Fishing Report for October 3rd, 2010

Snake River
Incredible weather persists in western Wyoming and flows are dropping out of Jackson Lake Dam. The result is some good fishing on the Snake River. It can get tough at times with the warm air temperatures and the consistently high pressure system sitting over the area, But persistence can pay off big time. All sections of the river from Deadman's Bar down to Sheep Gulch are displaying decent dry fly action from approximately noon until dusk (around 7 pm currently). Holding water that is producing best include riffles, seam lines, and confluence points. Banks and structure become active as the day progresses and water temperatures warm. The most successful dry fly patterns include Royal Wulffs (size 12 to 14), Ausable Wulffs (size 12 to 14), Parachute Hare's Ears (size 10 to 12), Purple Haze (size 12), gold or orange Stimulators (size 10), gold or olive Parachute Hoppers (size 8 to 10), red Fat Alberts (size 8 to 10), Tara Xs (size 8 to 10), gold Chubby Chernobyls (size 10), SRA Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) in a variety of colors. Our guides have been fishing these as tandem dry rigs with the larger fly in lead and the smaller fly as a trailer.

In the morning hours from dawn until noon, the dry fly action has been slow. One should think seriously about throwing a double nymph rig or at least a hopper-dropper rig until serious surface action begins. The most successful nymphs include olive or black Copper Johns (size 12 to 14), Lightening Bugs (size 12), and long hackled Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 14). Fished in riffles and on seam lines, these nymphs have been fishing as good as dry flies later in the day.

South Fork
Flows out of Palisades Reservoir are at 6900 cfs and while the fishing is tough on the South Fork, one can still have success if they fish hard in the right water at the right times and with the right tackle. The upper section in Swan Valley and the upper part of the canyon are fishing best of all. Nymphing is good in the morning hours fished as hopper-dropper rigs along banks and structure. In the afternoons, dry fly action picks up in riffles, seams, and along banks and structure. Tandem rigs featuring large dry flies trailing small mayfly imitations are working well from mid-afternoon until dusk, although there are days when the dry fly fishing picks up earlier. Amongst the best producing dry flies are Bosworth Fenzys (size 8), gold or red Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), peach Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 10), Quigley Cripples (size 12), Mahogany Emergers (size 12), and Ausable Wulffs (size 12 to 14). Side Channels are still fishing well but imitative patterns are a must as is lighter leader to get into the spooky trout inhabiting them at the moment. Think about using Pheasant Tail Emergers and CDC Bubble Back Emergers. No matter where you fish, the takes have been excruciatingly slow over the past three weeks, so be on the ball with you hook sets.

And one last point - whether you are on the Snake or the South Fork, take a moment to look up from the water to take in the fall colors. It is absolutely gorgeous right now.

Fly Fishing Report for September 23rd, 2010

Snake River

The Snake continues to fish well as we get further into autumn. All of the bugs we associate with this time of year - September stoneflies, mahogany duns, hecubas, and October caddis - are on the water, as are PMDs and some remaining grasshoppers. This is the best fishing of the year and the Snake is living up to the hype it usually gets. While the upper reaches in Grand Teton National Park are producing good results, it is the lower reaches from Wilson Bridge down through the Canyon in Bridger Teton National Forest that are fishing best of all. Riffles are producing with small mayfly imitations like Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14), Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 14), Copper Hazes (size 12 to 14), Parachute Hare's Ear (size 10 to 12), and Furimsky BDEs (size 12 to 14) in rust and olive. Banks and structure are also producing with yellow or orange Stimulators (size 10), SRA Chernobyls (size 10) in rust or peach, Tara Xs (size 8 to 10)and Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10). These patterns have been very effective in the morning hours - roughly 8 am to 11 am - when surface action is limited. No doubt these flies are being taken as Claassenia stoneflies, which have really come on strong over the past week or so.

South Fork

Fishing has become a bit more difficult on the South Fork over the past week and a half but it is still worth fishing but to the big cutthroats and browns that can be taken at the moment. Mornings have been slow with action picking up in the afternoon generally, but don't be surprised if the morning produces better than afternoons on some days. Mornings have been productive with large stonefly and hopper imitations such as Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) with trimmed wings, Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8), Fat Alberts (size 10) and Kasey's Creature (size 8 to 10). We are fishing these primarily along banks and in the skinny water extending off of banks. In the afternoons, we are targeting the same water with the same flies but fished as a tandem rig with small mayfly or caddis imitations. These flies, as well as emergers such as Q's Loop Wing Cripple (size 12 to 14), Quigley Cripples (size 12), and Bootie's Mahogany Emerger (size 12 to 14) are fishing well in riffles and eddies throughout the afternoon. Takes have been subtle even amongst the brown trout, so be on your toes with your hook sets.

Fly Fishing Report for September 13th, 2010

Snake River

The Snake is low and gin clear and is now experiencing the best fishing of the season. September and October are the prime time months on the Snake and so far this season has not disappointed. Wilson to South Park has some of the best fishing at the moment, as does the Canyon stretches from South Park down to Sheep Gulch. The typical autumn smorgasbord of flies are about with Claassenia stoneflies, PMDS, October caddis, micro caddis, and mahogany duns on the water most days. When the weather turns a bit cloudy and wet, you should expect to see hecubas and some BWOs out as well.

Riffles, confluence points, and seams are the bread and butter now with mayfly and caddis imitations. Parachute Adams and Parachute Hare's Ears (size 10 to 16), Quigley Cripples (size 12), Split Wing Cripples (size 12 to 14), gray or purple Parawulffs (size 12 to 14) and Elk Hair Caddis (size 14 to 16) have been amongst the most productive flies coming out of our shop. On sunny and warmer days, big dry flies have been working well and bringing up big cutthroat when fished close to banks and structure. Melon Bellies (size 8 to 10), BSF Stones (size 8), Kasey's Creature (size 8 to 10), and a variety of Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) are working best. Skirting these flies have worked better than a dead drift at times, so do both.

South Fork

Its usually either very good or a bit tough with little in between on the South Fork in September. This September it has been very good. Big dries are working on banks and structures and small mayfly imitations are killing it in riffles and eddies. PMDs are about, as are a variety of caddis and some of the mutant stones. And despite killing frosts, you can still hear hoppers on the banks.

The upper reaches of the South Fork from Palisades Dam down to Cottonwood Flats have been fishing better than the lower half. Most of us have been fishing Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), Bareback Riders (size 10), olive or red PMXs (size 8 to 10), and IdylWilde Stones (size 10) and having luck in pocket water along banks and structure with big browns and cutthroat. In riffles and eddies, the most successful flies have been Halo Emergers (size 12 to 16), Pink Sulfur Emergers (size 16), olive or tan Snowshoe Hare Duns (size 14), Mahogany Dun Emergers (size 14 to 16), and Carlson's Copper Haze (size12 to 14). These flies are bringing up big Cutthroats and rainbows. Big trout on small dries in autumn - there is nothing better in the Rocky Mountain West.

Salt River

When the weather is chilly and the sky is overcast or cloudy, the Salt River is a great place to be. Caddis and PMDs and speckled-wing quills will be on the water and cutthroats and browns will be coming to the surface for them. X-Caddis, U-Con Caddis, Parachute Adams, Cahill Wulffs, Air-Flo Cahills, and Q's Loop Wing Cripples, all in a variety of colors and sizes ranging from 12 to 16, are working like a charm. There are lots of small trout ranging from 8 to 14 inches, but we are also seeing some big fellas well over 18 inches.