Island Park Reservoir
This weekend begins the unofficial beginning of the recreation season. It;s tough to say the beginning of summer with snow happening in Island Park, Teton Valley, and other high country places! Nevertheless, it is time to get rid of cabin fever, so let’s take a look at places for doing so that are adjacent to great places to fish.
First, and likely most popular, is the Island Park area. The Ashton Ranger District Ranger Office relates that all developed campgrounds are open excepting Cave Falls and Big Springs will be open. Such popular ones including Buffalo River, Coffee Pot (upper), McRea Bridge, Riverside, and Warm River will be well populated but are right on great fishing water. Beware that cold weather will be had in each, so have the means to stay warm and dry.
In Teton Basin, all streams are high and discolored with run-off. On Henry’s Lake, the State Park and Bill Fromm County Boat Dock and Campground will be open, But for most of the weekend, the lake will be at its most dangerous because of high winds, likely snow showers, and cold air temperatures.
The Palisades District Ranger Station reports that the Calamity Boat Dock and Campground is closed because the Bear Creek Road coming to it is only temporary and not open to vehicles hauling trailers. An alternative is the Elk Creek Campground which includes a boat dock and well maintained campsites. Elk Creek is high with runoff, but fishing in Elk Creek Arm of the reservoir can be productive. Venture your boat beyond the discolored water coming in from the creek to find fishing action using leech, woolly bugger and streamer patterns. The campgrounds (Blowout, McCoy Creek) along the shoreline of Palisades Reservoir have boat docks that can be used to access creek mouths were some fishing can be found. Even though flow in the South Fork has been constant for several days, better fishing conditions are on the horizon. Try streamer, woolly bugger and rubber leg patterns if you wish to give it a try.
The Forest Service and Bureau of Land management ask that travelers stay off back country roads until they dry out to easily passable shape. The condition of such roads can be determined by contacting respective offices of each agency. These agencies also request that visitors be ” Bear Aware”‘ when visiting anywhere on their land.
