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Fishing Reports

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / Fishing Reports (Page 32)

Saturday, March 4th Fly Tying Demo Features Doug Gibson

Doug is a respected figure in eastern Idaho fly tying and fly-fishing circles. A native of Newdale, Idaho, Doug has been tying and guiding professionally for about 50 years.  Forty of those years have been with Three Rivers Ranch and two with Vern Bressler’s River Meadows Ranch. Such experience has made him authority on fishing the Henry’s Fork drainage.  The list of concerns that Doug has tied for is also impressive: Bud Lilly’s Trout Shop, Dave Cochran’s River’s Edge, House of Harrop, Hunter’s, Orvis Alaska, Orvis, Deep Water Key, and ongoing at Three River’s Ranch.  Whether it is for the Henry’s Fork, the Teton River or lesser known but quality waters such as Fall River, Bitch and Robinson Creeks, Doug has a depth of fishing experience for each.  Through gaining this experience he has created effective patterns for every occasion.  He also knows where and when traditional patterns are effective in the region. Being generous and knowledgeable, look for Doug to share not only tying tips, but also presentation ideas for the flies on which he will focus.


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South Fork, December 24th, 2023

It looks like the US Bureau of Reclamation is keeping their word of about 900 cfs coming out of Palisades dam as a winter maintenance flow. The Irwin gage is not ice up, nor is the Heise gage ( about 1200 cfs), but the Lorenzo gage currently is. It’s a tough time for salmonids in the river, so any flow increase would be to their benefit. Merry Christmas and happy new year to you all and to those trout that the river hosts.

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Henry’s Fork, December 20th, 2022

Here are details from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s SWE report this AM for the Henry’s Fork drainage.

Note the waning he gives for weather conditions the next several days.

Mean temperature yesterday was 5 degrees F below average. Only very light precipitation was recorded, dropping the water-year total to 109% of average and snow water equivalent (SWE) to 117% of average. The latest precipitation forecasts are a little wetter than yesterday’s, now calling for up to 2 inches of water equivalent along the Teton crest from today through next Monday. Potentially heavy snow remains possible early next week.

In the meantime–for those who live or are considering traveling here over the next few days–an extremely strong cold front is expected to pass through the area tonight and early tomorrow morning, bringing 40+ mph winds and widespread blowing snow. Following the front, temperatures will drop well below zero on Thursday morning. If forecasts hold, the upcoming cold temperatures will be the lowest we have seen since December 2016. Travel is not advised and will not even be possible in some places tomorrow and Thursday.

Where stream gages are still reporting, natural flow is still in the 70-75% of average range, where it has been since September.

At an average outflow of 193 cfs, Island Park gained 309 ac-ft yesterday, staying well ahead of the fill rate needed to meet the reservoir volume target at ice-off, which occurs in late April on average. The reservoir is 68% full, only 376 ac-ft below average.

Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

Henry’s Fork Foundation

P.O. Box 550

Ashton, ID 83420

208-881-3407 CELL

208-652-3568 FAX

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Today at Jimmy’s, December 13th, 2022

All Seasons Angler Saturday Fly Tying Demos Resume

 

We suspended these for three years because of the Covid virus. The good news is that the outbreak has peaked. Here is more good news: the demos will resume beginning on Saturday, January 7th, 2023 and run through Saturdays to March 4th.  Each begins at 10 AM and continues indefinitely.  The featured demonstrating tier will present patterns proven to be effective on area waters and will answer questions on how, where and when usage, and offer tying information.  Demonstrating tier bios will be published on the shop web site, www.jimmysflyshop.com, days before each demo is offered. A roster of demonstrating tiers is being developed.

Attendees wish to focus on demonstrating tier actions, but spontaneous conversations develop between some attendees. We ask that if these conversations become extensive, those involved move outside the demo area.  We suggest bringing notebooks to capture information provided by a demonstrating tier.

 Masks are optional.

