South Fork
Releases from Palisades Reservoir have been at over 16,000 cfs for the past week. Fishing has been spotty on the upper have of the South Fork from the Dam down to Fulmer, but there is decent fishing from Fulmer down to the confluence with the Henry's Fork. It has been nymphing almost across the board - San Juan Worms, Prince Nymphs (size 12-14), Zug Bugs (size 12), Cyclops (size 12-14), Lightening Bugs (size 10-12), and Pat's Rubber Legs (size 6-8). Many of us have been fishing our double nymph rigs with at least 9 ft. of leader from the indicator down to the lead fly and with double BB shot approximately one foot above the lead fly. Yes, this is leading to lots of snags, lost flies, and a fair amount of whitefish, but it is also getting to South Fork trout, most of which are holding and feeding deep under the current conditions.
One upbeat note for the South Fork - our guide on the lower South Fork from Heise to Lorenzo are picking up trout on stonefly nymphs fished close to banks and shallow structure. Perhaps we are seeing the salmon flies move towards the surface for emergence. Water temps have been topping out at 53 degrees on the lower South Fork, approaching that magic 56 to 59 degree temp needed for full-on emergence.
Snake River
The runoff on the Snake is beginning to recede but only the section of river from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek is fishable. Releases from the dam are at 3,600 cfs. Trout are being taken on black or red Copper Johns (size 12-16) and Prince Nymphs (size 12-16). Lightening Bugs (size 12-16) and Rainbow Warriors (size 18) are also bringing in trout, but the are also hooking into a lot of whitefish. Riffles and submerged structure are producing the best. We are not seeing large cutthroat yet, but lake trout up to 20 inches are being taken.
We are seeing a little bit of dry fly action on this section of river, also. Adult blue-winged olives, PMDs, and caddis are making an appearance on the surface. But what little surface activity is occurring is happening on large dry flies like Parachute Adams (size 10), red SRA Chernobyls (size 10), and a variety of Will's Winged Chernobyl (size 8-10).
Green and New Fork Rivers
The Green and New Fork rivers are clearing but remain high and are receding slowly. This should be prime streamer time, but the spotty action that is taking place has been on nymphs, particularly Pat's Rubber Leg (size 8-10), Prince Nymphs (size 12-14), Zug Bugs (size 12), 20-Inchers (size 16), and LOF Pheasant Tails (size 14-16). Generally, it is riffles that have been producing in the mornings and banks and structure in the afternoon. Eddies and confluence points have not been performing well as of yet. On the New Fork, the two reaches running from Town to Boulder and Boulder to East Fork have been the most productive sections. On the Green, the reaches running from Warren Bridge to Hatchery and Hatchery down to Daniel Bridge have been the best.
Yellowstone National Park
Firehole River - We are seeing a lot of caddis and blue-winged olives on the water and a few yellow sallies. Most of the activity is below the surface on olive Copper Johns (size 14), long hackled Prince Nymphs (size 12-14), Biot Bugs (size 10-12), and Z-Wing Caddis Nymphs (size 14-16). But surface action is occurring with olive or gray X-Caddis (size 14-16), Tilt-Wing Caddis (size 14), and olive Hare's Ear Wulffs (size 14-16). Riffles running from stem-to-stern has been the the best producing piece of holding water.
Lewis Lake - Lewis Lake is still fishing well on the west shore flats with white Clousers (size 8), gray or olive Mohair Leeches (size 8-10), chartreuse over pearl Bend Backs (size 10), and Mallard Spiders (size 6-8). We are fishing these with Type 3 sink tips and picking up lake trout and brown approaching 20 inches.
Lewis River - Drakes are starting to appear at least intermittently on the Lewis River in the meadows below Lewis Falls. Most of the big browns on this section are being taken on drake nymph imitations (Flashback Pheasant Tails and Copper Johns in size 10). Surface action should begin to happen here within the next week or so.
Salt River
The Salt River is finally receding but is still muddy and very difficult to fish at the moment.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Fly Fishing Report for June 22, 2010
Snake River
The Snake is still in runoff but the tailwater stretch from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek is crystal clear and fishing well with nymphs and streamers. Releases from JLD are at 1,500 cfs currently - almost ideal for this piece of water. Below the dam we are catching lake trout and cutthroat on white Bow River Buggers (size 6-8), gray over white Flash Fry (size 8), and Mallard Spiders (size 6). A fair number of these are running from 18 to 20 inches. Nymphs are working in downstream riffles and eddies. Lightening Bugs (size 12-14), red Copper Johns (size 12), and black Copper Johns (size 14-16) have been the most productive patterns.
South Fork
The South Fork is providing us with some of the best fishing in the region. Releases from Palisades Reservoir have dropped significantly from 22,000 cfs to 12,000 cfs. Double nymph rigs consisting of Pat's Rubber Leg and Perkins' PM Muskrat Nymph trailing San Juan Worms, Cyclops (size 10-14), and Lightening Bugs (size 10-12) is providing solid action from the upper reaches of the river - Palisades Creek - down to Byington. Fishing this setup along banks and structure is producing big browns. Over the past week, many of our guides have brought in browns over 19 inches each day, and some days with two or three at this length. 16 to 18 inch browns can be counted on throughout the day on most outings.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is a great place to be right now. Much of the water open to fishing currently is producing well. The Firehole has a strong caddis and PMD hatch most days now that the water weather is upon us. Yellow sallies are also appearing on the water. Almost every riffle you can fish from Biscuit Basin down to below Midway Gyser has action. Olive or yellow Soft Hackles (size 12-16), long hackled Prince Nymphs (size 12-16), Zug Bugs (size 14-16), Lightening Bugs (size 16-18), and Rainbow Warriors (size 16-18) are amongst the best producing flies. Soft Hackles and Prince Nymphs are doing well when swung through the entire length of riffles. Surface activity has dwindled some over the last week, but can still be had on Parachute Adams (size 12-16), Elk Hair Caddis (size 14-18), and olive or black Furimsky BDEs (size 14-18).
The Madison is also fishing well, especially from 9 Mile Hole down to the Park entrance. Salmon flies are hatching among the upper reaches but browns and rainbows appear to be taking almost anything but salmon fly imitations, especially below the surface. Our guides have been using yellow or white Sex Dungeons (size 4) and yellow Flash Frys (size 4). Double nymph rigs consisting of Pat's Rubber Leg Stones or Perkins' Stone Nymphs suspending Prince nymphs (size 16), Soft Hackles (size 12-16), or olive Copper Johns (size 14-16) have been solid throughout the day. Madison bows' are taking the lead and trailing nymphs with similar consistency.
But it is the lakes that have been producing best of all. Both Yellowstone and Lewis Lake have come on strong over the past couple of weeks. Surface water temperatures on both are hovering between 49 and 52 degrees at mid-day. Large cutthroats (20 plus inches) are being taken on Yellowstone Lake in the shallow parts of thermoclines and "near" the mouths of tributaries. Lake trout and browns are cruising the flats of Brookie Bay and the West Shore bays on Lewis Lake and can be taken on size 8 Clousers (with olive or gray overbodies) and olive or gray Mohair Leeches (size 8). It is really something special to sight cast to these fish as they cruise the flats. A little piece of saltwater here in the Rockies. Type 3 to Type 8 sink tips is what we have been using. The most successful retrieves have been hard and fast.
Green and New Fork Rivers
The warmer temperature we have been experiencing over the last few days have increased the flows on these two rivers, but they still have at least two feet of visibility on most sections, especially those running from the Forest Srevice boundary down to Daniel Junction. Streamers are bringing in decent sized browns from 15 to 18 inches. Tan Zoo Cougars (size 4), tan or natural Sex Dungeons (size 4), Purple Passion Zonkers (size 8), and brown over white Quad Bunnies (size 4) have been performing best. As for nymphs, red San Juan Worms, Prince Nymphs (size 14) and 20-incher Nymphs (size 16) are doing very well in riffles and along submerged structure.
Salt River
The Salt is still in runoff and won't be fishable for our standards for quite another two weeks or so.
The Snake is still in runoff but the tailwater stretch from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek is crystal clear and fishing well with nymphs and streamers. Releases from JLD are at 1,500 cfs currently - almost ideal for this piece of water. Below the dam we are catching lake trout and cutthroat on white Bow River Buggers (size 6-8), gray over white Flash Fry (size 8), and Mallard Spiders (size 6). A fair number of these are running from 18 to 20 inches. Nymphs are working in downstream riffles and eddies. Lightening Bugs (size 12-14), red Copper Johns (size 12), and black Copper Johns (size 14-16) have been the most productive patterns.
South Fork
The South Fork is providing us with some of the best fishing in the region. Releases from Palisades Reservoir have dropped significantly from 22,000 cfs to 12,000 cfs. Double nymph rigs consisting of Pat's Rubber Leg and Perkins' PM Muskrat Nymph trailing San Juan Worms, Cyclops (size 10-14), and Lightening Bugs (size 10-12) is providing solid action from the upper reaches of the river - Palisades Creek - down to Byington. Fishing this setup along banks and structure is producing big browns. Over the past week, many of our guides have brought in browns over 19 inches each day, and some days with two or three at this length. 16 to 18 inch browns can be counted on throughout the day on most outings.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is a great place to be right now. Much of the water open to fishing currently is producing well. The Firehole has a strong caddis and PMD hatch most days now that the water weather is upon us. Yellow sallies are also appearing on the water. Almost every riffle you can fish from Biscuit Basin down to below Midway Gyser has action. Olive or yellow Soft Hackles (size 12-16), long hackled Prince Nymphs (size 12-16), Zug Bugs (size 14-16), Lightening Bugs (size 16-18), and Rainbow Warriors (size 16-18) are amongst the best producing flies. Soft Hackles and Prince Nymphs are doing well when swung through the entire length of riffles. Surface activity has dwindled some over the last week, but can still be had on Parachute Adams (size 12-16), Elk Hair Caddis (size 14-18), and olive or black Furimsky BDEs (size 14-18).
The Madison is also fishing well, especially from 9 Mile Hole down to the Park entrance. Salmon flies are hatching among the upper reaches but browns and rainbows appear to be taking almost anything but salmon fly imitations, especially below the surface. Our guides have been using yellow or white Sex Dungeons (size 4) and yellow Flash Frys (size 4). Double nymph rigs consisting of Pat's Rubber Leg Stones or Perkins' Stone Nymphs suspending Prince nymphs (size 16), Soft Hackles (size 12-16), or olive Copper Johns (size 14-16) have been solid throughout the day. Madison bows' are taking the lead and trailing nymphs with similar consistency.
But it is the lakes that have been producing best of all. Both Yellowstone and Lewis Lake have come on strong over the past couple of weeks. Surface water temperatures on both are hovering between 49 and 52 degrees at mid-day. Large cutthroats (20 plus inches) are being taken on Yellowstone Lake in the shallow parts of thermoclines and "near" the mouths of tributaries. Lake trout and browns are cruising the flats of Brookie Bay and the West Shore bays on Lewis Lake and can be taken on size 8 Clousers (with olive or gray overbodies) and olive or gray Mohair Leeches (size 8). It is really something special to sight cast to these fish as they cruise the flats. A little piece of saltwater here in the Rockies. Type 3 to Type 8 sink tips is what we have been using. The most successful retrieves have been hard and fast.
Green and New Fork Rivers
The warmer temperature we have been experiencing over the last few days have increased the flows on these two rivers, but they still have at least two feet of visibility on most sections, especially those running from the Forest Srevice boundary down to Daniel Junction. Streamers are bringing in decent sized browns from 15 to 18 inches. Tan Zoo Cougars (size 4), tan or natural Sex Dungeons (size 4), Purple Passion Zonkers (size 8), and brown over white Quad Bunnies (size 4) have been performing best. As for nymphs, red San Juan Worms, Prince Nymphs (size 14) and 20-incher Nymphs (size 16) are doing very well in riffles and along submerged structure.
Salt River
The Salt is still in runoff and won't be fishable for our standards for quite another two weeks or so.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Lewis Lake Update - June 18th, 2010
Lewis Lake is starting to fish pretty very well. Lake trout and browns are up on the flats of Brookie Bay and the Westbank bays. Gray over white and olive over white Clouser on Type 6 and Type 8 sink tips have been nailing it! Olive Mohair Leeches are bringing in the lake trout cruising in the super shallow parts of the flats. The retrieve has been hard and fast. The lake trout have been averaging around 18 inches. The browns have been closer to 20 inches. Expect one brown for every five or six lake trout. Perhaps we will see the big 20-plus inch fish on the flats soon.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Fly Fishing Update for June 16th, 2010
Snake River
The Snake is receding but still remains in full runoff. The one fishable section of river is from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek. The water below the dam is running much clearer than a week ago and flows have dropped to 4,000 cfs. This is good place to try bright streamers and standard nymphs, particularly San Juan Worms, Pat's Rubber Leg Stone, Prince Nymphs, and Zug Bugs. Most anglers in the area are hoping that releases from the dam will continue to drop or remain stable over the coming weeks. However, the Lake is at 97% capacity and if inflow into the lake begins to rise dramatically again (and inflow is currently on the rise), than we might see releases increase again.
South Fork
Releases from Palisades have dropped from 23,500 cfs to 19,000 cfs and will probably be held there or drop a little more over the next several days. We are only now beginning to put boats on the South Fork again. Last year, the South Fork fished surprisingly well at 19,000 cfs. We will soon no if this is the case this year.
Green River
The Green has been dropping significantly over the past few days and the clarity of the water is surprising. The result has been perhaps the best fishing to be found in the area. It is by no means on fire, but it is definitely worth fishing. Streamers are working OK, but it is nymphs that have been producing best of all - Sna Juan Worms, Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 10-12), Lightening Bugs (size 10-12), 20-Inchers (size 12-14), and Pat's Rubber Leg Stone (size 8). At times the strikes on these flies have been tentative. Relaxed hook sets have been compensating for this.
There has been dry fly activity later in the day as well. Caddis are everywhere, but the real action has been on large foam ant patterns - Willie's Red Ant (size 8), Foam Double Humpies (size 8), and Tara Xs (size 8). We are fishing these with a dropper extended 12 to 16 inches below the dry and using the nymphs listed above. Its not solid surface action yet, but it is some fun stuff and a nice change of pace from nymphing, at least for a couple of hours in late afternoon.
The best fishing has been found from Warren Bridge down to Daniel. Fishing is a little slower above the bridge and below Daniel. Flows are beginning to come up again slightly, which may make the fishing a bit more difficult.
Salt River
Still high and muddy and offering very little fishing.
Yellowstone National Park
Lewis Lake is almost completely clear of ice and as the water temps have increased, so too has the opportunity for good fishing. There are increasing opportunities for fishing Brookie Bay for cruising lake trout and brown trout. Sight fishing to these cruisers is beginning to happen more and more. We have been using white Clouser Minnows in sizes 6 to 8 and almost nothing else. The West Shore bays have also been fishing well with Clousers and, to a lesser degree, gray or light olive Mohair Leeches.
Flows on the Firehole River have been fluctuating from 150 and 300 cfs but is fishing really well with yellow Soft Hackles (size 10-12), Lite-Bright Serendipities (size 12-16), Prince Nymphs (size 12-14), and Zug Bugs (size 12-16). Caddis have been quite prevalent on the surface as have been blue-winged olives. When trout are coming to the surface, we are getting them on olive Parachute Adams (size 18) and ILRs (size 16).
The Snake is receding but still remains in full runoff. The one fishable section of river is from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek. The water below the dam is running much clearer than a week ago and flows have dropped to 4,000 cfs. This is good place to try bright streamers and standard nymphs, particularly San Juan Worms, Pat's Rubber Leg Stone, Prince Nymphs, and Zug Bugs. Most anglers in the area are hoping that releases from the dam will continue to drop or remain stable over the coming weeks. However, the Lake is at 97% capacity and if inflow into the lake begins to rise dramatically again (and inflow is currently on the rise), than we might see releases increase again.
South Fork
Releases from Palisades have dropped from 23,500 cfs to 19,000 cfs and will probably be held there or drop a little more over the next several days. We are only now beginning to put boats on the South Fork again. Last year, the South Fork fished surprisingly well at 19,000 cfs. We will soon no if this is the case this year.
Green River
The Green has been dropping significantly over the past few days and the clarity of the water is surprising. The result has been perhaps the best fishing to be found in the area. It is by no means on fire, but it is definitely worth fishing. Streamers are working OK, but it is nymphs that have been producing best of all - Sna Juan Worms, Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 10-12), Lightening Bugs (size 10-12), 20-Inchers (size 12-14), and Pat's Rubber Leg Stone (size 8). At times the strikes on these flies have been tentative. Relaxed hook sets have been compensating for this.
There has been dry fly activity later in the day as well. Caddis are everywhere, but the real action has been on large foam ant patterns - Willie's Red Ant (size 8), Foam Double Humpies (size 8), and Tara Xs (size 8). We are fishing these with a dropper extended 12 to 16 inches below the dry and using the nymphs listed above. Its not solid surface action yet, but it is some fun stuff and a nice change of pace from nymphing, at least for a couple of hours in late afternoon.
The best fishing has been found from Warren Bridge down to Daniel. Fishing is a little slower above the bridge and below Daniel. Flows are beginning to come up again slightly, which may make the fishing a bit more difficult.
Salt River
Still high and muddy and offering very little fishing.
Yellowstone National Park
Lewis Lake is almost completely clear of ice and as the water temps have increased, so too has the opportunity for good fishing. There are increasing opportunities for fishing Brookie Bay for cruising lake trout and brown trout. Sight fishing to these cruisers is beginning to happen more and more. We have been using white Clouser Minnows in sizes 6 to 8 and almost nothing else. The West Shore bays have also been fishing well with Clousers and, to a lesser degree, gray or light olive Mohair Leeches.
Flows on the Firehole River have been fluctuating from 150 and 300 cfs but is fishing really well with yellow Soft Hackles (size 10-12), Lite-Bright Serendipities (size 12-16), Prince Nymphs (size 12-14), and Zug Bugs (size 12-16). Caddis have been quite prevalent on the surface as have been blue-winged olives. When trout are coming to the surface, we are getting them on olive Parachute Adams (size 18) and ILRs (size 16).
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Fly Fishing Update for June 8th, 2010
South Fork
Flows have been going up over the past few days, from 8,000 cfs to 14,000 cfs, but that has only slightly slowed the fishing. Expect action along banks, structure, and in the riffles for at least part of each day. Sometimes it is the morning that has been good, sometimes it is the afternoon. The upper South Fork in Swan Valley is fishing best with streamers (gray over white Clousers and gray over white Zonkers, both is sizes 4 to 8) Prince Nymphs (size 12-14), and San Juan Worms. The Canyon sections are still fishing fine but are noticeably more off color because of the heavy runoff being experienced on Pine Creek.
The fish on the upper South Fork have been BIG. We are clearing the 18 inch mark each day and get a couple 20-plus inch browns is not out of the question. These photos are from a June 7th trip on the Upper South Fork with Gary and Geri Glenn.
Yellowstone National Park
The Firehole has been slightly more off-color than normal but is fishing well with the standard fare - olive and yellow soft hackles (size 12) swung throughout the entire length of riffles, red or copper Copper Johns (size 14-16), Rainbow Warriors (size 18), and Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 12-16). Biscuit Basin and Midway Geyser have been the hot spots, and surprisingly not a lot of angling pressure.
Lewis Lake is getting a little better access with melting surface ice but water temperatures have been a bit cooler than normal for this time of year. Our guides have been getting action with browns on Type 6 and Type 8 sink tips fishing olive or gray Mohair Leeches (size 8-10) and gray-over-white Kyrstal Buggers and Bow River Buggers (size 8).
Snake River
The Snake is in full runoff. Warm temps and heavy rains recently has sparked dramatic spikes in river flows throughout the region. Releases from Jackson Lake Dam have hit 10,000 cfs and flows at Alpine are at almost 25,000 cfs. It will be a while before we can fish the Snake, but as soon as flows from the dam hit 4,500 cfs, we will begin fishing that tailwater section running down to Pacific Creek.
Green and New Fork Rivers
Both these streams are in full runoff with flows exceeding 2,000 cfs. When they begin to recede and we get two feet of visibility, both the Green and the New Fork should starting fishing well with streamers and large, double nymph rigs.
Salt River
The Salt is deep into runoff. We won't be fishing this for some time.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
June 3rd 2010 Update - Time for a Switcheroo from B of R
The Bureau of Reclamation recently announced that they will begin ramping up flows out of Jackson Lake Dam over the next three days, bringing it up from 400 cfs to 1400 cfs. This change in operations is sparked by a recent and dramatic upsurge in runoff above Jackson Lake.
On Monday, June 7th, B of R will make an assessment to determine if additional released are required. Either way, things are moving in the right direction for fishing up there. The higher the flows at JLD, the better.
On Monday, June 7th, B of R will make an assessment to determine if additional released are required. Either way, things are moving in the right direction for fishing up there. The higher the flows at JLD, the better.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
June 2nd, 2010: Releases from Jackson Lake Dam to be Delayed
Due to the cooler weather in area over the past two weeks, the Bureau of Reclamation will delay their releases from Jackson Lake Dam for several days. Originally, BR was projecting releases to occur around June 6th and continue until the middle of the month. As of now, the Bureau is delaying releases until the lake is over 95% of capacity. This may not occur until closer to June 12th or so. When it does eventually occur, expect fishing on the reach of the river from the Dam to Pacific Creek to start fishing very well.
A Quick and Dirty on the South Fork!
The South Fork is continuing to fish well with streamers and nymphs from Palisades Reservoir down to Wolf Eddy. Pat's Rubber Legs (size 6-8), Perkin's Stone Nymph (size 6-8), Lightening Bugs (size 12-14), Prince Nymphs (size 10-16), San Juan Worms, gray-over-white Clousers (size 8), and white Bow River Buggers are have been the go-to flies on riffles, along banks and structure, and at the hear of seams and eddy pools.
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