Fly Fishing Report for Sept. 2nd 2010

Snake River
Cooler and wetter weather is now in the area, and that means that the Snake is beginning to fish very well with dry flies. In fact, you might say that it is off the charts. Yes, streamers are working magnificently, but this is the time of the year when the Snake River gets its reputations as some of the best dry fly fishing river in North America. Claassenia stoneflies, hecubas, micro caddis, and infrequen PMDs are all on the water and the cutthroat are rising to just about anything that imitates them. If it cools down enough, expect to see BWOS. Mahogany Duns and October caddis are just around the corner.

The lower river from Wilson Bridge down to Sheep Gulch remains the best part of the river in terms of fishing, but the upper part of the river from Pacific Creek to downstream to Wilson Bridge is fishing very well with streamers along banks and structure and in riffles with small dry flies and emergent patterns. The most productive flies have been olive or rust Morrish Sculpins (size 4 to 6), black-over-gray Quad Bunnies (size 4 to 6), Parachute Hare's Ear Ribbed (size 12); Brown Drake Emerger (size 10 to 12); Quigley Cripple (size 12) and the Pheasant Tail Emerger (size 12 to 14). If you have the chance to fish a side channel, do it! It can be very good water to target when the weather is right.

Keep an eye on the water temps. We have been fishing streamers in the morning until the water temps hits 54 degrees. It is at that point that the PMDS and hecubas really start to come out. You can fish dry flies exclusively from then on for the rest of the day.


South Fork
Like the Snake, the South Fork has benefited from the recent change in the weather. The riffles have been where the action is, but they have really come alive over the past week. Recirculating eddies and seams are also producing well. This is especially the case from the Dam at Palisades downstream to Byington. Parkins' PM Muskrat (size 14), Pink Sulfur Emerger (size 14 to 16), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 16),cream or white Snowshoe Duns (size 14), and Parachute Adams (size 14 to 16). Nymphs are working in the riffles and along seams and confluence lines during the later part of the day. Try an olive or black Copper John (size 12), Zug Bug (size 12 to 14), or a Lightening Bug (size 14).