Small Streams

Small Streams 3-6-12

Several area streams are open to catch and release fishing until the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.  Consult 2012 fishing regulations to see a complete list of these streams.  Many offer good fishing before run off  begins. Fall River for a few miles above Chester is accessible from the adjacent county road.  There is some access on Lower Teton River where it divides into the north and south  forks north of  Teton City.  Midge and BWO life cycle patterns, small bead head nymphs, stonefly nymph, wooly bugger, and streamer pattens can be effective on these waters.

Small Streams 10-25-2011

Action on most of these is reduced to looking for responses to afternoon BWO and midge emergences, nymphing, or pitching small streamers.  Best ones to try include Warm River below the spring, Blackfoot River below the reservoir, Teton River below the dam site to the forks, Fall River near the Idaho-Wyoming state line, and the Portneuf River along old Highway 30.

Small Streams 10-11-2011

Some of these  remain good fishing through the fall season. Typically these are larger waters such as the Teton River, Warm River,  Blackfoot River, and the Portneuf River. A few of the smallest waters will remain good fishing.  Birch, Tincup, Robinson, Bitch creeks, and the Little Lost River are among these.  Because waters on these are at base level (meaning low), flies should be smaller and have less “flash” which could startle fish rather than attract them as they would during higher water. If you prefer to fish dry on any of these, concentrate on using BWO and midge life cycle patterns. On nicer days traditional dry attractor patterns in smaller sizes will bring responses.  But without a doubt the most effective fishing will be either nymphing or presenting streamers on all of these.

Small Streams 10-07-2011

Many of these go into a funk this time of year.     Flows are down to base level, and insect activity is reduced to a fraction of  warmer weather levels.  Look for fish to concentrate in deeper water where there is more overhead cover.  Fish the top end of the deeper water first as fish will concentrate there waiting for food items coming in.  It’s a great time to practice  nymphing techniques for small waters.

Small Streams 9-16-2011

No hard frosts yet in much of the area means that many of these waters continue to offer great fishing.   Stay with the terrestrial, attractor, caddis, BWO and trico (if any emerging) life cycle patterns.  Some of these streams  (Salt River tribs, Robinson Creek, etc) will host brook or brown trout runs, so bring streamers.  South Fork and Palisades Reservoir tribs are having hecuba hatches.  These big late summer drakes will attract fish and provide some great late season dry fly fishing.

Small Streams 9-13-2011

Terrestrial and dry attractor patterns are still working on all these. Best fishing starts mid days and extends to late afternoons. Exception may be trico emergences on such as the Birch Creek diversion or Boundary Creek.   Robinson Creek is one of most interesting small streams in our area. It hosts brookies, browns, cutthroat, and rainbow trout as well as whitefish.   Best access for it is off the Cave Falls Road.   The road connecting  the Fish Creek Road on the north and the Cave Falls Road on the south  to serve Teton View and Pot Pouri estates offers walk-in locations that require  at short hike into the canyon.  Off the Cave Falls Road in Targhee National Forest, the creek can be reached from the road serving the LDS Church’s Rock Creek Girl’s Camp and from a steep trail down from Horseshoe Lake. One can also access Robinson Creek in Yellowstone Park from Bechler Ranger Station or on the west boundary off the end of Fish Creek Road. This time of year terrestrial patterns are sure to bring action until frosts begin in earnest, then going to nymphs and small woolly bugger types will continue action.  Robinson Creek is a good example of a small stream holding surprisingly large fish. Deep holes can host a few browns over twenty inches and rainbows almost as big. So if you fish it, especially in lower reaches, don’t be surprised.

Small Streams 9-1-2011

Many of these will remain at their peaks for a few weeks to come.  For the smaller ones cooler weather and a drop to base flow will cause trout to migrate downstream to more overhead cover and less temperature extremes. Here’s a small one to consider before we begin cooling off.   Cascade Creek flows  north out of Wyoming  into Fall River in Yellowstone Park.   You cross Cascade Creek on the Ashton-Flagg Road a few miles west of crossing Grassy Lake Dam.  A trailhead  just off the road to Terraced Falls on Fall River is the access point to a  meadow reach through which the creek runs before dropping into Fall River.  It’s less than a mile walk to reach, and I’d be surprised if more than six folks fish this creek in a season.  You will need a Park license to fish here and enjoy the most colorful cutthroat-rainbow anywhere.  Bring a high resolution camera.  The stream has a bit of a gradient here, so caddisflies are the main insects active this time of year.  Terrestrial and attractor patterns in small and medium sizes will work very well.  A two-weight rod with a floating line is the best tackle, and if you catch  one of those hybrids in the lower teens of inches, you have a braggin’ fish.

