As with the Henry’s Fork drainage, there is some concern about the below normal snowfall to date this winter. The upper Madison River drainage needs more snowfall, in particular, but there is a lot more winter left to bring snow accumulation there back to normal or better.
Details From Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Henry’s Fork Drainage Snow-Water Equivalent Report Filed Yesterday
Details are given below to reveal some concern for below normal amounts of snow throughout in the drainage so far this winter.
Unfortunately, no appreciable precipitation is indicated for at least the next week. Some very light precipitation is possible late next week, with high uncertainty in forecasts and outlooks beyond that. The general trend is still toward moderate to heavy precipitation to our south and dry conditions from here northward. Temperatures are expected to be above average, although inversions are keeping temperatures in the valleys a little lower than had been anticipated a few days ago.
Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
P.O. Box 550
Ashton, ID 83420
208-881-3407 CELL
208-652-3568 FAX
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.
Cade & Haley Heading Out
I grew up fishing all of my life and like many I just could not get enough time on the water. The desire to become a better angler, catch more fish and understand how to catch as many as possible led me to pick up a fly rod and never look back!
I joined the Army right out of high school and served for nine years, in that time I traveled all over the world and served time in Afghanistan. After my service I went to work in the plumbing industry working for a plastic piping manufacturer. I left the industry to live the dream of hard work full-time guiding to teach others how to be the most successful out on the water. I developed a passion for euro style techniques and after also attending a few competitions lead me to become really proficient in the technique and have since taught many others. I currently do not guide full-time however I have continued my passion and growth in the industry working full time at Fly Fish Food in Orem Utah. I still guide as well throughout the year whether it be teaching euro style techniques or chasing tailing Carp. During my demo, I will tie flies that my on-the-water experiences chasing carp, salmonids or others have inspired.
I love continuing to learn and still go out and chase any fish I can on a fly rod whenever I have the chance. I have grown to have the knowledge and skill to catch a variety of fish and this year alone have caught 30 different species. I also love to work on my passion of creating and developing new flies for chasing all different species of fish. I love spending time out on the water with the women of my dreams Hayley and my two beautiful children Bodie and Chloe.
On Saturday, December 23rd there will be no fly tying demo. We will resume the demos on January 6th, 2024 with guest tier being Cade Moore.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
Access remain good from Ashton Dam on downstream. Streamer and woolly bugger types are good bets for action with the middle of blue bird days being the only time for comfortable fishing. Make sure there are no holes in those waders!
Headlines from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Henry’s Fork Drainage Water Status Report Filed Yesterday
Details worth noting for the drainage
Unfortunately, no appreciable precipitation is indicated for at least the next week. Some very light precipitation is possible late next week, with high uncertainty in forecasts and outlooks beyond that. The general trend is still toward moderate to heavy precipitation to our south and dry conditions from here northward. Temperatures are expected to be above average, although inversions are keeping temperatures in the valleys a little lower than had been anticipated a few days ago.
With most stream gages affected by ice, accurate estimates of natural stream flow are not possible on Fall River and Teton River. In the upper Henry’s Fork, natural flow over the first two weeks of December was 90% of average at Island Park and 89% of average for the whole subwatershed, measured at Ashton. Streamflow in the Buffalo River was 98% of average, although the gage record there is not as consistent as it as at other locations. In any case, natural flow—while much better than it was last year at this time—is still below average in the upper Henry’s Fork.
Together, the three reservoirs in the Henry’s Fork watershed are 88% full, compared with 75% full on average. The upper Snake River reservoir system is filling faster than average and is 61% full, compared with an average of 52% full for the day.
Dr. Rob Van Kirk
Senior Scientist
P.O. Box 550
Ashton, ID 83420
208-881-3407 CELL
Cold water temps slow fishing everywhere on the river. Access remains good, especially upstream from the Shelley-Firth area and flow is at normal seasonal amounts.
Below American Falls Dam access is not quite as good at certain locations thanks to some snow banks. The closer you get to the dam, access improves, but you will have more fishing company. River flow is around 300 cfs there. Streamers, woolly bugger types, and big rubber leg patterns seem to bring most success anywhere on the river. Fish these deep with either sink tip or full sink line.
That Saturday is too close to the Christmas holiday. The Saturday demos will resume in January, 2024.
That facial slice resulting from a Clearwater River client errant cast a few years back has healed, but Ken sports it as a mark of a “passionate steelheader”. Ken is our most renowned steelheader to the point that he has guided for these fabled fish on the Clearwater River via Clearwater River Company for years and has great experience on our Salmon River and other famed fisheries. He does all this during the Fall season but takes time to enjoy “steelies” on his own. In fact, after working for many fishing related businesses, he has retired to be able to fish when the urge beckons. During the off-season he returns to fly tying, not only for steelhead, but also for trout patterns. Having grown up in Swan Valley, the South Fork was on his doorstep. he began his fly fishing and fly ting there(Ken remembers fishing the South Fork before Palisades Dam was built). All this gives Ken a range of experience to be hired as a guide as well as a tier of patterns, including his own creations in demand for that river. Ken has demonstrated his fly tying skills at Jimmy’s, other area shops, the Eastern Idaho Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo, and other fly fishing shows around in the west. Generous, personable, and experienced to the extreme, Ken will be sharing his fly pattern ideas for steelhead and inland trout and how to present each during his demo.
Ice is five to six inches thick, so plenty safe for walking, skiing, etc. December is historically best month for ice fishing success, so about three or so more weeks for to enjoy at best level.