Small Streams Archives - Page 29 of 41

Small Streams 5-8-12

May 8, 2012

Warm weather coming up will bring more run off into streams draining high country. This will put “kibosh” on fishing these for a while. Warm River is an exception if you accept that not many large trout are present. Same goes for the Birch Creek family area and diversion.

Small Streams 4-28-12

April 28, 2012

Small Streams

Run off remains the culprit here. And it looks like that’ll be the case for a while. Fall River and Teton River, both open to catch & release fishing, drain high country and their increased flows mean slow fishing and impacts on the lower Henry’s Fork. There are a few exceptions. Warm River, also open to catch & release fishing, does not drain high country. It is a bit high and clear, but can be fished. Blackfoot River from the dam to the bridge just below is in fishing condition. Birch Creek diversion and in the family area are in excellent shape. Expect fast afternoon fishing when small (#14-#18, your choice) bead head nymphs and even small (#16-#20, midge & BWO patterns) dry flies are presented. PM water temperatures are in the high 50s in degrees Fahrenheit, just about ideal for aquatic insect and fish activity. Use your favorite light weight rod, and you will have a great time.

Small Streams 4-14-12

April 14, 2012

Small Streams

Most are impacted by run off because of recent warm weather. Exception is the Birch Creek diversion and family area where a light weight rod and small bead head nymph patterns are ideal for afternoon fishing. You may see some BWO activity.

Small Streams 3-6-12

March 6, 2012

Small Streams

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

October 25, 2011

Small Streams

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

October 11, 2011

Small Streams

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

October 7, 2011

Small Streams

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

September 19, 2011

Small Streams

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

September 13, 2011

Small Streams

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

September 1, 2011

Small Streams

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.

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Small Streams

Small Streams 5-8-12

Small Streams 4-28-12

Small Streams 4-14-12

Small Streams 3-6-12

Small Streams 10-25-2011

Small Streams 10-11-2011

Small Streams 10-07-2011

Small Streams 9-16-2011

Small Streams 9-13-2011

Small Streams 9-1-2011

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