Everything is out on the Henry’s Fork! Golden Stones, Pale Morning Duns, Green and Grey Drakes, and Caddis. This is the prime time to be fishing dry flies on the Henry’s Fork. Warm River to Ashton and Ora Bridge down has been really good for fishing. The Ranch is fishing well and the Box is consistently producing fish. We have lots of different patterns that have been successful stop in the shop and we will get you hooked up…literally!
The fishing on the Henry’s Fork is really good. Everything is hatching a little later than normal. Pale Morning Duns, and Caddis are in good numbers on the river. Green Drakes are also beginning to hatch in good numbers. We have reports of Green Drakes up to the Warm River Confluence. Golden Stones have been producing fish on the surface as well. To get away from the crowds fish in the morning and the evening time.
On the lower river Caddis, Pale Morning Duns, Green Drakes and Golden Stones are the ticket for dry fly fishing. Mayfly hatches in the mid day and spinner falls in the evening with the caddis hatch. The water from the Fall River and the Warm River have lowered and the water clarity is good. The Box Canyon is still fishing well with nymphs and caddis dry flies. I would be fishing the Henry’s Fork in my spare time right now. This is the prime time to be on the Henry’s Fork, but it is also the prime time for crowds. Call the shop if you have any questions.
This time of year is the best time to fish the Henry’s Fork. You can choose your poison, Nymphs, Dry Flies or Streamers. There are a lot of Pale Morning Duns and Caddis. You also have Golden Stones, and we are expecting the Drakes to hatch any day. As far as water clarity goes everything is looking good, the Fall River has dropped. Parker’s pick for the weekend are these five flies:
Fishing below the Chester dam right now is going to be marginal at best. The Fall River is still blown out and putting a lot of dirty water and debris into the system. I have been keeping an eye on the flows and the Fall River is dropping fast I would expect fishing below Chester to pick up this weekend at the earliest. This of course depends on how much rain we receive in the next few days. I have been told the Warm River has been putting dirty water into the Henry’s Fork, but I have not had a very reliable source on that information, so check it out before you float that section and have an alternative in mind. Ora Bridge to Chester, and Box Canyon are still running good and fishing well. Golden Stones, Caddis and Pale Morning Duns are fishing well on the surface. Call the shop if you have any questions.
The Henry’s Fork has some spots you will want to avoid right now. Below the Chester dam has been blown out, because of the record flows on the Fall River. Also Warm River to Ashton is really dirty right now because of the runoff from Warm River. You can fish from Ora to Chester, and the Box Canyon. Golden Stones are staging, PMD’s are hatching as well as the Caddis. Don’t get to discouraged things will settle down in about a week and the Henry’s Fork will be back again and ready to roll. With increased traffic on the Henry’s Fork remember common courtesy goes a long ways. Call the shop with any questions.
Big bugs are out all the way to Box Canyon. Warm weather is coming, so look for them to be more active. Fish on the upper river have been exposed to them for a lesser time than those below. So the Box and the reach from Riverside to Warm River could be just great. When the fish are really on the adults, pattern selection (other than choosing one that is visible in broken water) is not as important as placing the fly in the right place. Watch for a fish rising repeatedly and with the right timing drop your fly just ahead of him.
Fall River has about doubled in flow because of recent heavy rains. This has slowed fishing below Chester Dam, so we suggest that locations above Chester dam will offer the best fishing.
The Henry’s Fork was the place to be this past weekend. With the Salmon Flies hatching and the good water conditions the fish in that river saw a lot of anglers and boats. Now that the opening weekend is over, fishing mid week will produce the least amount of people and pressure on the fish, which means you will find it easier to catch more fish. Pale Morning Duns, Stoneflies, and Caddis are the ticket this week on the river. The big Stones will be hatching anytime in Box Canyon and some have already started to make an appearance. I was in the Box yesterday and we found success on rubberlegs, caddis pupa, and caddis on the surface. The stoneflies have moved up past Warm River and are in good numbers above Mesa Falls. Plan on seeing some drake in a week or two. This is the month to fish the Henry’s Fork, lots of good opportunities to fish dry flies.
As of today giant stoneflies are out as far upstream as Mesa Falls. But the cold, wet weather keeps them clinging to land. Warm-up begins tomorrow, so look for them to be flying then. Give the fish a day or so to catch on to the big bugs flopping on the water. Then head to the Henry’s Fork from Warm River to Riverside and on to Box Canyon for some great dry fly fishing. The trick will be to find where the fish are taking drifting adults big time.
Recommended Giant stonefly patterns (size 4, 6) for Henry’s Fork
Berry’s Hedge Hog Stone
Sofa Pillow (traditional and improved)
CFO Hummer
Terranasty
Joe’s Foam Stone
Dry Muddler
Rollin Adult Stone
Gould’s Half Salmonfly
Karnupp’s Freestone Salmonfly
Salmon Flies are out in really good numbers at Vernon bridge and Warm River to Ashton. With this cold weather I would not expect Salmon Flies in the Box Canyon for the opening day or weekend. However I would expect them about mid week if I had to guess. Lots of success on Stonefly nymphs in the morning and big dries in the afternoon. Put those Pale Morning Duns and Caddis in your fly box. If we get a nice afternoon those will hatch. If your having a hard time finding fish to rise on the big Stone fly throw a golden stone to change up the look.