Only change is a small increase in flow out of Palisades Dam on June 15th. This will not impact fishing which has best results through using such as rubber legs, woolly bugger types and streamer patterns. Anchoring a boat to fish these types deep just below Palisades Dam could be productive.
Pauls Reservoir
Let’s take a look at some small still waters in the area because many host some surprising trout. For example, both Snow Creek Pond and the Harriman Fish Pond host large holdover rainbow trout. Horseshoe Lake offers grayling, and Pauls Reservoir offers active cutthroat trout. Other than holdover trout, most of the hosted salmonids are small with a few ranging to moderate size. But being easily approached they are ideal for novices, the physically challenged, seniors, or just plain solitude. Closer to home and again ideal for a wide range off abilities the two Rider Park ponds off Sunnyside Road and Gem Lake can be considered. For youngsters, the Rexburg Kids and the Victor Kids ponds are safe and easily approached and annually stocked with catchable trout.
Nearly all Caribou-Targhee National forest roads are open. The Bear Creek road is the big exception. It could remain so for at least weeks. However most streams are high with run-off, meaning best fishing is ahead of us. Birch Creek is an exception and offers good fishing especially above Lone Pine where the Sorenson family has a public fishing area. It is an ideal place to take a youngster for introducing fly fishing. Small, but aggressive brook and rainbow trout inhabit the stream. Safe and easily approached, small wet flies work best, but when insect become active, top water fishing can be very good. Try dry and wet traditional patterns. All this applies also to Little Warm River, that reach above Warm River Spring where brook trout quickly respond to any small fly offered..
Today there are more folks on the upper river than in the rest of Fremont County. Look at the attached photo to see anticipation camps on the river below Osborn Bridge.Today is also the last of the Henry’s Fork Foundation Henry’s Fork Days event sited at Last Chance. Harriman State Park opened to fly fishing a few days ago, and green drakes should begin hatching in numbers soon. If you are looking for them, they are most active on cool days having higher air relative humidity. Seems like we have had a lot of those days lately! They are getting going on the lower river along with golden stones and caddis and the number of anglers are less than on the river above.
The Ashton Flagg Road remains closed east of Calf Creek Hill. This closes access to Fall River and Beula Lake from the west. It does the same for Lake of the Woods and Grassy Lake Reservoir from the west. The Cave Falls road is open, but Fall River Basins streams remain high and discolored with run-off. Shoshone and Lewis Lakes are open and in fishing condition. Boating is best way to encounter resident brown and Lake trout. Look for submerged weed beds and use full sink lines too present leech, scud and jig pattern to depth. You can also have good fishing on Shoshone Lake by packing a flotation device three miles down the DeLacy Creek trail to Shoshone Lake,
The Firehole River still offers the best stream fishing in the park. PMD, BWO life cycle patterns bring action. The same for white miller and yellow sally patterns. Swing soft hackle patterns for action.
Palisades Reservoir is nearly full, and it appears that upstream run-off has peaked. So flow below the dam has been reduced (now 12000 cfs at Irwin,12900 cfs at Heise an about 6000 cfs at Lorenzo). These are about the same as summertime flows and are likely to stay close to these levels until the end of irrigation season. However water needs to warm some for major inset hatches to begin.
Now is a good time for boating fly fishers to review boat ramp and on-the-stream diplomacies which will be needed for the upcoming season.
Mackay Reservoir is being emptied enough to catch high runoff from upstream drainage. About 1700 cfs coming into the river below. This makes for some flooding, dangerous access, let alone difficult fishing.
Spotty fishing at best. Lake is full with over 150 cfs coming out of dam and into the outlet.
Flow out of Palisades Reservoir ( about 85% full ) was reduce slightly ( now 12800 cfs, 1500 cfs at Heise, 6540 at Lorenzo). River still a bit high and with some discolor. Rubber legs, annelid patterns and streamers might work in calmer waters. Only midges emerging.
Daniels Reservoir
The Kelley-Toponce road will remain closed a bit longer limiting direct access to Chesterfield Reservoir facilities. Fishing is improving at Daniels Reservoir with midge pupa patterns under an indicator and small woolly bugger patterns being effective. Any day now damsel flies will be appearing in increasing numbers.Try slow trolling small black leech patterns using an intermediate line. Crowds are increasing, especially the nonresident component. All this applies to Hawkins Reservoir. We have no information on Twenty-four Mile Reservoir.