Same story for now: early & late in the day are best times to fish. But we are not far away from changes up and down the river. With cooling weather BWO and mahogany patterns will soon become more effective. Same with streamers and even big nymph patterns. Terrestrial patterns will gradually be less effective, but evening caddis swarms will provide good action. We will keep on top of these changes and discuss here how you should adjust your fishing strategy accordingly.
A good shot of cold weather would really help fishing here. For now rely on best fishing to be early and late in the day ( AM spinner falls and streamers, PM caddis swarms, terrestrials, and streamers). Best bet for daytime hours remains terrestrial patterns on waters with overhead cover. Towards the end of the month BWOs and mahogany duns will bring action throughout the river.
Early AMs (spinner falls) and evenings (caddis swarms, speckled duns) remain the best times to fish anywhere on the river. During mid day terrestrial patterns along shaded banks are your best bet for action. Small bead head nymphs work daytime in Box Canyon. Streamers work there, at the Tubs, below Coffee Pot rapids, and along the lower river during evenings.
Kiss August, 2009 good-bye, and look for the river to host more action as we begin to cool off through September. Evenings and early mornings remain the best times to be on the river until later in September. Streamers will become increasingly important on the lower river when looking for action. So will BWO life cycle patterns. Also for the next month terrestrial patterns will be good choices anywhere on the river.
Warm water has slowed action, especially on the lower river. Stick to early mornings and evenings for the best chance of action. Streamers near twilight offer a great chance for late day action on the lower river, in Box Canyon and below Coffeee Pot rapids. If you must fish during daytime terrestrial patterns will be your best bet for action.
The best times on the lower river are early and late in the day. Streamers are a good choice either time with caddis life cycle patterns and hopper patterns effective during evenings. Morning spinner falls can result in some action. Small beadhead nymphs work during both times. On the upper river there are several mayfly hatches including tricos, speckled duns, small PMDs, and a few mahogany duns. But the best action can be found through fishing ant and other terrestrial patterns. Best tactics for Box Canyon includes small beadhead nymphs and early and late day streamers.
Evenings and early mornings are the times to be on the river. It is terrestrial insect season, so especially during late afternoons and evenings be sure to have patterns for these in your fly box. Early AMs, look for trico spinner falls which will end just before mid day. Evenings be sure to add caddis life cycle and streamer patterns. Other than that an end to summer weather will bring improvements in fish activity, so tough things out the next four or five weeks and rewards will surely come.
Summer heat has warmed the river such that evenings and mornings make for the best fishing anywhere. Mayflies now play a relatively minor role in trout diets. Expect this to be the case until we begin cooling off near the end of summer. Most reliable exception would be trying terrestrial patterns in front of shaded banks, overhangs, undercuts, etc. Streamers presented in the evening after sunset will be an increasingly effective option several places along the river anywhere big bows and browns reside.
Throughout the river mornings and evenings are the best times for action. Rusty spinners, terrestrial and caddis patterns are the ticket during these times of day. Expect the lower river to be the warmest, but a well placed terrestrial pattern along features not in direct sunlight could bring a big trout to take anywhere. Streamers at twilight will be your best chance for a big trout on the lower river or in Box Canyon, below Coffee Pot, or in the Tubs. Look for tricos to begin emerging any day now.
Fishing is slowing down in these mid summer days. Terrestrial patterns are the best for fishing the lower river and pretty much the same for the upper river. A great way to encounter big fish on the lower river is to try streamer patterns around banks, islands, and transitions after sunset. This could be the same in Box Canyon and in the Coffee Pot area above Island Park Reservoir.