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Fishing Reports

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / Fishing Reports (Page 39)

Yellowstone National Park, September 3rd, 2022

Slough Creek, Second Meadow Above the Campground

Here is a suggestion that applies to fishing all Park streams: presenting terrestrial insect patters is a must. Only exception is the Firehole River whose waters have yet to cool to the point where fish caught an released have a great chance of surviving this ordeal.

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South Fork, September 3rd, 2022

Those recent small increases in flow out of Palisades Reservoir are meant to add water to the relatively depleted American Falls Reservoir. This action should not impact fishing. When weather begins to cool, look for BWOs and mahogany duns to become active.

No significant change with respect to fishing strategy since our last report. Mutant golden stones provide the best early-in-the-day fishing. Later in the day, PMDs, caddis and terrestrial insect activities provide the action. Be aware that as diversions remove water from the lower river, fish there become less active than above.

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Henry’s Lake, August 30th, 2022

Best fishing remains reduced to creek mouths and around submerged springs. Be at such locations as in front of Duck, Hope, Howard and Targhee Creeks at first light, and expect company. Same with in front of Staley Springs. Decreasing daylight hours and the sun tracking lower in the sky means the lake will begin to cool and fish will soon begin distributing around it.

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Henry’s Fork, August 30th, 2022

Be ready with terrestrial insect patterns anywhere on the river. Honey, also called cinnamon, ants are showing up along the upper river, and the trout love them.

Below are Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s status report headlines for the Henry’s Fork drainage.as of yesterday.

Headlines:  

  • Yesterday’s low temperature was the coolest since June 30, but the daily mean was average for the date.
  • At 72% of average, natural flow over the past week is 2nd lowest on record, just ahead of 2016. No drought relief is in sight, as very hot, dry weather is expected for the next two weeks.
  • Island Park Reservoir is dropping at around 800 ac-ft/day and is 54% full, compared with 50% full on average.
  • Water quality: : Afternoon high water temperatures were a little higher yesterday than on Sunday at most locations due to warmer weather. However, water temperatures stayed below 68 degrees at all locations. I expect afternoon high water temperatures to climb back up to 70 degrees or higher over the next few days at Pinehaven and St. Anthony. Water temperatures at all other locations will likely stay below 70 degrees due to shorter days and lower sun angle. In particular, the reach between Warm River and Ashton is shaded much of the day now and will not absorb nearly as much solar radiation as the reaches upstream of Pinehaven and St. Anthony.Water quality was good yesterday across the watershed, but afternoon water temperatures are likely to reach 70 degrees again at the warmest locations.

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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South Fork, August 27th, 2022

Mutant golden stoneflies are going strong making for good early in the day fishing. Hopper ( try hopper-dropper set-ups presented close to well vegetated banks) and other terrestrial insects produce great fishing anywhere as soon as air temps warm up, and riffles offer good fishing as PMD and caddis become active. Flows of cool, clear water are near normal throughout with a bit of warming in the lower river because of irrigation diversion. Week-end recreational floaters are most numerous during mid day hours. They primarily populate the river on certain stretches including from the dam to Conant and on the lower river above all irrigation diversions.

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Big Lost River, August 27th, 2022

Flow out of Mackay Dam has been raised to 260 cfs. This increase will make wading the river below a bit tougher, but terrestrial insect and caddis life cycle patterns during mid-day and PM hours are still effective as are trico life cycle patterns in the AM.

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Still Waters, August 27th, 2022

With near surface water temperatures in most irrigation reservoirs (i.e. Chesterfield, Daniels, Springfield, Treasureton, Twenty-Four Mile) above 70 0 degrees F. , it is no wonder fish are hanging deep. As daylight hours decrease and nights cool, near surface water surface temperatures will soon be on the rise and so will fish..

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Small Streams, August 27th, 2022

It is kokanee run-up season on Big Elk Creek and many folks are trying to catch them . Most are doing it using legal methods; some are not. IDF&G is present in plain clothes, so if you see any illegal methods being practiced, try to get information to pass on to them, Kokanee will not interfere with cutthroat trout responding to western green drakes emerging higher up on the creek.

Bear and Palisades Creeks in the same area are fishing well with cutthroat responding to drifting terrestrial insect traditional attractor, and caddis life cycle patterns.

The Teton River in the basin offers good fishing for those presenting caddis and PMD life cycle terrestrial insect and traditional attractor patterns. The weekend “plastic hatch” can be overwhelming during mid-day hours, but is diminished during mornings and evenings. Fishing in canyon waters is slower during daytime hours when high air temperatures predominate.

Bitch Creek upstream of State Highway 32

Consider trying Bitch Creek: it is less visited by anglers and recreational floaters are few. There is access above State Highway 32. Yellowstone cutthroat trout predominate in the clear, cool water and they go after terrestrial insect, traditional attractor, and caddis life cycle patterns .

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Henry’s Fork, August 20th, 2022

The number of recreational floaters is increasing on every section of the river. Weekends bring these folks out “en masse” at certain locations They can cause particular problems at boat launch sites because they have yet to develop an etiquette protocol, so be understanding at these locations and on the stream. When reasonable recreationists are encountered, try explaining to them the bases for developed launching and debarking manners as well as for keeping polite distances away from active anglers. These folks, too, have a right to enjoy the river, but they also have an obligation to others to do so in a considerate manner.

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Southwest Montana, August 20th, 2022

Since the end of July Hoot Owl restrictions ( no fishing from 2 AM to Midnight) have applied to several streams nearby. These include;

Big Hole, Bitterroot, Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison, Ruby and Yellowstone Rivers. See the full list of restricted streams and details on the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park web site’s section on fishing restrictions.

Hebgen Lake’s Madison Arm is the place to be during wind-free periods which bring good gulper action. Gulpers can be found on other nearby lakes under these conditions.

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