The latest storm to roll through the area has bumped our snow pack up significantly. We have gone from 52% of average on March 25th to 63% as of this morning. While it is still doubtful that we will catch up to the 100% level in the next several weeks, we are still very encouraged by what we have received. Its a little more helpful for our trout.
With the passing of this storm, we are now experiencing warm and sunny weather and the return of some very good fishing on the Snake River and the South Fork. On the Snake, Blue-winged olives and midges are back on the water in force and bringing some top-notch early season dry fly activity. Much of the action has been in the afternoon from approximately 1pm to 5pm. This is a much bigger window of surface action than we have had over the past couple of weeks. The extended forecast calls for a mix of sun, clouds, and rain, but comparatively warm air temps (in the 40s and 50s), so the surface activity should continue for a while and might even get better.
Most encouraging of all is that the South Fork is beginning to come on in a much stronger fashion. The reach of the stream running from Palisades Dam to Palisades Creek has been the place to be for the last few weeks as trout feed on the mysis shrimp working their way out of the reservoir. But we are starting to see some better fishing in the Canyon, and especially the lower Canyon from Cottonwood Flats to Byington. We are picking up some decent browns and cutthroats on nymphs (red Copper Johns, Caddis Sparkle Pupa, and Zug Bugs) and trout in the 15 to 18 inch range on streamers (gold Aztec Warriors, tan and brown Jungle Sculpins). The surface activity is still a bit spotty, but some of the riffles have intense pods of cutthroats and whitefish coming to the surface for blue-winged olives. I am happy to say that the Canyon reach is moving in the right direction.
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