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.