April 2nd Fishing Report and Spring Update

April is finally here. This is the biggest sleeper month of the season with good fishing throughout the Snake River region. Here is what is happening now -

Snake River

With air temperatures in the mid to upper 40s on a consistent basis, the Snake River is a very hard place to beat at the moment. Midges, bwos, and callibaetis are on the water on a fairly regular basis. Little green stoneflies can be found as well at times. The little greens are important, as they emerge on the Snake earlier in the year than almost anywhere else in the Rocky Mountain West. The window for dry fly fishing has opened significantly to around three to four hours on the warmer days. Boat launches at Wilson, South Park, and Astoria are open. The reach of the Snake River from Wilson to Astoria offer some of the best spring fishing in the area, so it is rather ideal that these access site are open.

Flies - Double nymph rigs that include Prince Nymphs (size 10), black Copper Johns (size 16 to 18), Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 18), and gray or black Tungsten Midge Pupas (size 18) has been the most consistent set-up for most of the day. But when the temps warm and trout start coming to the surface for midges and bwos, nothing is working better than gray or black Furimsky BDEs (size 18) olive Parachute Adams (size 18), and Parachute Extended Body BWOs (size 18).

South Fork

Release from Palisades Reservoir is now up to 10,000 cfs. This is by far the highest we have seen it in March. Since the flows have stabilized and the fish have acclimated we are now experiencing some better fishing despite the fact that the river is noticeably off color. The fishing is by no means off the charts, but a number of anglers are reporting success on Pat's Rubber Leg (size 8), gold Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 18), and a variety of mysis shrimp patterns (sizes 16 to 20). With flows already at 10,000 cfs, expect some very, very good fishing to occur through this spring and into June. 10,000 cfs is a terrific level at which to fish the South Fork, and it can be just as good into the 12,000 to 15,000 range.

Henry's Fork

Flows are stable and the fishing on the lower Henry's Fork is pretty damn good right now. Chester down to Del Rio Bridge has been fishing consistent with streamers, especially black or olive Woolley Buggers (size 4 to 6), black Zonkers (size 4 to 6), and olive Conehead Beldar Buggers (size 2 to 4). Nymphing has also been productive with olive or red Copper Johns (size 12 to 16), Rainbow Warriors (size 18), and Lightening Bugs (size14 to 18). Below Del Rio, streamers are definitely hammering it home when fished with a intermediate to a TYPE III tip.

Warm River to Ashton is also fishing very well, although the boat launch site are somewhat difficult to negotiate due to a lingering snow pack. The same types of streamers and nymphs that are working on the lower river are also working on this reach of the Henry's Fork, but so too are purple Zebra Midges (size 18 to 20) and blue Batmen (size 16 to 18).

Spring Flow Update

In advance of what will likely be a big runoff, the Bureau of Reclamation is releasing water early from the Snake River Reservoirs. Jackson Lake Dam is currently at 550 cfs and is predicted to hit 1500 cfs by the middle of April. The reservoir itself is 78% full. These releases could spell good things for fishing below Jackson and down to Pacific Creek. This section generally starts fishing well at 1000 to 1500 cfs and really hits its stride at 2500 cfs. Last year, we did not hit these levels until the second week of June. So it could be a really good April and May for this piece of water.

Releases from Palisades Reservoir are now up to 10,000 cfs, by far the highest we have seen them at this time of year. As these flows level off and the fish acclimate, be prepared for some very solid fishing through April, May and into June.

Fishing Report for March 23, 2011

Snake River country is experiencing a typical March - warm days with temperatures getting up into the 40s with intermittent snow storms rolling through the region, some of which are bringing a lot of snow in the mountains. The last one to come through the area left 22" at the 9,500 ft. level. On those warmer, sunny days, fishing on the Snake, the South Fork, and the Henry's Fork has been good, and probably will be well into April.

On the Snake, bwo and midge imitations have been the most productive patterns for the surface. Krystal Midge Emergers (size 18), Day-2 Midge Emergers (size 18), Extended Body Parachute BWOs (size 16), and Furimsky BDEs in olive, gray, and black (sizes 16 to 20) are killing it in riffles, flats and over shallow, submerged structure. Below the surface, black Copper Johns (size 16), black or gray Zebra Midges (size 16 to 20), Lightening Bugs (size 16 to 18), and Rainbow Warriors (size 18 to 20) are working as double nymph rigs in riffles and when fished through confluence points and along structure.

The South Fork is fishing solid on the upper reach from Palisades Dam down to Conant Boat Launch and on the lower reaches in the vicinity of Kelly Island and Heise Bridge. The same flies we are using on the Snake are producing on the South Fork. But so too are Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 16), gray Quigley Cripples (size 14 to 16), and Callibaetis Comparaduns (size 14 to 18).

Don't forget about the success one can have on streamers this time of year. The warmer water temps mean that trout are less lethargic and ready to strike (whether out of hunger or annoyance) a baitfish if it happens to swim by. We're getting very impressive reports from the South Fork and the lower Henry's Fork. One of these included a 25-inch brown from the upper South Fork caught on a black Conehead Bow River Bugger. This time of year, many of us like to throw some of the larger streamers - Quad Bunnies, Sex Dungeons, Butt Monkeys, and Silvey's Sculpin Leech. These are all size 2 or larger and three of the four are articulated. Fishing them with a floating line is fine, but in some pool and along deeper banks, an intermediate or TYPE III tip can make all the difference in the world.