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.
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