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.
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.
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.
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:
Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
P.O. Box 550
Ashton, ID 83420
208-881-3407 CELL
208-652-3568 FAX
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.
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.
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.