Henry’s Fork

Henry’s Fork 5/20

The official word is the Stoneflies are out and crawling! You can find these bugs from the Vernon to Chester, and Chester to St. Anthony. They are also hatching from Warm River to Ashton. We are right at the beginning of the hatch so not every fish is up eating them. You will find a few hours during the day when the fish are up actively eating on top. Don’t be afraid to drop a huge stonefly nymph under the surface and fish the structure along the banks. I would put some Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Sallies and Caddis in my fly box, these flies will be hatching any time, and I expect to see them this weekend.

Remember which sections of water that are closed. Ashton Dam to Vernon Bridge, is closed until Memorial Day Weekend. Warm River is closed as well, but the Henry’s Fork is open above Warm River to Riverside campground.

Recommended Flies for the Henry’s Fork

Dries:

• CFO Hummer Stone
• Berry’s Hedgehog
• Rollin Stone Salomon Fly
• Chubby Chernobyl

Nymphs:

• Pats Rubberleg Stonefly
• Jimmy Leg Stonefly
• Tungsten Yellow Sallie
• Delekta’s Mega Prince
• Bead Head Bubble Back Emerger PMD
• Redemption Nymph PMD

Henry’s Fork 5/17

Got Salmon flies?

That is the question we have been hearing a lot around here. So here is the news! We have had good reports of stonefly nymph activity around the Vernon Bridge and below the Chester Dam.  Warm River to Ashton has also had similar reports. The adults have not made an appearance yet but they are almost about ready to pop. Stay posted to the fishing report and we will let you know when that time does officially happen. If you were planning a day on the water I would look to the end of the week for those adults to be buzzing around. March Browns and Blue Wings are hatching in good numbers with fish eating them on the surface.

Henry’s Lake 5-14-10

As of today, still iced over.

Henry’s Fork 5-14-10

The lower river (Warm River on downstream) is at its early season best.  Remember that it is closed from Ashton Dam to Vernon Bridge until general season opening to protect spawning ‘bows.  Here’s the ledger on what is active: BWOs in the PM with overcast conditions being best time.  March browns, same conditions best,  Caddis life cycle patterns and  yellow sallys, any time.  Streamers work well in evenings; concentrate on waters out of the sun and with overhead cover.  Big stonefly nymph patterns should be in your fly box and they will become increasingly important as we move through the next several days.  It’s early to see any adult giant stoneflies.  That’s  also several days away, but when we get word that fish are keying on them, we’ll pass it on as part of this report.

Henry’s Fork 5-4-10

Flow in the lower river has been mostly stable for many days.  Normally this would mean great fishing, but that cotton pickin’ wind messes things up except for very early mornings and just before dark.  We think the result is that caddis, BWOs, midges, and March browns emerging there end up in Yellowstone Park where the season is closed.    Nevertheless, early and late in the day when the wind slows should be a great time to pitch streamers.  Concentrate your casts on the shaded banks or near overhead cover.

Henry’s Fork 4-28

I have been fishing the Henry’s Fork a few times this last week and it has been really good. Great insect hatches on the lower river between the Warm River confluence and St. Anthony. The Mother’s Day Caddis are hatching, March Brown Mayflies, and Blue Wing Olives. I tried to find some stonefly nymphs towards the banks and nothing is developing as of right now. I would not expect to see anything like that develop for  at least the next 3 weeks. This cold weather we have been having is keeping runoff to a minimum and just slowing everything down for the spring. The good thing about having this weather is we are continuing to put snow in the mountains, and with a bad snow year this will help the fishing in August.

Henry’s Fork 4-20-10

Warmer weather has made fishing the river from Warm River to below St. Anthony a great choice.  Remember the closure in effect between the Vernon Bridge and Ashton Dam until general season.   There is plenty of access to enjoy the BWOs especially because  Fall River runoff has not begun.  Weather coming up the next few days should be ideal for BWO emerging in the late PM after winds die.  Streamers will be effective up & down the river, and above the Chester backwaters be sure to have big stonefly nymph patterns. Hard to believe, but these big nymphs will begin to move in numbers in about a month.

Henry’s Fork 4-12

No March Browns to speak of but we expect them anytime soon. Blue Wing Olives and Midges are hatching really well. Nymphing is also producing good fishing when the dry flies are not hatching. Expect the flies to hatch in the afternoons. Fishing has been really good on the Henry’s Fork, this would be my first pick for fishing on a day off.

Henry’s Fork 4-09

Blue Olives have been hatching on the warm days, expect them in the afternoon hours. No word on the March Browns but they should hatching anytime, and I would have some with me just in case. Nymphing is the name of the game for the majority of the day, rubberlegs and beadhead nymphs. Many people are having great success below Chester Dam, down to Del-Rio Bridge. Warm River to Ashton is fishing as well. However I have not heard if the self ice has melted at the Ashton boat ramp yet. A few weeks ago it was about 4 feet high. I would call ahead before you launch your boat.

Henry’s Fork 3/29

Fishing on the Henry’s Fork is really good. Blue Wing Olives, and Midges are hatching in good numbers. Nymphing has been really good throughout the day and fish are rising to dry flies in the afternoon. I would also try fishing a skwalla pattern in the afternoon. Zebra midges, rubberlegs, Pulsating Emergers, Harrop’s BWO Emerger are good flies to fish. If you feel like crossing over to what some call the dark side of fly fishing San Juan worms and glo bugs have been really successful.