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Fishing Reports

Jimmy's All Seasons Angler / Fishing Reports (Page 66)

Small Streams, June 26th, 2021

A similar thing is happening on these waters as is happening on our still waters. Many small streams have dropped to near base flow. For example, run-off water has pretty much left the Teton River drainage and flow (356 cfs near Leigh Creek in the basin) is at mid-summer amounts throughout the river. Consider that now is a dangerous time in the canyon because of the rattlesnake populatarion being active.

Streams with near seasonal water flows are become rare. Warm River below the springs is an exception and is worth a try. Caddis flies make up the bulk of aquatic insect available to trout.here PMDs, sallys, and a few golden stones are also present.

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South Fork, June 26, 2021

Flow out of Palisades Dam has been steady for several days (1370 0cfs at Irwin, 14000 cfs, at Heise, 6690 cfs at Lorenzo), and water is cold and clear. Pretty much the same is happening as in our 6/21 report, but we are moving closer to the big stone fly hatch producing more significant numbers and moving up the river. A few big stone flies have been spotted on the lower river and as with all season to date rubber leg patterns work well especially now the big nymphs migrating towards banks. A few green drakes remain and caddis are present in numbers to make afternoon top water fishingOK. Nymphs and dry dropper combinations produce along drop-offs.

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Still Waters, June 26th, 2021

Reports we have from all irrigation reservoirs to the southeast say that draw down has started and water within each is warming. Fish are moving to deep water in these and have generally become less active. Daniels Reservoir is perhaps the best to try of these because of its limited draw down. Midge pupa patterns presented at the taking depth, small leech and damsel fly nymph patterns should produce the best results.

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Henry’s Fork, June 26th, 2021

Flow out of Island Park Reservoir was raised to 1230 cfs on June 19th. This is 50% above mean flow (800 cfs) for this time of year, and it has put a “:crimp” in the dry fly fishing downstream to Pinehaven. The green drakes, PMDs, caddis and other aquatic insect are still there and so are the fish. But with increased flow, less effort is required by fish through staying near the bottom and picking off food items freed up by the increased flow. This suggests that presenting nymphs and wet flies may be a good option as is proving to be the case in Box Canyon.

Plenty of fly fishers remain on the lower river whether boating or wading. A few drakes and golden stones and PMDs remain there. With some flavs and caddis they provide top water action. The best way to minimize crowding is to fish during evening hours. Be aware, however, that the river below Ashton Dam will begin to warm as we get into July. This will means early AM and evenings will be the best times for fishing success.

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Henry’s Fork, June 22nd, 2021

Flow out of Island Park Dam increased from about 800 cfs a few days ago to 1200 cfs yesterday. All insect hatches are ongoing. Trout (and whitefish) are responding resulting in good top water fishing. As is common this time of the season plenty of fly fishers are trying their skills from Box Canyon to Pine Haven and recreationists are present . So be patient and courteous. Fewer visitors are on the lower river and fishing whether through wading or boating remains good with flavs, PMDs, caddis and a remnant of golden stones and green drakes present. A significant appearance of grey drakes has not happened.

Henry’s Fork, June 22nd, 2021

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South Fork, June 22nd, 2021

Yellow Sallys, green drakes, PMDs, midges and caddis dominate hatching aquatic insects available to feeding fish now. Exactly which ones fish are feeding on depends on river location. Flow throughout the river remains at near mean levels for this time of year. Warm weather should speed up what most fly fishers are waiting for: the giant stone fly event.

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Small Streams, June 22nd, 2021

You’d Better Hurry! This suggestion applies to fishing nearly all small streams in our area and will soon include Teton River drainage waters as run-off there recedes. Because of lower snow accumulation in nearly all water sheds, small streams will soon drop to base level and trout will begin to move to deeper, cooler water or out to bigger waters. Flow in Fall River remains low because of diversion for irrigation. Exceptions will be such as Palisades Creek where underground flow from lakes keeps water level up and in spring-fed streams such as Big Elk and Birch Creeks and Teton River..

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Big Lost River, June 22nd, 2021

Flow out of Mackay Dam is a bit above 300 cfs. Wading with caution here can be done. Try streamer and caddis and PMD life cycle patterns. It is likely that the reservoir above will undergo significant draw-down to satisfy downstream irrigation demands. That means flows in the river below could remain at this level for weeks to come. Also expect fly fishing company from the Ketchum-Sun Valley area because of less than good current fishing conditions in the Big Wood River system. This will be particularly the case along the river above Mackay Reservoir and in Copper Basin.

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Yellowstone Park, June 22nd, 2021

Shoshone and Lewis Lakes and the the river channel between are open and producing. The best strategy for fishing the meadow parts of the channel is through presenting streamer patterns. Browns are the main trout here with some juvenile lake trout, and a very rare brookie. A few giant and golden stone flies are emerging from the channel’s upstream waters and will attract resident trout. Towards the end of the month and the first of July green drakes will emerge from the channel’s meadow area and also from the Lewis River in the meadow below Lewis Lake. It is tough to catch fish from the Shoshone Lake shoreline through casting almost any fly pattern. Streamers and leech patterns can work, but a good day would be hooking up with one or two fish, and doing the same from the Yellowstone Lake shoreline produces similar results as its cutthroat trout population is in a recovery mode and lake rout move to depth. By far the best way to have great fishing in Shoshone Lake is to pack a flotation device down the DeLacey Creek Trail and launch into the lake to find weed beds. Fishing from a hard-sided boat portaged through the channel also works. Juvenile lake trout and brown trout to trophy size hang around weed beds to forage leeches and scuds. The weed beds are in relatively shallow water and usually visible as dark patches in the lighter colored bottom. A full sink line is best for presenting patterns of these.

Other waters in the park are beginning to offer good fishing. Fall River Basin streams are in dry fly condition, but because of low snowfall in our previous winter will drop to base level and warm very soon. The same will happen with Lamar River drainage streams in the Park’s northeast corner. The Firehole River is beginning to warm to levels where trout will become less responsive to fly fishing. Gibbon River below the Falls produces with small streamer patterns and caddis fly and PMD life cycle patterns.The Madison River below has fish responding to PMD and caddis fly life cycle patterns. Streamer fishing is becoming less effective here as most spring spawning rainbows have returned to Hebgen Lake.

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