Teton River in the basin offers some good fishing because of ongoing PMD, caddis fly and terrestrial insect activities. Recreational traffic is decreasing as summer transitions to fall.
Warm River Spring
With respect to the insect activity mentioned above for the Teton River, the same is ongoing in the Warm River below Warm River Spring downstream to the top of the cascades. There will be no recreational boaters here and fewer anglers. Thus this part of the river offers a better chance of solitude than present on the Teton River in the basin.
It is kokanee run-up season on Big Elk Creek and many folks are trying to catch them . Most are doing it using legal methods; some are not. IDF&G is present in plain clothes, so if you see any illegal methods being practiced, try to get information to pass on to them, Kokanee will not interfere with cutthroat trout responding to western green drakes emerging higher up on the creek.
Bear and Palisades Creeks in the same area are fishing well with cutthroat responding to drifting terrestrial insect traditional attractor, and caddis life cycle patterns.
The Teton River in the basin offers good fishing for those presenting caddis and PMD life cycle terrestrial insect and traditional attractor patterns. The weekend “plastic hatch” can be overwhelming during mid-day hours, but is diminished during mornings and evenings. Fishing in canyon waters is slower during daytime hours when high air temperatures predominate.
Bitch Creek upstream of State Highway 32
Consider trying Bitch Creek: it is less visited by anglers and recreational floaters are few. There is access above State Highway 32. Yellowstone cutthroat trout predominate in the clear, cool water and they go after terrestrial insect, traditional attractor, and caddis life cycle patterns .
Some of the best small stream action is during afternoons on Big Elk Creek when western green drakes emerge. You will see other fly fishers there, but no plastic canoes! Palisades Creek also offers good fly fishing. Nowhere as many PM western green drakes are present, but terrestrial insects and caddis flies abound. A renegade pattern in sizes 12-14 is very reliable for action here.
We are in the throes of the summer dog days and so the water in so many of our streams is as warm as it will get. So being caught and released under this condition is extremely stressful for salmonids. Only in winter are conditions more stressful for them So consider such as using stronger leaders through which a hooked fish can be played more quickly. After one is landed, try not to remove it from the water at all. Revive it best by facing it totally immersed upstream to get a good flow of water over its gills. Continue this as long as required for increasing it chances of being revived to be enjoyed at a later date.
Flow out of Grassy Lake is being stopped. This action will lower Fall River and warm its water in Idaho enough to make fishing best early and late in the day. Big Elk Creek’s afternoon western green drake has begun, but as with other South Fork tributaries, terrestrial insect and caddis fly life cycle patterns are also producing. Currently the river in Teton Basin offers very good fishing with PMD activity, caddis and terrestrial insects being of interest to trout.
Palisades Reservoir tributaries are at base level flows with caddis life cycle, terrestrial insect and traditional attractor patterns, dry and wet, producing. Western green drakes should be significant on these waters soon.
If you travel to Teton Valley via State Highway 31 from Swan Valley, expect some delays because of two construction areas on the west side of Pine Creek Pass. The Teton River is fishing well with PMDs in full emerging swing and terrestrial insets making near-bank presentations very effective throughout the river in the valley. Weekends and mid-days will bring on a number of recreational floaters. Some are being guided by professionals.The river below the basin will be warmer because of the canyon heating during daytime hours. Beware of rattlesnakes here if you venture away from the river.
Warm River Spring
Warm River just below Warm River spring offers more tranquility than many area small streams. Mainly caddis-stone fly water here it also offers a small number of PMDs and a growing number of bank-side terrestrial insects.
The Teton River in the basin is fishing well for dry fly enthusiasts with PM caddis activity and spinner falls providing late in the day action. PMDs, sallies, and a few green drakes and golden stone flies are around. Our comments on recreational boating traffic on the Henry’s Fork apply to these waters as well. Dry fly fishing in the canyon via the Bitch Creek Slide, Felt Dam, Spring Hollow and the dam site is also good, with streamer patterns also producing. Be fully aware of rattlesnakes if you venture past stream-side locations in the canyon.
Palisades Reservoir tributaries (Bear, Big Elk, McCoy Creeks) and Palisades Creek are in good fishing shape with caddis life cycle, terrestrial insect and traditional attractor patterns working well.
Now is the time to enjoy fishing our small streams, especially those that are a bit remote.
The Blackfoot River drainage above the reservoir is a good example.
Water levels in all streams are good thanks to an abundant snowfall last winter, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDF&G), other government agencies, and Trout Unlimited are working on improving in-stream habitat and riparian zones in many places. Caddis flies and stone flies predominate as aquatic insects and terrestrial insects will become dominant as life forms to consider when making fly pattern selections.. Although some waters run through private areas, there are many stream sections running through public lands. Contacting IDF&G’s Southeast Idaho Region office can give information on where to find water open to the public.
It’s quite a drive from Idaho Falls, around 135 miles to be exact, but right now the Little Lost River drainage above Howe, Idaho is offering good fishing thanks to an abundant snowfall winter in the Lemhi Mountain Range. Rainbow trout to good size and brook trout dominate the drainage with some small bull trout in such as Dry Creek. There is a limited service BLM campground just beyond the pavement end at the Clyde township, More campgrounds, primitive and somewhat developed, are on Sawmill Creek.( see above photo).
Light weight gear ( 3-4 weight) is best for fishing these streams, and the trout and char (brookies and bulls) are not picky. PM caddis activity is reliable and soon, thanks to our dry, hot weather terrestrial insects will be numerous. Stone flies up to goldens in size may still be around. Traditional attractor patterns and bead head nymph patterns of choice are always work well. For sure there will be fewer anglers in this relatively remote area than encountered on most of our small streams closer to town.
Are you looking for a stock of brook trout to have a summertime fish fry? Here are a few streams that are good candidates for creeling enough to do so. Elk Creek at the east end of the USFS’s Buffalo River campground is a good location, and another in the same area is Tom’s Creek which enters Buffalo River just above it on the south side. Not far way to the east Little Warm River is another good place to try,and USFS’s Pole Bridge campground make a good base of operations for gearing up. Cottonwood Creek above Kilgore is another good candidate. It can be a bit brushy, but such places are the best for finding them. Beaver Creek above the Stoddard Creek and campground Interstate-15 Exit holds plenty of brookies, but the adjacent Union Pacific mainline is a considerable danger. Modoc Creek, brushy as ever, below Pauls Reservoir is another good place to try if you do not mind a bit of thrashing through thick willows.
For all these streams, simple flies are the ticket. The brookies in all these are aggressive enough to take any small wet or dry pattern (try such as renegades, bead head nymphs, peacock woolly worms) offered, so save those elaborate and time-consuming-to-tie patterns for the Henry’s Forks, Teton Rivers and South Forks of this world.
