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).