Fly Fishing Report - July 7, 2010

Snake River

The Snake is clearing fast and with it is coming better dry fly action. Yellow sallies, PMDs, and speckled-winged quills are about on most stretches of water. The tailwater section from Jackson Lake Dam to approximately 2.5 miles below the Buffalo Fork remains clear and is fishing best of all in riffles and along banks with Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14), black Airflo Tricos (size 16), and yellow Stimulators (size 12). Below the Buffalo Fork, the river is off color but cutthroat are being taken on large attractors like Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8), Will’s Red Ant (size 6-8), and Electric Banana Snake River Water Walkers (size 8). The surface action is by no means over the top, but it is enough to keep a fly fisher interested. Better dry fly action is just around the corner.

South Fork

Dry fly action is finally starting to happen on the lower South Fork from Wolf Flats down to Lorenzo. Salmon flies are appearing but they are over shadowed by heavy hatches of green drakes that are all over the river. Riffles, flats, and undercut banks are producing with Tilt-Wing Green Drakes (size 10), Green Drake Emergers (size 10), and green Hangdy Downdy Emergers (size 10). 18” to 19” cutthroat and browns are not out of the questions.

On the upper stretch of the South Fork from Palisades Reservoir down to Wolf Flats double nymphs rigs still rule the day. Pat’s Rubber Legs (size 6-10), San Juan Worms, 20-Inchers (size 12), Lightening Bugs (size 12-14) and Blue Tungstens (size 10-12) are doing the trick when fished tight to banks and deep in riffles and along seams.

Green River

The Green has dropped precipitously over the past few days and is beginning to fish very well. On the upper Green, large dry flies like the Circus Peanut (size 6-8), Will’s Purple Ant (size 8), and red Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8) are bringing up large browns, some clearing the 20” mark. This action is almost exclusively on banks with very little activity anywhere else. The lower Green – from Daniel down to Sommers – has very little by way of dry fly action but nymphs rigs are doing well along banks and seams. Pat’s Rubber Legs (size 6-10), San Juan Worms, long hackled Prince Nymphs (size 12), Zug Bugs (size 10-12) and red or black Copper Johns (size 10-12) have been producing best.