Henry’s Fork

Henry’s Fork 6-8-19

Big stoneflies are flying and laying eggs in Box Canyon.  This has helped thinned out the fishing pressure on the lower river. Some of the big stoneflies remain flying on the lower river and golden stoneflies to begin doing the same any day now followed by green drakes. Do not overlook early and late day caddis activity anywhere on the river.  If you want to escape the stonefly madness, consider trying the river on the Flat Ranch Preserve. We call it ” Henry’s Lake Outlet”, but the USGS calls it the “Henry’s Fork.”  Most of the larger fish within it are Henry’s Lake escapees, so present what you would in Henry’s Lake for now.

Henry’s Fork 6-4-19

The big fly-fishing event in the area, as expected this time of year, is  giant and golden stone fly emergence. The big bugs should be flying & egg dropping as far upstream as Riverside by now.   With the predicted good weather  for next few ays, they are likely to be soon doing the same in Box Canyon. Best dry fly strategy for finding where fish are taking them is to walk or boat down to where they are rising.   Some big stonefly activity is also ongoing in the lower river, but early and late day caddis activity seems to be just as interesting to resident trout.

Henry’s Fork 5-25-19

From just above Chester backwaters to Bear Gulch in lower Cardiac Canyon stonefly nymphs are moving big time, and some are on the shoreline just waiting for enough sunshine to molt into adults, make whoopee, and go back to the water to lay eggs.  If you have any connections with ” Ma Nature” try to convince her to produce enough sunshine to warm us up so all these big bugs get going!  Trout and fly-fishers are waiting!

Henry’s Fork 5-21-19

Everyone is anticipating the big stonefly event, and it will happen for sure. However, Mother Nature has decided to put it in the “delay mode” by giving us cool and rainy weather for a while. Nymphs are moving, so any rubber leg, wooly bugger, or stonefly pattern fished not far out in the river will bring interest from resident trout.  Any adult stonefly out now, if any, is hunkering down waiting for enough warmth to give it some “get up and go.” When warmer weather happens you will see bugs flying and soon after rise forms in the river that will make top water fishing hard to resist.  Just be patient!

Henry’s Fork 5-18-19

Fall River flow is very high and discolored because of recent warm weather.  This means forget about fishing the Henry’s Fork below Chester Dam until Fall River subsides.  On the Henry’s Fork from Warm River to Chester backwaters presenting streamer patterns seems to give best results when compared to presenting big nymph patterns. This could be temporary because big stonefly nymphs are beginning to migrate toward banks and trout will soon take notice big time.

Henry’s Fork 5-14-19

A great technique to try if you are float-fishing is to concentrate presentations on the bank out of the sunlight. Drift by and present streamer, rubberleg and such as super-x patterns in towards the bank.  This technique has been working well on the river from the Warm River confluence to the Fun Farm bridge.

Now is also the time when big stonefly nymphs begin migrating toward banks, so fish will begin concentrating there, especially during low light conditions.  So here is another reason for paying attention to fishing bank side waters whether wading or float-fishing.  It is only a matter of several days before the big stoneflies begin flying to return to the river to lays eggs and become the reason for some superb top water fishing!

Henry’s Fork 5-7-19

Today’s weather makes for near ideal BWO activity on the lower river. Cool, cloudy with threat of storms and minimal (so far) wind are on-going.  These low light conditions are also great for presenting streamers.  So today offers something for fly-fishing enthusiasts near opposite ends of the line type (floating-sink tip) spectrum. You may have a great time fishing this PM on the river between Warm River and Chester if you can break away!

Henry’s Fork 5-4-19

Wind has been the big problem here. Afternoons when BWOs, March browns and caddis kick in is usually the windiest time of day.  When wind really gets going these bugs tend not to hatch in number. Before wind rises to bad levels, pitch streamers and any kind of weighted bug that imitates a stonefly nymph. These are not much more than several days away from beginning to move on the lower river, so consider building a stock of your favorite patterns that imitate them.

Henry’s Fork 3-23-19

Flow below Ashton Dam is a bit higher ( 1400 cfs) than normal (1100 cfs) with the river in good shape. Fishing is good if such as rubber legs and streamers are presented.  No BWOs to speak of yet, but plenty of midges.  So life cycle patterns of these might get you some top water action.

Henry’s Fork 3-12-19

We have some information on lower river fishing success from Ashton Dam downstream to the Fun Farm Bridge.  The river is somewhat higher ( 1350 cfs) than normal (1060 cfs) according to the gage below Ashton Dam. Walk-in wade fishing gets one to most of the river, but float fishing is a bit limited because of conditions at some boat ramp sites.  Streamer fishing is good.  Midges are abundant making for a bit of top water fishing.  BWO activity is not important yet, but as we warm up will become increasing to attract fish during afternoons especially on overcast days.