Fly Fishing Report for August 23rd, 2010

Snake River
The Snake continues to fish very well. However, the warm temps and low flows (releases at Jackson Lake Dam are below 1,700 cfs currently) in the drainage has meant that the dry fly activity has narrowed a bit. The best surface action currently is from approximately 9:30 am to 2 pm with trout being taken on Quigley Cripples (size 10 to 12), Ausable Wullfs (size 12), yellow Stimulators (size 10 to 12), Melon Bellys (size 8 to 10), Tara Xs (size 8 to 10), purple or gold Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), and Will’s Red Ants (size 8 to 12). These patterns have been effective because they are taking advantage of the prevalent bugs on the water currently, especially PMDs and caddis. We are also seeing more and more Claassenia stoneflies, which generally make their appearance at the end of August.

To compensate for the lack of action in the afternoon, many of our guides have been turning to double nymph rigs. Yes, this is almost considered sacrilege on the Snake at this time of year, but we are having very good results with it. It is simply producing consistent size – 17 to 19 inch cutthroat – throughout the latter half of the day.

Best sections to fish – we would have to say South Park to Prichard Landing has been the most consistent. Pacific Creek to Deadmans Bar is also good, as is Wilson to South Park.

South Fork
The South Fork is fishing well, but the lower flows (releases at Palisades Dam – approximately 9,000 cfs), warm water temps and amount of fishing pressure is making the fishing a bit tougher than it has been over the past six weeks or so. A little perseverance and ingenuity can go a long way in making the fishing seem to be as good as it was all season.

PMDS, caddis, and Claassenia stoneflies are about currently, and the former two generally means that the riffles are the best place to fish. This is the case currently, but straight-up adult patterns are not necessarily bringing the fish up. Instead, the best action is happening on emergent patterns and in-the-film flies. The best flies in this regard have been Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14 to 16), Pink Sulfur Emergers (size 14 to 16), and Perkins’ PM Muskrat Nymph (size 12 to 16). The pools below the riffles are also fishing well with deep nymphs – olive Copper Johns (size 12), Bubbleback Pheasant Tail Nymphs (size 16), Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymphs (size 12 to 14), and Rainbow Warriors (size 16).

Banks and structure are producing trout every now and then with large attractors and hopper imitations, but the best action with these flies have been on flats extending off of banks and on confluence lines between main current channels and small inlets. in the past week we have picked up cutthroat ranging from 18 to 21 inches on this water type.

Best Sections - It is a toss up between the upper South Fork in Swan Valley and the Upper Canyon.

Salt River

Fishing is good on the Salt but the window is tightening as it seems to always do this time of year. Flows are fluctuating between 400 and 500 cfs. The best action is early, between 8 am and 12 pm. Tricos, speckled-wing quills, and infrequen PMDs are the most active bugs on the water at this time of the day, as are some terrestrials, particularly grasshoppers and carpenter ants. Dry fly action has been happening on Air-Flo Cahills (size 14), Ausable Wulffs (size 12-14), Parachute Adams (size 12-16), black Furimsky BDEs (size 16), red SRA Chernobyl Ants (size 10), and brown over salmon Snake River Water Walkers (size 10 -12). In the afternoon, dry fly action slows, but some large cutthroat and brown trout are being taken on nymphs fished as a dropper rig with small attractors. The most productive nymphs have been black or olive Copper Johns (size 14 - 16), Robins (size 14), and Lightening Bugs (size 12 - 14).

Flat Creek
Just in time for late August, the fishing on Flat Creek is becoming challenging. The fishing can be rewarding, however, as the cutthroat being taken on nymphs and small dries are exceedingly large. Cutthroat up to 23 inches have been taken in the early morning and late evening hours on the creek in the vicinity of the National Fish Hatchery. The best flies have been Parachute Hare's Ears (size 16), Parchute Hoppers (size 10 - 12), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14 - 16), Day Two Emergers (size 16), BH Hare's Ears Nymph (size 14), Bloody Marys (size 14 - 16), and Rainbow Warriors (size 18). Fish these close to the undercut banks and deep riffles on 6X fluorocarbon, and be prepared to muscle the cutthroat away from structure and collapsed sod. Most likely you will break the fish off, but if you can land them, it is something to behold.