There is little boat traffic on the river. Much of it is from waterfowl hunters. Brown trout are spawning up and down the river. Please do not disturb their redds. They are making the brown trout of the future for us to enjoy.
Flies to fish:
Flow out of Palisades Dam will drop to winter level soon. Right now gages show about 1890 cfs at Irwin, 2600 cfs at Heise and 1000 cfs at Lorenzo. These can make hazardous levels for boating and such will be the case through the winter. Trout will concentrate in deeper water and have their toughest survival times until run-off season. Diminishing BWO activity is going on throughout the river making midge activity providing more of top water action. So begins the season for favoring such as streamer, rubber leg and jig patterns for interesting action. Consider harvesting trout and whitefish trapped in canals that are shut off from the river.
Flies to fish:
Flow out of Palisades Reservoir was dropped to around 4000 cfs yesterday ( about 4700 cfs at Heise, 250 cfs at Lorenzo) and is sure to go lower as normal flow at Irwin for this time of the year is about 3000 cfs. These low flows concentrate fish into deeper holes and runs and make presenting wet patterns of all sizes (midge pupa patterns up to large streamer, rubber leg, and wooly bugger types) more productive and make walk-in-wade locations numerous to the “nth degree.”
For hard sided boats especially, this low flow creates hazards not seen earlier in the season. Sub-surface structure is much closer to the surface and thus can cause damage that can range up to catastrophic. Channels that were once well connected to the main stem can now be cut off making for back tracking to the extreme which can ruin a good day on the water.
Nevertheless, the river still offers good fishing and more tranquility compared to the more hectic days of summer. Afternoon hours can be comfortable and contain good activity from foraging fish. BWOs remain active during these hours; all that is needed is to find them (places with minimal sunlight). Wet fly fishing can be successful regardless of the weather.
Flies to try:
If you want to enjoy pleasant fishing weather, you had better try the river soon. Flow of clear cold water has been constant for several days. Unsettled weather is scheduled to arrive by middle of the coming week. This change will enhance the density of BWO activity during lesser windy weather as well as promote streamer presentation because of better overhead cover that promotes increased aggressive brown trout action. Walk-in-wade locations are numerous. Once again, we at Fly Fish Food Jimmy’s can help you choose which locations to visit at any given time.
Flies to fish:
Flow at Irwin is about 5220 cfs ( about the same at Heise and 2500 cfs at Lorenzo). These are all considerably above normal for this time of he season ( about 4200 cfs at Irwin) . So look for flow to drop further soon. . Top water fishing will begin to diminish soon to BWO and midge activity while streamer fishing will become most effective a brown tout become more aggressive. There are plenty of walk-in-wade locations along the river. Stop in to our shop, and we can suggest some of those where activity is ongoing. Best times for a visit to fish the river is trending towards afternoons and evenings.
Near Spring Creek Launch Site
Flow in the South Fork is exactly where it should be for this time of the year ( about 5500 cfs at Irwin, 5600 cfs at Heise and 2400 cfs at Lorenzo). From the Willow Creek confluence on downstream to American Falls Reservoir aquifer recharge has been significant enough to provide adequate water, thanks to very abundant snowfall the previous winter, for downstream irrigation. Thus water storage is on going in Palisades Reservoir which is now about 50% full. So walk- in- wade opportunities are numerous. The current warm, sunny days and fall colors make for great outings, but we need some unsettled weather to improve BWO activity and to extend streamer fishing into more daytime hours.
September Colors
Flow out of Palisades Dam has been dropping in the form of a negative mode step function (6000 cfs at Irwin, 6100 cfs at Heise and 3300 cfs at Lorenzo). That’s because water managers are now thinking time to build reservoir storage. The result of these actions for fly fishers is the best time of the year to fly fish the South Fork. The autumn may fly emergence peak is ongoing and, to date no killing frost yet to reduce terrestrial insect populations, all making for great top water fishing. There is a superb walk-in-wade selection and brown trout becoming more aggressive towards streamer patterns presented in low light conditions. Fall colors are on the rise and visiting anglers are greatly reduced. We at Fly Fish Foods Jimmy’s keep track of where to try, when and what to use and water conditions on this great river. We are certainly willing to share this information with you!
Above Spring Creek Launch
September is the most attractive time of the season to fly fish this river. Water is clear and cold with relatively stable flow. Recreational boat traffic is down, walk-in-wade opportunities are almost unlimited, and fall colors are developing. Terrestrial insects are the best reasons for great top water fishing but changing weather is bringing on the fall mayfly ( mainly BWOs and mahogany duns) emergence peak, and as we advance into autumn months streamer fishing will become more effective as brown trout prepare or their spawn. .
Autumn Colors Are Coming
Palisades Reservoir is about 60% full, so look for flows out of it to decrease almost systematically as summer winds down. This action will make for a great choice of walk-in-wade locations and make boating tougher. Presenting streamer patterns in the evening will become increasingly effective too. Unsettled weather predicted for later this week could bring on the so far scarce autumn mayfly (BWO & mahogany dun) emergences.
Small increases in flow do not impact water quality in the river or fish activity. Terrestrial insects, PMDs and caddis make for continued good dry fly fishing. Fall colors are not far away! The Jackson Hole One Fly is this weekend, so there may be an increase in traffic on the river.
Flies to fish: