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.
No comments:
Post a Comment