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.