Small Streams Archives - Page 21 of 41

Small Streams 6-5-15

June 5, 2015

Some of these are really shaping up for good fishing. Warm River has been good for weeks with cloudy day BWO, PMD, yellow sally, and caddis life cycle patterns. Add Robinson Creek to small streams worth trying. Here small traditional attractors (renegades, various wulffs, irresistables) and nymphs work well. The big stoneflies have gone through, but caddis, sallys and PMDs also make for good fishing. McCoy, Jackknife, and Tincup Creeks are other good bets with traditional attractor and nymph patterns. Some of our great small streams remain closed to protect spawning cutthroat. Consult current regulations to identify these waters.

Small Streams 5-26-15

May 26, 2015

Fishing Reports, Small Streams

Are you looking for a small stream that is producing active fish? Try Warm River. Now that Memorial Day weekend has passed, crowds will decrease. Consider walking up the railroad grade from the Three Rivers area, or walk up from the campground. Fish are taking PMD and caddisfly life cycle patterns. Traditional dry fly patterns in smaller sizes will also produce in the faster water. Soft hackled patterns always work on this stream.Try them just below Warm River Spring as well as on the lower river.

Small Streams 4-25-15

April 25, 2015

Small Streams

Flow out of Blackfoot River Reservoir was increased Wednesday from under 100 cfs to around 230 cfs as irrigation demands kick in. That’s a big change for this small river, so look for fishing success here to fall off until things stabilize, even though a big caddisfly hatch is going on.

Small Streams 10-11-14

October 11, 2014

Fishing Reports, Small Streams

Thursday we fished the Blackfoot River about eight miles below the dam. Flow out of the dam is only 67 cfs, and the impact on the river below is almost tragic for trout. This low flow concentrates them in deepest water. It was a bright, beautiful day so the normally sparse BWO emergence did not happen. Hoppers still abound, and trout will come up for them. Streamside cover where fingerling trout find refuge is high and dry because of the low flow. This puts them in deeper water where they are preyed on by larger trout. Need I say any more?

Small Streams 10-4-14

October 4, 2014

Fishing Reports, Small Streams

This time of year fishing gets tough on some of our small streams that have dropped to base level flow. That’s not the case for many though. The lower Teton River is an example where afternoon BWO activity, even on fairly bright days, bring fish up to the top. Try the river just below the Hog Hollow Bridge. The lower Blackfoot River is shaping up with flows down to around 100 cfs. Try nymphs and because no killing frost has happened, hopper patterns anywhere below the Dam where there is deeper water. Visit us at the shop for specific information.

Small Streams 9-16-14

September 16, 2014

Small Streams

We have been watching flow gauges on the lower Blackfoot River. With flows not much higher than 200 cfs, the river is in fly-fishing shape. Streamers would be a good bet, but with plenty of hoppers in the surroundings, some cutts may come up for your imitation. Look for best fishing to begin in a couple of weeks when water flows drop further.

Small Streams 9-2-14

September 2, 2014

Fishing Reports, Small Streams

Palisades Reservoir tribs are fishing quite well these days. Now that Labor Day weekend is behind us there will be fewer anglers on all these. Hoppers are out in abundance around all these streams, so are Mormon crickets, craneflies, ants, and beetles. Big Elk Creek could be an exception with respect to number of anglers because of the annual kokanee run and the anglers trying to catch them. Flavs are out there, and the kokanee do not inhibit the cutts from rising to flav emergers in the afternoon. McCoy Creek, being roadside for many miles, is most easily accessed, and easiest to fish. Bear Creek has beaver ponds (so does McCoy Creek) up and down its length, and these surely host the best fish in the creek. Also consider that any fly that works on these streams will also work on Palisades Creek below the reservoir.

Small Streams 8-23-14

August 23, 2014

Fishing Reports, Small Streams

Change your fly-fishing strategy a bit for any small stream that has an increase in flow because of our continued rainy weather. Increased flows tend to wash more worms, grubs, etc into the stream making it easier for fish to get these on the subsurface drift than going to the surface for floating food. Put a few San Juan worms in your fly box, or if you rather not, include some small wooly bugger types. I did better on Robinson Creek earlier this week with (OK, I’ll admit it!) with San Juans than with the dries I love to present. Certainly water levels will drop to normal, and the dry fly fishing that so many enthusiasts enjoy will return soon.

Small Streams 8-12-14

August 12, 2014

Fishing Reports, Small Streams

Fished Big Elk Creek up to the slide yesterday. The stream is in great shape with water temps climbing into the low 50s in deg. F by 3 PM. No flavs yet, but caddis and a few PMDs emerged. Best bet now is to fish hopper and ant patterns until flavs decide to emerge. We hear that McCoy Creek is fishing very well. Nothing really big being caught, but good surface action from fish seeking terrestrial insects. Traditional attractors in small (#14-16) sizes will work, too. Here’s a great place to take a youngster, entry level, or physically challenged person because of abundant roadside access and eager cutts. Add Palisades Creek to the list of those fishing well (terrestrial and traditional patterns again with a bigger share of caddis life cycle patterns), but it is brushier than McCoy Creek and requires a bit more walking to reach the best fishing.

Small Streams 8-6-14

August 5, 2014

Fishing Reports, Small Streams

The cool wet weather we have had for the last few days is just what is needed to sustain good fishing on many small streams. Any that do not have a healthy component of inflow from springs, or have lakes in their drainage are examples. Thus such as the Salt River tributaries, Robinson, Diamond,Beaver, Medicine Lodge, and Canyon Creeks will benefit. Don’t fish these streams right after a heavy or even moderate rainfall. Wait a day or two for flow to return to near normal, then because time of the year is right, consider presenting terrestrial patterns for the best dry fly fishing.

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Small Streams

Small Streams 6-5-15

Small Streams 5-26-15

Small Streams 4-25-15

Small Streams 10-11-14

Small Streams 10-4-14

Small Streams 9-16-14

Small Streams 9-2-14

Small Streams 8-23-14

Small Streams 8-12-14

Small Streams 8-6-14

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