South Fork 3-5

We have many customers calling and coming to talk to us about fishing on the South Fork today. While fishing on the South Fork is good right now, floating the river is not your best option. Right now the flows are lower than they have been all winter. Flows out of the Dam are around 1200 cfs. This means that a 3 mile float is going to take you all day to float. Snow removal is not maintained on the boat ramps during the winter. All of the Swan Valley boat ramps are snowed in and not accessible with a truck and trailer. The only boat ramps that are open on the river is Wolf and Byington. Byington however is iced over and requires chains, and 4×4 drive to get your truck out of the ramp.

With the flows being this low walk in access is very good. We suggest Heise Bridge, Wolf Flats, Kelley Island, Spring Creek Bridge, and Fall Creek. Access to the Canyon road is closed above Wolf Flats but the fishing is accesable along this road up to that point. From the road closure you can walk in but no vehicles are allowed to protect wintering wildlife. Catching fish has been productive with Rubberleg Nymphs , Beadhead nymphs and midges on top. There has been some productivity on Streamers but you must present them extremely slow because the fish are not that active. Concentrate your fishing during the warmest part of the day and you should find some success during this spell of warm weather. For any more information or questions call us here at the shop.