South Fork

South Fork 11-3-15

Flow out of Palisades Dam was reduced yesterday to 887 cfs. That’s right around the winter maintenance flow of 900 cfs.  Flow at Heise is 1400 cfs. Flow going into Palisades Reservoir is close to 3000 cfs, so storage for 2016 irrigation season has begun.  Let’s  hope there will be water in abundance for users and recreationists alike in 2016.

It’s great weather for encountering migrating brown trout, and it looks like that will be the case for the next several day.  Dress warmly, keep your favorite streamer patterns handy, and wade carefully!

South Fork 10-31-15

That wind is keeping the BWOs down even with the present overcast.  Try midge emerger patterns if you’re into top water fishing this time of year. Otherwise presenting streamer patterns for migrating browns is the way to encounter some big trout this time of year. Flow out of Palisades Dam is about 1150 cfs, a bit over the winter management flow of 900 cfs which will come soon. Flow at Heise is currently about 1500 cfs.

South Fork 10-27-15

Flow out of Palisades Dam was dropped to 900 cfs yesterday. This will be the winter maintenance flow until next irrigation season. Flow at Heise is now about 1600 cfs.

South Fork 10-24-15

Flow out of Palisades Dam is currently a subject of interest. There is a proposal to reduce it to 600 cfs for a few days to perform repairs on a canal head gate. Currently flow out of Palisades Dam is just over 1400 cfs making for great walk-in and wade fishing.  U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, however, will eventually reduce flow out of Palisades Dam to 900 cfs, the winter maintenance flow, and likely no lower.  As the river flows downstream to the Heise area, it picks up flow from Palisades,Rainey, Pine, Burns, and other creeks thus increasing water to the benefit of the fish population.

South Fork 10-21-15

Currently flow out of Palisades Dam is at 2090 cfs. A Great Feeder Canal Board project coming on line next week is to perform maintenance work on the Great Feeder (GF) head gates with a proposal to lower flow out of Palisades Dam to 600 cfs for at least three days. To minimize impact on the river below the GF head gates, three canals leaving above the GF will hold increased water that will be diverted back into the river below in an attempt to minimize the project impact on fish. How  much of the river will be impacted by this project is unknown at this time, but as soon as we receive information on how much as well as any change in time for this low flow, we will pass it on here. Just be aware that next week fishing and fish well-being in the river below the GF will be effected.

South Fork of the Snake 10-15-15

The flow dropped last night from 4600 cfs to 3100 cfs. We haven’t heard what the eventual winter flow will be but generally it is between 1,000- 1500 cfs by early November. We are seeing good hatches now of Blue Wing Olives and Mahogany Duns. The Streamer fishing has been best early in the morning and then again late afternoon until dark. With the cloudy cool weather coming this weekend we could see some very good dry fly action.

South Fork 10-13-15

All water properties are holding steady for the last five days.  Weather looks like it will be about the same for next several days. So look for continuation of current fishing success.

Derrick (208-529-8676) lost a brown and white pack pack at Fullmer this weekend.  It contained tackle and a cell phone. Please get in touch with him at number above if you found it or have info on it.

South Fork 10-10-15

Again the discharge graph for flow out of Palisades Dam looks like a step function. It is down to 5250 cfs (5620 cfs at Heise) as of yesterday. With Palisades Reservoir down to 29% of capacity, more flow reduction is coming up to begin the storage season. Therefore look for more wading opportunities along the river. The bright weather forecast for the next several days will diminish the BWO and Mahogany dun activities, but presenting streamers during early and late times could bring larger fish to strike.  Also, we have heard of some success for folks casting rubber leg patterns on the downstream side of riffles.

South Fork 10-6-15

Flow out of Palisades Dam was dropped to 6770 cfs early this AM.  That means more walk-in wade opportunities. Come in and talk to us about best locations to try. BWOs are going strongest during cloudy PMs and are accompanied by mahoganys. If you try the river during low light conditions such as those BWOs favor for emerging, consider that browns will begin moving big time as we cool off. That means streamer patterns should be in your fly box anywhere on the river.

South Fork 10-1-15

Flow out Palisades Dam has been about stable for several days at around 7400 cfs. This is about 3000 cfs higher than normal for the present, but low enough to offer some wading. Flow will soon come down as Palisades Reservoir is just under 30% of capacity with storage season just around the corner.  With uncertain weather continuing, look for good BWO activity and trout responses and the same for mahogany duns. Although Henry’s Fork browns are on the move in the lower river, it is early for the same to be significant in the colder South Fork, but having streamer patterns in that fly box is a good idea.