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..
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 .
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.
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.
Flow out of Mackay Dam has been reduced to about 170 cfs. This makes for safe wading in the river below. Early AM tricos will be of major interest to trout until about noon. After that time, be ready switch to terrestrial insect and caddis fly life cycle patterns.
Flow has been near historic levels ( 9350 cfs at Irwin, 9280 cfs at Heise, and 4880 cfs at Lorenzo) and steady. No real change since our last fishing report except that thunder shower increase relative humidity in air giving aquatic insect a more suitable atmosphere for emerging. So keep presenting such as PMD and caddis fly life cycle and mutant golden stonefly patterns along with those for hoppers, beetles and ants.
Some of the best small stream action is during afternoons on Big Elk Creek when western green drakes emerge. You will see other fly fishers there, but no plastic canoes! Palisades Creek also offers good fly fishing. Nowhere as many PM western green drakes are present, but terrestrial insects and caddis flies abound. A renegade pattern in sizes 12-14 is very reliable for action here.
No significant changes since our last report. Even flow and water quality remain the same.
Terrestrial insect patterns are the best bet for action almost everywhere on the river during daytime hours.
Headlines from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s water report submitted yesterday for the Henry’s Fork drainage follow.
Headlines:
Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
P.O. Box 550
Ashton, ID 83420
208-881-3407 CELL
208-652-3568 FAX
AM tricos are beginning to appear on Fall River Basin streams. So a good strategy is to break out those size 18-22 emerger patterns for use until late morning. At that time trico activity winds down rather quickly, so switch to presenting terrestrial insect patterns of choice. Include traditional humpies in these; they make excellent horse fly and deer fly imitations.
Berry season remains in Fall River Basin forested areas, and the scent of huckleberries and low bush blue berries is in many locations. It is a strong signal to be “bear aware!”