South Fork

South Fork 8/8

Tight to the banks with your hopper and ant patterns! that’s as good a way as any to find success these days. We are past the PMD peak, but action can still be had on the riffles. The river above Heise seems to be fishing best for all the ways we mention here.

We had some electronic action when we asked a few days ago about knowing what a “stiffie” is. When we revealed that “stiffie” is a local term for the rocky mountain whitefish, responses ranged all the way from “eat ’em” to “love ’em”.

Incidentally that was a typo in the IFPR the on Monday, 8/4. The flow out of Palisades Dam never did spike up to 20000 cfs. It has stayed around 12900-13000 for several weeks.

South Fork 8/4

Tim Woodard is a premier South Fork guide. We picked Tim’s fishing brain for some thoughts on what brings mid summer South Fork fly-fishing success. Hoppers are beginning to produce fish on the lower river and in the canyon. Parahoppers and Rainey’s hopper seem to work well. Fish ’em & foam ants tight into the bank. Expect refusals, and realize that inches in placing these flies with a drag free drift can make a difference in whether it is taken. Riffle fishing is still good, but getting tougher as fish are getting picky. Change patterns frequently and concentrate on rising fish during daytime. Nymph (rubberlegs or beadheads) tight into the banks in the early AM and in the late afternoon when the fishing slows. Fishing tight into banks gets you trout; about a foot or so away, you get into more “stiffies” (email us if you don’t know what a “stiffie” is, but any long-time South Fork fly-fisher knows what a “stiffie” is!). Tim also suggests not overlooking the numerous small channels along the South Fork. They don’t see drift boat traffic like the main river, so get out and wade ’em.