Top

Fishing Reports

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / Fishing Reports (Page 60)

Still Waters, August 28th, 2021

Horseshoe Lake

IDF&G has placed a salvage regulation on Condie and Winder Reservoirs. Let’s hope that more such regulations are not upcoming. Some of the fastest still water fishing can be had at Horseshoe Lake, Sand Creek Ponds and Paul’s Reservoir. Horseshoe features rainbow and some grayling, Sand Creek features rainbows and Paul’s features cutthroat. In general the fish are not large, but they provide action. Try speckled dun life cycle, small leech and damselfly nymph patterns.

Share

South Fork, August 28th, 2021

In the last week flow out of Palisades Dam has dropped from around 14000 cfs to just under 9000 cfs, ( now 10000 cfs at Heise, 5320 cfs at Lorenzo). These flow rates are at historic amounts for the river at this date and make walk-in fishing safer and open up more locations for doing so. Mutant golden stones are active early in the AM, then their activity ceases by mid day. Add fishing such as parachute adams or purple haze ( #16) blind to the list of currently effective patterns for the river

Share

Henry’s Fork, August 24th, 2021

Not much change from our last report. AM trico, and may fly spinner patterns early, then switch to terrestrial insect and caddis patterns later in the day.

Here are excerpts from Rob Van Kirk’s Henry;s Fork Drainage status report published today.

Headlines:  

  • Temperatures returned to average yesterday, and water-year precipitation stayed at 82% of average.
  • Diversion continued to decrease yesterday, while natural flow stayed roughly constant.
  • At an outflow of 400 cfs, Island Park Reservoir gained around 40 ac-ft yesterday and remains 43% full, compared with 53% full on average and 20% full in 2016.

Details:

Temperatures returned to average yesterday, as both the daily maximum and daily average were the highest since last Tuesday. A little residual precipitation that fell after midnight on Monday morning was recorded, leaving water-year total precipitation at 82% of average. Since August 1, the one-year cumulative moisture availability in the agricultural regions of the watershed has improved by 4 inches, although it is still 7 inches below average. The improvement made up for a large decrease in this metric during the month of June, which was the hottest and driest June in the 1989-2021 record. Three-year average watershed-wide precipitation improved by around 1 inch but is 2 inches below average. Dry conditions and near- to below-average temperatures are forecast for the next week or two.

Diversion continued to drop yesterday, while natural flow stayed roughly constant for the watershed as a whole, dropping a little on Fall River and the Henry’s Fork and increasing a little on the Teton River. Diversion is 66% of average for the date and 94% of average cumulatively for the irrigation year so far. Natural flow is 79% of average for the date and 77% cumulatively for the water year. Streamflow in the lower Henry’s Fork dropped by around 200 cfs yesterday but has been stable so far today at around 160 cfs above the target flow. I expect diversion to remain fairly close to its current level for a few more days, while natural flow will recede now that the peak generated by Saturday’s rain has made its way through the lower Teton River.

At an outflow of around 400 cfs, Island Park Reservoir gained 38 ac-ft yesterday and is 43% full, compared with 53% full on average and 20% full in 2016. The USGS gage at Island Park remains accurate based on the rating adjustment on August 12, as no large changes in aquatic vegetation growth are apparent. We will measure outflow again on Friday to quantify any gage shift one way or the other that has occurred since last Friday. Barring substantial change in diversion, no increase in outflow from Island Park Reservoir will be needed in the next few days to accommodate streamflow recession in the lower watershed.

Water temperatures have fallen to their lowest values in over two months and were within the optimal range for trout yesterday at all locations downstream of Island Park Dam. Water temperatures upstream of the reservoir have been a little colder than optimal over the past few days—this isn’t a stressful situation for trout but just means that they won’t grow as fast as they would in warmer water. Turbidity at Island Park Dam has stabilized since last Friday’s flow transfer to the power plant and is slightly above average at the dam and at Pinehaven.  

Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

Henry’s Fork Foundation

P.O. Box 550

Ashton, ID 83420

208-652-3567 OFFICE

208-881-3407 CELL

208-652-3568 FAX

Share

Small Streams, August 24th, 2021

Two of the best small streams to try during this low water year are Big Elk and Palisades Creek. Big Elk features a PM western green drake emergence to compliment fish rising to terrestrial insect patterns that time of day. Spawning kokanee are now in the creek but do not impact cutthroat trout from feeding. You may encounter an IDF&G conservation officer asking to see your terminal gear because of illegal snagging activities ongoing for the kokanee. Input from numerous springs keep the creek at good water temps for trout activity. Palisades Creek, brushy in places, features trout rising to caddis, terrestrial insect and traditional attractor patterns. Subsurface input from Upper and Lower Palisades Lakes keeps water temps at levels good for trout activity. Both creeks are paralleled by well maintained trails.

Warm River below the spring is another good small stream choice this time of year. AM tricos, later in the day caddis life cycle and traditional attractor patterns bring fish to respond anywhere on the river below the spring. The best chance for solitude on the river can be found by walking down the railroad grade crossing from the Warm River Spring Road. Brook, brown and rainbow trout populate the river.

Share

South Fork, August 24th, 2021

Flow out of Palisades Dam was reduced to 10800 cfs (now11700 cfs at Heise, 6940 cfs at Lorenzo. ) yesterday. This brings the river closer to safer walk-in wading conditions where normal flow out of the dam for this date is about 8800 cfs. Fish the river early in the day to enjoy the mutant golden stone activity. Otherwise terrestrial insect patterns with and without a bead head nymph dropper seems to work well up and down the river. Later in the day,switch to caddis life cycle patterns and also enjoy the reduced boat traffic during evening hours..

Share

Southwest Montana, August 24th, 2021

Montana FWP has lifted all Hoot Owl Restrictions excepting those on the Shields and Big Hole Rivers. Red Rock Creek also remains closed to fishing. Because of declining brown trout populations, Montana FWP is strongly considering placing catch and release and single hook flies and lure regulations on both the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers. Gulper fishing on Hebgen Lake is winding down, but such action be enjoyed, albeit on a smaller scale on Wade and Cliff Lakes. With hoot owl restrictions lifted on the Madison River, look for the return of numerous anglers. Presenting terrestrial insect and caddis life cycle patterns will bring fishing success. . Because of mop-up activity of the Goose Creek fire, the closure to the public access above the Elk Lake Resort remains in effect for the north end of Elk Lake as well as Hidden, goose and Otter Lakes.

Share

South Fork, August 21st, 2021

Flow has remained consistent for several days ( 13800 cfs at Irwin, 14500 cfs at Heise, 9580 cfs at Lorenzo ). Normal flow at Irwin for this date is about 8700 cfs. Palisades Reservoir is at 39% of capacity and not filling as fast as outflow. Mutant golden stone flies are out, and that decides using their life cycle patterns for early in the day, Hopper-dropper patterns remain effective, while caddis fly life cycle patterns work best later in the day

Share

Yellowstone Park, August 21st, 2021

Fall River in Yellowstone Park. Note the lack of crowds

The park discontinued its hoot owl closure on all streams yesterday. Most streams, other than the Firehole River, have cooled enough that water temperatures are no longer in the lethal range to trout that have been stressed for a variety of reasons. Walk-in locations on northeast corner streams ( Lamar, Slough, Soda Butte) are very crowded. Fall River Basin streams ( Bechler and Fall Rivers, Boundary and Mountain Ash Creeks) in the southwest corner of the park are seeing much fewer visits. Whichever streams you try, terrestrial insect patterns currently rule the roost for finding success.

Share

Henry’s Lake, August 17th, 2021

We have heard very little on fishing success at Henry’s Lake. Reading between the lines, we would hear success stories if fishing were good. Unusually warm water is a major reason for slow fishing here. . Nevertheless, if giving it a try comes about, try creek mouths and spring holes early in the AM and use standard patterns recommended for this time of the season.

Share