Fishing Reports

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.

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

Henry’s Fork, June 19th, 2021

The famed hatches are ongoing on the Last Chance-Harriman section of the river. PMD,early flav, and green drake life cycle patterns are best with rusty spinner and caddis life cycle patterns also effective In Box Canyon where some golden stone flies remain. Crowds of fly fishers from all corners of the earth are present and so are etiquette varieties. If you intend to fish the Henry’s Fork, crowds on the lower river have thinned considerably above and below Ashton Dam and the hatches ongoing from the upper river are present and will be until the river warms up (from Ashton Dam to Chester). We have no word on the presence of a significant gray drake hatch here. Because of Henry’s Lake water management actions this spring, flow out of the lake has been meager ( about 20 cfs). This results in fewer fish escaping into the stream below. So fishing in the Flat Ranch section will just be OK.