With some flooding from the Heise area on downstream, fishing is really on the backburner until we get back to normal flow. Look for a change only after outflow from Palisades Reservoir (about 20300 cfs at Irwin, 21300 cfs at Heise, 14300 cfs at Lorenzo) equals inflow. Right now that difference is only a few hundred cfs away, so the river below Palisades Dam is not far from improving. But remember: Ma Nature is in control.
Green drakes are controlling top water fishing up and down the river. They are coming out best on the lower river for now. The big stoneflies have peaked in numbers, but enough remain that trout will take floating imitations of them. Here is the basis for a strategy. The nutrient mass of a single drifting giant stone fly equals that of about 4 or 5 drifting green drakes or about half of this range for golden stoneflies. So rising once to grab one big stone fly means less expended energy that the rises to grab 4 or five
green drakes. Get the drift (no pun intended!)?
Currently good water quality reigns in temperature and clarity throughout the upper river and on downstream at least to Chester Dam. From this location, Fall River brings in run-off water in amounts that compromise this status.
Fishing on the Firehole River is holding up with the usual aquatic insect activity providing action. . The Lewis River flowing in the meadows along the South Entrance Road and above the canyon offers streamer fishing during low light conditions for very large, but very wary brown trout. Later this month a green drake hatch will begin here. Ice is leaving Lewis and Shoshone lakes.
At Mackay Reservoir
Boating is not allowed on all reservoirs owned by the Twin Lakes Canal Company but fishing from banks is allowed. Go to their web site to see these reservoirs. Building damsel fly and speckled dun emergences are making for good fishing on such as Chesterfield, Daniels, and Hawkins Reservoirs during wind free periods early and late in the day. IDF&G released inefficient spawning rainbow trout into Mackay and Springfield Reservoirs late last year. Those that have held over through the winter have acquired enough vigor to be as active as wild trout. Thus in both reservoirs they can provide some exciting fishing.
The Blackfoot and Teton Rivers are having flows about double of normal for this time of the season. Warm River, especially upstream at and just below Warm River Spring ( try golden stone fly, Caddis, PMD life cycle patterns) offers some good fishing. Likewise, Buffalo River around the campground offers good action from small trout. Caddis, PMD, BWO and damsel fly life cycle patterns work. Robinson Creek is running high, but can be is fished.
The Ashton-Flagg Road is closed east of Calf Creek Hill.
Below Palisades Dam
Flow out of Palisades Dam is highest yet, now about 5000 cfs more than normal for this date. Water masters are trying to equal output, 18800 cfs at Irwin, (up to 22300 cfs at Heise, 12700 cfs at Lorenzo), with input (about 23000 cfs). This makes the river great for boating to enjoy scenery, but dangerous for wading. Of course fishing is impacted enough to be less productive that in other rivers until run-off has peaked here.
Green Drake Madness is Here
Golden stoneflies are around with best numbers on the upper river. Caddis are everywhere. Now the major mayfly hatches are taking over on the lower river and moving on up in a major sense. Green drakes, PMDs with PM BWOs will make up the major activities for weeks to come. Fishing the river on the Flat Ranch Preserve is OK, but because so little water was released from Henry’s Lake earlier in the spring ( about 45 cfs maximum ) fish flushed in from the lake are down in number compared to years when 100 cfs and more were released.
Water quality is excellent throughout the watershed. Turbidity is below average watershed-wide, and dissolved oxygen concentrations are good to excellent. Water temperature was above average again yesterday although within the optimal range for trout growth and activity at most locations for most of the day. Hatch timing is within a day of average watershed-wide.
Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.
Science and Technology Director
P.O. Box 550
Ashton, ID 83420
208-881-3407 CELL
No change here: the Firehole River is the place to fish. Swinging soft hackle types, offering BWO, PMD and caddis life cycle ( with and without a dropper for subsurface forms) patterns are best strategies. Afternoon thunder showers with rain fall can dampen fishing success.
Some off color in the river between Hebgen and Quake Lakes. Below Quake Lake fish in no boating area fish seem to hold close to banks. So long casts and slow retrieves parallel to banks with nymph or streamer patterns offered by walking the banks instead of wading offers a good strategy through presenting nymph and streamer patterns. Try the good midge actviity on Hebgen Lake early or late in the day as wind makes it difficult to use dropper rigs. During windy periods try leech and streamer patterns using intermediate lines.
Flow out of Palisades Dam has been constant for a few days after several days of increasing. At 16500 cfs this flow and on downstream (about 18800 cfs at Heise,10600 cfs at Lorenzo) is above the usual for this time of the season by a few thousand cfs. Such flow puts good fishing “on the back burner” but as we warm both air and water, good fishing success will begin. Use the strategy and patterns we suggest in our last fishing report for the South Fork.