Fishing Reports

Henry’s Fork, January 20th, 2024

Headlines from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Henry’s Fork Drainage Snow-Water Equivalent (SWE) Report of January 19th.

• Yesterday’s precipitation increased the water-year total to 88% of average and SWE to 69% of average but increased the disparity even more between the southern half of the watershed and the upper Henry’s Fork.
• Light but consistent precipitation will continue for the next week, with temperatures well above average.
• At an average outflow of 386 cfs, Island Park Reservoir gained 20 ac-ft yesterday and is 90% full, compared with 73% full on average.
• The upper Snake River reservoir system is 71% full, compared with 58% full on average.

Details

New snow water equivalent (SWE) totals ranged from 0.1 inch or less at all stations in the upper Henry’s Fork to 0.7 inches at Pine Creek Pass and Grand Targhee. That moved watershed mean SWE up one more percentage point to 69% of average, although it dropped a place in the rankings to 3rd driest since 1989, now behind 2012 but still ahead of 2001 and 2010. SWE at Pine Creek Pass improved to 95% of average, moving that in the Teton subwatershed up to 79% of average. SWE is 74% of average in Fall River and 57% of average in the upper Henry’s Fork, the lowest on record for the date.

Saturday, January 20th Fly Tying Demo Features Danny Lane

Danny and Friend

Danny was born in Boise, Idaho and spent his early angling days in pursuit of trash pond bluegill. Because he was only nine years old, and the flies he tied were ” rather casual”, warm water species with their willingness to eat anything were his only focus for years. Through adolescence, Danny kept catching bluegill on foam spiders and bass on wine cork poppers, but a trip to the Wood River in 1998 with a friend and his dad produced the first trout to be felled by one of Danny’s flies (a foam spider). In the time between then and now, Danny somehow graduated college with an English degree, got married, had two kids, caught a bunch of trout, some steelhead, redfish, snook, bonefish, tarpon, and a handful of permit. He guides for Three Rivers Ranch on the Henry’s Fork, South Fork, and Teton Rivers. Danny also ties commercially for trout and saltwater species and is an Umpqua Signature Tyer.  During his demo Danny will feature some the Signature flies as well as those he prefers for fly fishing waters in this area.

Danny caught his last bluegill in 2016, in a trash pond in Boise. 

Saturday, January 20th Fly Tying Demo Features Michelle Babcock

Michelle and Friend

Fishing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents have pictures of me sitting on the banks of the Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone in Belfry, Montana, with my great-grandfather introducing me to fly fishing when I was a wee lass.
Born and raised in Southern Idaho, I am blessed to be near some of Northwest’s most amazing trout water.  I am the proud mom of three amazing boys: Hunter, who is serving in our US Navy as a corpsman; Tanton, following in his dad’s lineman’s footsteps; and Chase, who will soon be joining his brother in serving our country. My husband Ryan and I reside in Twin Falls with our three fur babies.

My fly fishing passion runs deep as it provides a therapy that only those who know can explain. In 2013, I decided to share my passion with like-minded women and hosted my first women’s trip on the Henry’s Fork. Since then, I have hosted women’s trips out of Dillon, Montana. It is a blessing every year to share the water with some incredible women who are either just starting or are seasoned anglers to learn and grow from one another and create some incredible friendships.
         I love fishing for big trout. When you fool a fish with a bunch of sparkle and feathers you put together, it makes it much more rewarding. Building streamers is a favorite of mine. When I first started tying, I would watch endless videos of big streamer patterns. I incorporated some of the techniques I’ve learned into my own patterns. During my demo I will be putting together a streamer that I have used on bull trout, as well as being my favorite pattern for cutthroat. I will also throw in a nymph or two that can be used in any local trout water.

Saturday, January 13th Fly Tying Demo Features John Scola

John and Friend

I grew up in southeast Wisconsin where all sorts of fishing opportunities present themselves. I predominantly spin fished as most do growing up but as I grew older my Dad taught me how to fly fish. I cut my teeth chasing trout in Wisconsin’s driftless region where spring creeks are abundant. As I fly fished more I chased everything from warm water species to lake run brown trout and steelhead.

Fly fishing has taken me many places one of which being Wyoming where I now live. I guided fly fishing trips for the last 4 years in the Jackson Hole area and have traveled elsewhere in the state to chase trout on my own time.

Foam flies and streamers are some of my tying favorites, but I have tied everything from musky and steelhead flies to saltwater flies. My demo at Fly Fish Food-Jimmy’s will present my most effective patterns from all these types. I will also offer information on how to present each one.