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Henry’s Fork, December 13th, 2022

Here is some great news from Rob Van Kirk’s Monday, December, 12th Henry’s Fork drainage SWE (snow-water equivalent) report.

Headlines:

  • Precipitation over the past three days increased the water-year total to 124% of average and SWE to 145% of average.
  • Since outflow from Island Park Reservoir was increased last Thursday, the reservoir has gained 344 ac-ft/day and is 64% full, compared with 65% full on average.

Details:

Precipitation over the past three days ranged from 0.04 inch at Alta to 1.3 inches at Grassy Lake and averaged 0.62 inch for the watershed. That increased water-year precipitation to date to 124% of average and snow water equivalent (SWE) to 145% of average for the date. SWE at all SnoTel stations is in the top one-third of water years since 1989. Generally wet, cold weather is forecast for the foreseeable future.

Since outflow from Island Park Dam was increased to around 195 cfs last Thursday, the reservoir has gained an average of 344 ac-ft/day. Around 75 ac-ft of that has been due to direct precipitation on the reservoir surface. The reservoir is 64% full and within 900 ac-ft of average for the date.

Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

Henry’s Fork Foundation

P.O. Box 550

Ashton, ID 83420

208-881-3407 CELL

208-652-3568 FAX

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Main Stem Snake River, November 21st, 2022

With low flow (about 300 cfs) and therefore several access locations, the river below American Falls Dam is likely the most convenient water to fish these days. Many still waters are now iced over and ice not only rims shorelines but drifts in other regional rivers. Presenting streamer patterns and woolly bugger types gives the best chances to encounter the large rainbow and brown trout residing in water below the dam.

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South Fork, November 8th, 2022

We are at the winter maintenance flow out of Palisades Reservoir; around 900 cfs, Flow is slightly better downstream after most tributaries enter: around 1100 cfs from Heise on down. Look for these flows to remain much the same through the winter and on to irrigation season beginning. As much water as possible from run-off will be captured in Palisades Reservoir.

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Henry’s Fork, November 8th, 2022

Looks like skis or snowshoes are now standard equipment for fishing much of the Henry’s Fork

Headlines:  from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Henry’s Fork drainage snow-water analysis report of today.

  • Precipitation averaged 0.77 inch across the watershed yesterday, favoring the Ashton/Fall River area.
  • New SWE ranged from 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches; the watershed total is over two times average for the date.
  •  At an outflow of 128 cfs, Island Park Reservoir gained 717 ac-ft yesterday and is 55% full, compared with 57% full on average.

Details:

Precipitation yesterday materialized as forecast. Station totals ranged from 0.33 inch at Rexburg to 1.4 inches at Black Bear SnoTel. The heaviest amounts fell in the Ashton/Fall River area. The watershed average was 0.77 inch, increasing the water-year total to 137% of average. All SnoTel stations received new snow water equivalent. Current SWE is the highest for the date in the 1989-2022 record at Lewis Lake Divide, Pine Creek Pass, and Island Park. Watershed total SWE is over two times the average for the date. An additional 0.25-1 inch of water equivalent is expected over the next two days, before cold, dry weather settles in later in the week.

Natural flow increased yesterday in response to a rain/snow mix early in the day and was 81% of average yesterday.

At an average outflow of 128 cfs, Island Park Reservoir gained 717 ac-ft yesterday, 200 of which was from direct precipitation on the reservoir surface. The reservoir is 55% full, compared with 57% full on average.

Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

Henry’s Fork Foundation

P.O. Box 550

Ashton, ID 83420

208-881-3407 CELL

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South Fork, November 4th, 2022

Flow out of Palisades Reservoir is now 938 cfs (1150, cfs at Heise, 1190 cfs at Lorenzo) on its way down to river winter maintenance flow of 900 cfs.

Please avoid disturbing and fishing through brown trout redds being established up and down the river. These are in the process of making the future brown trout population which we will enjoy!

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