Unfortunately we will not offer fly tying and fly casting classes for the foreseeable future. The ongoing virus situation is the reason. When administration of vaccines reduces infections to a rate acceptable to State of Idaho health authorities to normal social conditions, we will resume these classes. We regret this announcement, but public safety comes first.
It looks like about 900 cfs coming out of Palisades Dam will be the basis for the South Fork maintenance flow through the winter. Resulting flow at Hesie will be around 1300 cfs and at Lorenzo around 600 cfs. Where roads and bank ice permit, there will be a good choice of walk-in wade fishing locations. Be aware that the South Fork River Road above Heise closes to motorized vehicle travel from Table Rock to Black Canyon on December 15th. This closure protects wintering wildlife.
Old Man Winter is knocking on our doors, and those “bluebird days” are getting rarer. Soon only the few hardiest of fly-fishers will be out on the water. Most of us are saying good-bye to ice in the guides, ice clogged reels, frigid winds, and chilled fingers. For many of us there could be a final trip to the river where it remains accessible or to one of the diminishing number of still waters remaining ice free. True, memories from the good times of the season past will sustain us until faded by events coming in the next season. We, of course, our lucky because Idaho Department of Fish and Game grants us the Catch and Release season on many streams and many still waters remain open even though for ice fishing. The only problem will be travel to many of these places will not be possible, so our where-to-go choice will be limited. But for those bidding adieu to the season, there remains some actions born out of prudence to prepare for either the upcoming Catch and Release or when the next general season begins. All this revolves around, cleaning, repairing, and even updating that equipment we all treasure.
Perhaps nothing in the fly-fishing equipment world suffers wear and tear like a fly line. It is always under some kind of stress when in motion. Any loop whether formed during casting or drifting applies a differential stress on a line. The best action here is to unload the line and inspect it for surface breaks that eventually will expose the core or for areas of exposed core. Either one signals it is time to buy a new line. After inspection it is time to clean the line. Immersion in a warm water-detergent mixture to loosen grime deposits works, then a wipe dry with a soft fabric towel under gentle pressure from index finger and thumb works. After drying I like to lubricate with a product such as Mucilin before storage.
Fly line backing also suffers wet-dry cycles, so it is a good idea to inspect it for damage. If you are lucky enough to tackle a number fish that get into your backing, a cleaning with that detergent-warm water mixture then drying before storage is a good idea.
For cleaning that reel an old tooth brush to apply the detergent-warm water mixture followed up with lubrication works. Nothing, however, works as well as an ultrasonic cleaning. Jewelers use these as a standard for cleaning all kind of jewelry. Ask your jeweler friend to immerse your reel and separated spool in the cleaner tank and turn the cleaner on. If the jeweler allows you to watch it in action, you will be amazed to see the dirt literally flying off these into the tank’s water. After a minute or so the immersed equipment will be totally cleaned of a seasonal accumulation of grease and grime. By the way, ultra sonic cleaning also works great for cleaning lines.
Leaders and tippets should be replaced at the end of the season. They suffer the same differential stress as the line and “wind knots” are a death knell to any leader or tippet.
No one wants leaking waders regardless of the season. Inspection after any use is always a good practice for nipping emerging damage at the bud. But if significant repairs are needed, now is the best time to send them to the manufacturer for doing such.
At the end of a season the contents of that fly box can be mixed up. So complete drying of each then reorganizing or placing in storage is the next step. But while doing either of these, have that nearby tea kettle going in a steaming mode. Using tweezers, place any fly with disorganized hackle in the out-coming steam jet. Hackles will jump back into position. Allow the steamed flies to dry thoroughly, then move to storage.
Sad as it is, these actions signal a general season coming to an end. But they also are prudent for beginning the next begin season with minimum equipment failures.
Any stream with a reservoir is seeing flows cut back to begin storage for the next agricultural season. For example, the flow out of Blackfoot River Reservoir is reduced to 73 cfs, out of Henry’s Lake reduced to 3 cfs, out of Mackay Reservoir reduced to 57 cfs. Of course the problem with fishing many small waters now is getting there. Maintenance on many back country roads has or will soon cease, and there will be times when highways will offer difficult passage. All this means less information coming into the shop with respect to fishing, so look for our fishing reports being reduced accordingly.
Flow out of Palisades Dam was dropped to 938 cfs yesterday ( now 1510 cfs at Heise, 1250 cfs at Lorenzo). Let’s hope it goes no lower.
Water flow in the river has been stable (about 1300 cfs at Irwin) for almost two weeks. BWOs remain active, and rubber legs and streamer patterns will produce especially under low light conditions. But winter is coming, and next week looks like ice in the guides and reels and chilled fingers expected. Is it time to clean up the gear and store it for next year? Not quite. There will be some “half decent” weather as we move through November with decreasing BWO activity and more reliance on nymph and streamer patterns for fishing success. So enjoy the remnant of our season, and what ever you do: don’t go for a dunking!
Henry’s Lake is iced over, and Sand Creek Ponds are iced over. More still waters will be doing the same soon ( especially this coming weekend). So break out your ice fishing gear!
IDF&G stocking records indicate 42000 to 60000 rainbow releases in American Falls and Blackfoot River Reservoir respectively. Crystal Springs and McTucker pond have been stocked with hundreds of the same with supporting stockings coming up very soon. Ice fishing season is coming up. It’s already here on Henry’s Lake.
Flow out of Palisades Dam was dropped to 1340 cfs (now 1740 cfs at Heise, 660 cfs at Lorenzo) on Thursday making walk-in fishing locations more numerous. We can help with information on which are the best. Get in touch if you are considering a visit one one. Try fishing nymph patterns (with and without a bead) off drop offs, rubberlegs in a bit deeper water. End the day, as cover increases, offering streamer patterns at the top of pools and runs, and in side channels with moderate currents. BWOs remain present, but hatches are decreased in number during these bright fall days.
Do you want to make a trip to fish park waters somewhere? Better hurry: Tomorrow is the last day of the 2020 park fishing season.