the very least have those in your box..
SATURDAY FLY TYING DEMONSTRATIONS
OPEN TO PUBLIC– NO CHARGE
10:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M., Saturdays from November 25th, 2017 though March, 2018
Each year Jimmy’s All Seasons Angler features this winter-time institution. These Saturday fly tying demonstrations are free to the public. Attending the demos is a great way to learn tying techniques, new and old, and to stay current on the use of materials and tools. The tiers we feature are among the best. Each has great experience in tying and use of the flies they demonstrate. Each is ready to share their tying and presentation knowledge and skills with you.
We began our winter slate of fly tying demos on Saturday, November 25th. So far we have scheduled tiers up to March 10th which will be our last this season. Take a look below at who is scheduled. Bring your fly tying questions to the shop any time. We have fly tiers on our staff with enough experience to answer any question you may have on materials, equipment, technique, and presentation. On moving through the given dates, we will post a bio for the upcoming tier.
2017-2018 Fly Tying Demo Schedule Completed
It was a fun season with several fly tiers demonstrating for the first time at the shop. We began on November 25th, 2017, continued through a cold, blustery December, on through a mild January and most of February, and finished during a wintry first week in March. Attendance was excellent and well-behaved. Demonstrating tiers were the same as well as generous. All this means that we will resume our tying demos next November. Again the demos will feature excellent, personable tiers, and we will invite the public to attend. Watch our web site and Facebook to see the date 2018-2019 our tying demo season begins.