Henry’s Fork

Henry’s Fork 10-4-14

Now is a great time to fish the Box Canyon. Flows are low, wading is at its easiest, and the big rainbows are stocking up for winter. That means streamer patterns can bring out the bigger fish. Proper location and presentation is more important than pattern selection. The same applies to the river below Ashton Dam. Streamers are just the ticket for those big browns becoming aggressive for their spawning season.  Choose low light conditions for your best chances. Current beautiful weather is not the best for top water fishing here as far as BWOs are concerned.  But weather will turn for sure, and with those conditions that tell of oncoming winter, BWOs will be more active along with the fish looking for them.

Henry’s Fork 9-16-14

We see that flows out of Island Park Dam have been reduced to around 400 cfs. That makes for tougher boating through Box Canyon, but opens up a lot of wading possibilities. Two nymph rigs during daytime should produce, but streamers presented at the tops of holes and deeper runs, then on through, during low light conditions have a better chance for getting you into some of the big bows the “Box” is famous for hosting.

Fishing is picking up on the river below Ashton Dam.   BWO, mahogany dun, and hopper patterns bring daytime action, but streamers under low light conditions will get you into the bigger fish.

Henry’s Fork 9-13-14

This cooler weather is “just what the doctor ordered” for improving daytime fishing on the river below Ashton Dam. Look for the various BWO species, mahoganies, and midges to provide increased action to go along with possibilities from terrestrial insects.  Consider that presenting streamer patterns under low light conditions will become more important the further we move through autumn.

Henry’s Fork 9-2-14

This coming two weeks is one of my favorite times to fish the Harriman State Park reach of the river. Crowds are definitely down, and more enjoyable weather prevails.  Surely there are many approaches to fish the river during this time, and all can produce under the right conditions. Because it produces for me, my favorite is through long drifts around cover using a hopper pattern. I prefer using this technique with traditional patterns. That is because I believe their imprint on the smooth surface of the river here is closer to that of the natural insect than those patterns fashioned from foam and rubber. And this technique with traditional patterns produces for me on other streams with similar surfaces. On water of broken surface this difference is minimized. When presenting  with a long drift be aware of drag, strive for a natural drift as long as possible, and wade as little as is practical.

Henry’s Fork 8-23-14

From Last Chance to Pinehaven terrestrial patterns will bring the best daytime action.  Fish these around overhead cover.  For the mayfly enthusiasts tricos and speckled duns are emerging, so their dun and spinner patterns are a must, especially in the morning. In the Coffee Pot area terrestrial patterns are best with caddis life cycle patterns doing well in the evening.

Henry’s Fork 8-12-14

If you fish the Last Chance-Pinehaven reach, your best bet for action is through terrestrial patterns. Mornings offer action from fish seeking spinners, but after that, prospect banks and channels between weed beds with hopper patterns.  This technique, although a bit uncertain, can be educating through learning favorite locations big fish move to for a meal.  Be sure to look for flying ants, because as Mike Lawson offers, fish really key on them during their presence, and even in their absence this time of year. Forget the river below Ashton Dam until we begin the late summer cool down.  Cardiac Canyon waters are best fished with terrestrial patterns or two nymph rigs.

Henry’s Fork 6-28-14

Add flavs to the list of mayflies emerging in the Last Chance-Harriman State Park area where fishing has been good. Still some green drakes and gray drakes with a few golden stones are left on the river below Ashton Dam.  Now that South Fork fishing is picking up big time, as Jimmy related a few days ago, there will be a shift of interest away from the Ashton to Chester part of the river and therefore fewer boats.  So with fewer anglers present from Ashton to Chester there is opportunity to enjoy fish responding to those drakes and golden stones before they die out.