Small Streams 8-26-2011

Best chances for success on nearly all is to use terrestrial patterns.

Here’s another great small stream to try. It requires a bit of walking , four or so miles minimum, and a Yellowstone Park fishing license, but the rewards of fishing Yellowstone Park’s Boundary Creek are great scenery, solitude, and the chance for large cutthroat-rainbow hybrids.  Its another classic meadow stream in about the size of extreme upper Slough Creek, Duck Creek, and Flat Creek.  Access it from Bechler River Ranger station from which well maintained trails will take you to either the lower (Bechler Meadows Trail) or the upper (Boundary Creek Trail) reaches of the creek in Bechler Meadows.  As with any small stream, it is overshadowed in reputation by its larger neighbors, in this case Bechler and Fall rivers.  But the size that fish range to here is comparable to the two rivers.  To fool them requires more stealth and a near perfect presentation, whereas the numerous smaller trout here are aggressive and will take just about any pattern in small and medium sizes.  During this time of year terrestrial patterns are by far the best way to encounter large trout here.  Especially in the lower reaches, tricos will be numerous.  So morning visits should include their life cycle patterns.  As midday approaches begin switching to your favorite hopper and ant patterns.  Take a camera, insect repellent and a water purifier, and in case of thundershowers, a raincoat.

Small Streams 8-19-2011

This is the time of year when they are at their best.  Terrestrial patterns are likely the best choice on any of these.  Here is one that is a great choice if you want to minimize your traveling time and plan on easy access.  Beaver Creek above Spencer, Idaho is the place, and travel all the way is on Interstate-15.  A good access point is the Interstate-15 interchange a few miles north of Spencer.  From here one can walk upstream into the canyon (look out for an occasional freight train) to fish free-flowing water or beaver ponds or  walk downstream to fish the same.   From this Interstate-15 interchange one can also take the frontage road on the west side of the creek to access parts further downstream.  Brookies and rainbows are the residents and they are eager enough to take any terrestrial, caddisfly life cycle, or traditional attractor pattern you present.  Fish here range up to the mid-teens in inches with a very few of the bows getting larger, especially in the beaver ponds.  Afternoons offer the best fishing.

As some folks have noticed, the road accessing Big Elk Creek has been closed. The reason is road work to widen narrow stretches close to US Highway 26.  The road opened today but will be closed from time to time for finishing work.  The best way to learn of the closings schedule is to contact the Palisades District Ranger Station at 523-1412.

Small Streams 8-15-2011

Almost any of these will be a great choice at least to the end of the month, but some of the very smallest will begin to fade as water reaches base levels and trout go downstream to seek more overhead cover. Want to try a small stream with super-abundant trout and quite a ways off the beaten path?   Sawmill Creek is a great candidate. Go to Howe, Idaho on State Highway 33.  Turn north on the paved county road and travel for miles up the Little Lost River Valley. The pavement ends just above the “almost township” of Clyde, Idaho.  From here travel further up the well-maintained gravel road bearing to right to where it forks for final time. Take the right fork (left hand fork goes on to the Pahsimeroi Valley), and follow it to the Sawmill Creek crossing. You can stop here, about 130 miles north and west of Idaho Falls,  and fish or travel further up the creek to drop off at any worthy looking spot, and there are many of them, to give it a try.  Rainbows, brookies and bull trout are the residents, and anything over fourteen inches is a “braggin’ fish” , so plan your tackle accordingly.  They will take just about any attractor, caddisfly life cycle or terrestrial pattern you offer on top water, and sub-surface they do the same for any soft hackle or nymph pattern presented.  Yes, it is a long haul, but the country is gorgeous and good fishing almost a sure thing.  Don’t forget that camera.