Henry’s Fork

Henry’s Fork 7-10-12

The upper river offers the best fishing now, with flavs appearing in the PM, AM PMD spinner falls, evening caddis hatches and a growing terrestrial insect population. All this is taking place on the Last Chance-Harriman reach. Box Canyon offers good nymph fishing with you favorite bead head nymphs in medium sizes and with rubber leg patterns. The big event on the river this week on July 12th is the Caldera Symposium which combines science and fly-fishing.  This event takes place 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM at Pond’s Lodge. Go to the Henry’s Fork Foundation web site to see details on this event which promises to increase your knowledge on how to approach Henry’s Fork fly fishing and appreciation for its fishery.

Henry’s Fork 7-7-12

The lower river has entered the usual summer doldrums. So go to the upper river for best fishing. Box Canyon offers good nymph fishing with you favorite small bead head patterns or medium sized rubber legs. On the Harriman-Last Chance reach the brown drakes are winding down, so spinners and caddis bring best evening action.  PMDs bring mid day action with emerger patterns producing best. Later in the afternoon flavs emerge and bring action.

Henry’s Fork 7-3-12

With green drakes passing their peak, start looking for flavs.  Brown drakes are making for great evening fishing, especially on the lower part of the Harriman reach.  Evening caddis and AM PMD spinner falls are going on everywhere on the river.

Henry’s Fork 6-30-12

Following is a note from the Henry’s Fork Foundation concerning  the ongoing reconstruction work at Ashton Dam. In the meantime fishing conditions and fishing success should remain good.

Hi all,

At the Ashton Dam reconstruction project, they are having problems with the rubber seal over the upstream coffer dam coming loose, resulting in some additional sediment moving downstream.  To fix this problem, they need to send divers down to re-anchor the rubber blanket.  Since this work is being done next to the dam bypass tunnel, they will need to partially close the tunnel while they do the work.  However, as this is peak irrigation season,  they have to balance this work with downstream irrigation needs.  The result will be some major fluctuations in Henry’s Fork flows below Ashton Dam throughout the day.  Flows could fluctuate from 1200 cfs up to 3000 cfs, and this fluctuation may happen four times that day.  Idaho Fish and Game will be monitoring things that day.

 

Bottom line, Monday July 9^th will be a day you don’t want to be fishing below Ashton Dam.

Kim Ragotzkie

Stewardship Director, Henry’s Fork Foundation

& Hold the Line Project Coordinator, High Country RC&D

208-652-3567 office

208-569-9775 cell

 

Henry’s Fork 6-22

The Lower Henry’s Fork near Ashton has been fishing well. Early  morning fishing consists of an adult Golden Stone (CFO Flammer Ant size 6)  with a dropper such as a Red Copper John size 16. Noon fishing would be PMDs from 12 o’clock to 3 o’clock. From 5 o’clock to 7 o’clock Flavs (size 14)  were coming off with fish taking them on the flats. Finally from 8 o’clock to dark, an improved x-caddis tan size 16 and 18 was the ticket. There are also some Gray drakes.

 

Henry’s Fork 6-14

Tomorrow is opening day on the Ranch. Caddis and Pale Morning Duns have been hatching in good numbers. I would have also have some green drakes in my fly box as well. We have not had any confirmed reports of Green drakes hatching yet. However don’t be afraid to fish one, if some of these flies have been hatching the fish will be looking for them. Golden Stones have been producing fish as well. We have had good success on streamers from Ora Bridge to Chester backwaters the past few days. Don’t let the off color water scare you away from this stretch. The water is off color but not that bad and some big fish have been caught on streamers and stoneflies.

Henry’s Fork 6-11

I finally got the chance to fish the Henry’s Fork this past week and into the weekend. The streamer bite is definitely on during certain times of the day. Rubberlegs and bead head have been working when the dry fly bite slows down as well. Golden Stones, Simulators, and Chernobyl ants are bringing decent fish to the surface. Pale Morning duns have also been hatching is decent numbers.

Last week I reported on the float between Ashton Dam and Chester back waters being off color. I had a chance to float the section on Friday evening and I was impressed with the water quality overall. At the Ora bridge the water was good and about a half mile down got a little dirty but fishable. Than it seemed to clear up as we continued to float down the river. This section is not being utilized right now because most of the guides are concerned about the off color water so they are not taking clients down this section. We I floated into Chester at 8pm.  I saw lots of fish feeding on caddis and my truck was the only one in the parking lot. What I am trying to say is if you want some decent fishing with a chance to hook into a pig, float this section. No one is there and you will find the fishing to be good despite the water being a little off color.

Henry’s Fork 6-6

I wanted to give you guys a heads up on the river conditions below Ashton Dam. Apparently the rain on the construction site at the dam. The rain and the silt coming through the dam have made the lower river very dirty. We knew that the water was going to be effected by the construction of the dam and the water quality has been fishable but not clear. Unfortunately the water is not optimal right now. We don’t know when things will clear up but as soon as they do we will let you know.

As far as the other sections of the River. Warm River to Ashton and the Box Canyon are fishing well. Stoneflies on the surface as well as Caddis and PMDs.