Henry’s Fork

Henry’s Fork 10-28-17

Brown trout are moving on the lower river.  So anywhere from Warm River on down, presenting streamers is the name of the game for encountering them.  Patterns featuring shades of yellow, chartreuse, or orange seem to be particularly attractive to browns in a migrating mode. There are no brown trout in Box Canyon and “the Tubs”, but presenting streamers to big resident rainbows  works as well as doing the same for browns on the lower river.    Pitching streamers is not your game? The Henry’s Fork obliges by offering BWO activity in most locations on the lower river and many on the river above.  Afternoons having overcast skies (even with rain or snow) and minimal wind ( if that is possible!) as predicted for later next week are the best time of day and conditions for the densest BWO activity and responses from trout.

Henry’s Fork 10-14-17

BWOs and mahogany dun continue to provide good dry fly fishing up and down the river. Streamer fishing is best in Box Canyon, ” The Tubs” , and the entire lower river.  Considering the recent storm moving through the region, contact the Ashton District Office: 208-652-7442 to  determine if unpaved roads such as into the Hatchery Ford, Lower Coffee Pot and Tubs area (Below Big Springs and Henry’s Lake Outlet confluence) are open.

Henry’s Fork 10-10-17

What we offered in the South Fork report apples to most of the Henry’s Fork as well. BWO and mahogany dun activities are resulting in great dry fly fishing just about everywhere along the river.  Flows are at or near historic normals everywhere above Chester. Below Chester  down to St. Anthony flows are slightly higher than normal because of higher than normal Fall River flows as has been the case all season.  Streamer fishing brings the best responses from large trout in Box Canyon and The Tubs, but is effective on most of the lower river.

Henry’s Fork 10-7-17

Observing the number of fly-fishers in the Last Chance area is a clue that BWO and mahogany dun activity is producing good fishing. With a week of uncertain weather coming up, the river here and in Harriman State Park below will be great locations for dry fly fishing. Do not overlook presenting soft hackle patterns to rising fish in these waters (dead drift down to rising fish, then rise to just below surface with rod tip action).  Size (16-18 for BWO, 12-14 for mahoganies) is more important than color (olive for BWO, rusty brown for mahoganies).   A turn and a half of grouse hackle completes these appropriate patterns.

Henry’s Fork 9-30-17

Everything describing current fishing success on today’s South Fork fishing report applies to the lower Henry’s Fork from Warm River on downstream and around Last Chance (dry fly fishing at Last Chance). Add to this improved streamer fishing in Box Canyon and “The Tubs” above Mack’s Inn (where Henry’s Lake and Big Springs Outlets combine) and you have the best of current fishing in the river.

Henry’s Fork 9-23-17

BWO and mahogany dun activities are interesting trout up and down the river.  Add AM trico spinner falls, some terrestrial insects remaining, evening caddis  activity and the result is a great time for dry fly fishing.  We are also entering the time of year when the Henry’s Fork also offers first class streamer fishing.  Look for the best action, but bound to improve as we move into October, in such as the lower river where browns are becoming aggressive, Box Canyon, and the river above Macks Inn.

Henry’s Fork 9-16-17

As is happening on the South Fork, BWOs and mahogany duns are showing up and down the river whether in the Last Chance-Harriman section or the lower river.  The best fishing on the lower river at present seems to be in the Warm River to Ashton section where streamer fishing is bringing responses from large brown trout as a result of the unsettled weather conditions.  Rely on terrestrial insect patterns being effective during sunny days anywhere on the river.  Look for streamer fishing to be increasingly effective almost everywhere on the river as we advance into the fall season.

Flow out of Henry’s Lake has been essentially cut in half as storage begins. Thus fish in the Flat Ranch reach move downstream into the Henry’s Fork proper. This will make streamer fishing very effective in “The Tubs” area, especially early and late in the day.  Some of the largest Henry’s Fork whitefish populate this part of the river. If you are looking to supply fish for the smoker, midge and BWO life cycle patterns really interest these salmonids residing here in good numbers.

Henry’s Fork 9-9-17

As with the South Fork, significant BWO and mahogany dun hatches on the lower river will happen later in this month.  During daytime visits here presenting terrestrial insect patterns is the best way to attract fish.  While fishing from a boat, trail that hopper pattern with a favorite bead head nymph. And as with evening visits to the South Fork, observe shallow waters for bait fish concentrations.  Such a presence is a clue that streamer patterns will attract larger fish moving in around sunset to forage on these. The Last Chance-Harriman section of the river features AM trico and speckled dun spinner falls, while daytime success is best met through presenting terrestrial insect patterns.   While fishing  during late evenings, consider drifting a hair mouse pattern along vegetated banks. You may not interest many fish, but the one(s) you do will surely be very large. On doing so, you can get away with using a heavier tippet making it a bit easier to play that big fish entering the now copious weed beds present in the river.  It is the time of year when good fishing in the Henry’s Lake Outlet section begins to fade.  Even though flow out of Henry’s Lake remains a bit above 100 cfs, warm water temperatures are present. This means larger fish will begin migrating downstream to cooler water in the Henry’s Fork just below Big Springs.  Many fly-fishers overlook the river between the Big Springs-Henry’s Lake Outlet confluence and below because of the numbers of recreational boaters. An evening visit to this stretch of water avoids conflicts with these folks and increases your chances that a well-placed streamer will bring up a very large resident trout.

Henry’s Fork 8-26-17

The lower river fishes best during daytime hours when two-nymph rigs are used, especially below Ashton Dam where the river is warmer than above. Not much dry fly action there during daytime unless you present hopper patterns close to the well vegetated banks. Best dry fly action is during evening caddis activity.  Other than AM spinner falls the best fishing on the upper river is found by presenting such terrestrial patterns as ants, beetles and hoppers.

Henry’s Fork 8-19-17

No real change here since out last report. One event worth noting is the significant flying ant appearance along parts of the upper river.   So add patterns for these to your terrestrial patterns in that fly box if you fish during daytime.  Otherwise approach is the same: AM spinner fall patterns, terrestrial insect patterns during day time, then caddis life cycle patterns during evenings.