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Fishing Reports

Fly Fish Food Jimmy's / Fishing Reports (Page 161)

Henry’s Fork 6-23-15

The Last Chance-Harriman State Park reach of the river is crowded, and rightfully so. One way to beat the crowds is to try the early morning or evening spinner fall.  Green drakes and PMDs are going strong, and caddis are everywhere.  Any day now brown drakes in the evening will become significant. On the lower river, Warm River to Ashton and below Ashton Dam, caddis and PMDs and diminishing golden stoneflies attract fish. As with the upper river, ant and beetle patterns fished near banks will interest fish. It looks like this will be a lean year for gray drakes in the evenings, but this time of day can be great for presenting streamers around stream side cover out of direct sunlight.

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Small Streams 6-23-15

Looks like warm weather is here in a serious manner, and it will effect small streams and still waters the most.  Many of them are at their best before waters drop to near base level and warm.

Many of our small streams host beaver ponds. Even the best of these ponds are not much more than several feet deep, and with little movement of water through them, their water tends to warm quickly.  So especially for these (Jackknife Creek, McCoy Creek,Cranes Creek, Little Warm River), now is the best time for a visit. Leech patterns in black or olive are always a good choice hese.  If you prefer top water fishing, dry damsel adult, and speckled dun patterns work well. So does a hair mouse or frog pattern if very large trout inhabit the pond. Later on, add terrestrial patterns to the mix of patterns to consider.

With respect to small streams in general, those with a large component of spring inflow ( upper Birch Creek, Big Elk Creek, upper Bitch Creek) or lakes with underground outlets (Palisades Creek) have a better chance of maintaining water levels and nice water temps through the summer.  But for many other small streams not so fortunate, now is the time to enjoy them, and we can help you make choice.

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South Fork 06-23-15

The bugs are coming out! From about Byington down, Golden Stones and Salmon Flies are hatching with fish eating them. Although, I would take some big bugs with me from Cottonwood down. Also, Green Drakes and Sallies are leading the way up the canyon and are up to Cottonwood. They have been most productive in flats and rifles. Then as you continue further up the river, nymphing and streamer fishing has been good. Also having a few Pmds in that section.The flows have been stable at 14,000 cfs at Irwin allowing the bugs to keep moving up the River.

Fly selection from Cottonwood Down would consist of: Super Chernobyl Brown size 6 & 8, CFO Pink Flamer size 8, Jake’s Hot Cake Salmon Fly size 6, Green Drake CDC Thorax Dun size 10, CFO Sally X Stonefly size 14, Olive Hare’s Ear Parachute size 12, CW Pink Albert Dun size 16 and 18.

Fly selection from above Cottonwood would consist of: Kreelex Minnow Copper/Gold size 6, Sparkle Minnow Rainbow size 6, Bennet’s Seal Rubber Legs Black/Brown size 6 & 8, Psycho Prince Yellow  size 16, Pearl Lightning Bug size 16.

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Still Water 6-20-15

For all the irrigation reservoir to the southeast ( Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins,Springfield, Treasureton, 24-Mile), damselfly activity is the big happening for interesting fish. Not many speckled duns yet.  Now is the time to be on these reservoirs. The low run-off we have had this year means these reservoirs will likely be drawn down by mid summer because of irrigation demands. That will bring on warming waters making for tougher fishing.

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Henry’s Lake 6-20-15

Fishing remains spotty. We went by the south side of lake three days ago and noticed the heaviest concentration of boats was in front of the cliffs. A time-tested Henry’s Lake strategy to find good fishing is to glass the lake with binoculars to see where fish are being caught, then rush over to where action is happening.  Could we have viewed this strategy at work?

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South Fork 6-20-15

Flow out of Palisades Dam has been stepped down the last few days from over 16000 cfs to a bit over 14000 cfs. Some green drakes are appearing on middle sections of the river and a few golden stone have emerged from the lower river. The same patterns we have recommended in the recent reports continue to be the best choices, but with the river warming (currently in the low 50s in Deg. F.) changes are coming.

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Henry’s Fork 6-20-15

Green drakes are beginning to fade out on the lower river.  Not many gray drakes have made an appearance to date. Hopefully that is changing. PMD and caddis life cycle patterns are working just fine.

On the upper river green drakes are coming on but not yet peaked. PMD activity is good and attracting fish.  Flow out of Island Park Dam was raised on Thursday from 1000 cfs to 1160 cfs and is holding there. There are likely as many fly-fishers as fish in the Last Chance-Harriman State Park stretch of river with fewer visits in the Harriman East, Riverside and Coffee Pot  stretches.

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Small Streams 6-20-15

Teton River drainage is beginning to round into fishing shape. In the river’s canyon reach and below look for golden stoneflies and caddislies to bring some action. Consider that the canyon reach is difficult and dangerous water best fished accompanied by a guide or a person knowing the river “like the back of their hand.”

Looking for places to take that enthusiastic youngster? Put the Birch Creek Family Area above Lone Pine, McCoy Creek, and Little Warm River around Pole Bridge Campground at the top of your list. Sawmill Creek in the Little Lost River drainage is another great choice except for a much longer drive than the others. All these offer very good dry fly-fishing right now with any small pattern working and each is not only easily approached, but relatively safe.

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Yellowstone Park 6-20-15

Streams in the northeast part of the Park, (the Lamar River drainage) remain high and discolored in contrast to streams in the southwest corner (Madison and Fall River drainages).  Trout Lake is your best bet for fishing success in northeast area for the next several days. Walk the shoreline or pack a floatation device to get out on the lake to present damselfly nymph patterns or midge pupa patterns under an indicator. The Firehole River continues to offer good fishing with PMD, BWO, caddis life cycle, and soft hackled patterns bringing best reactions. As we move into July look for fishing to slow there with warming weather. Caddis and PMD life cycle patterns are working well on the Madison River during PM hours.  Duck Creek is tough fishing, but in a few weeks evening brown drake activity will bring fish up. Flows in Fall River Basin streams are dropping to levels where dry fly fishing will be excellent soon. Beula Lake has been a relative hot spot with damselfly nymphs and small leech patterns producing.  Those tasty lake trout are still in Yellowstone Lake shallows. Anywhere you can find weed beds on Shoshone Lake you will catch juvenile lake trout and have a chance at a trophy brown trout. All you need is a boat or floatation device to get out to the weeds, then present small olive or black leech patterns.

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