Fishing Report and Stream Flow Report for April 29th, 2011

South Fork
The South Fork has been fishing quite well but recent cold temperatures have slowed the fishing noticeably. The feeling amongst many of us who have been fishing the South Fork over the past couple of weeks is that the cold temps, along with the flow levels being at 18,000 cfs, are translating to water temps too cool for much action. Fortunately, the forecast over the next several days calls for warmer temps and little precipitation. If we can stay stable at 18,000 cfs, we should see a return to some decent fishing on the South Fork.

Snake River
The recent increase in water levels have allowed trout to move into the side channels on the reach of river from Deadmans Bar down to South Park Bridge. The fishing in the side channels are one of the few places on the main river where there is respectable fishing, while the main channels and most of the riffles have been somewhat slow.

The one section of river that has offered somewhat more consistent action is the tailwater reach from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek. Here the clarity almost 100% and the releases from the Dam - currently at 5,000cfs - is more than enough to produce good fishing. Nonetheless, the fishing is very much dictated by water temps, and if it is below 40 degree, the fishing can all but shut down. There is dry fly action on some of the riffles and seams above Cattlemens and at the confluence of Pacific Creek when conditions allow. Standard midge and bwo patterns working best on the surface. Nymphs like Zug Bugs (size 14), Tungsten Midge Pupas (size 18 to 20), Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 18), and black Copper Johns (size 16) can be productive throughout the day.

Henry's Fork
The Henry's Fork is still offering the best fly fishing in the area, although there has been a bit of slowing with the colder temps. As with the South Fork, there should be a pick up in action as warmer and drier weather moves in over the next week. Vernon to Chester and Warm River to Ashton have been the better pieces of water. Batmen (size 16 to 18), Lightening Bugs (size 16), Rainbow Warriors (size 18 to 20), Rojo Midges (SIZE 16 to 20), and Z-Wing Caddis Nymphs (size 14 to 18) are all producing in riffles and along submerged structure. Streamers are working very well for the bigger rainbows on from Warm River to Ashton. In particular, try Olive or black Bow River Buggers (size 2 to 4), Stacked Blondes (size 4), tan Zoo Cougars (size 2), and purple or black BH Zonkers (size 2) along submerged structure.

Green River
Recent cool temps have resulted in freezing upstream banks and tributaries, which in turn have resulted in a severe drop in stream flows (73 cfs at Warren Bridge). As temps warm, expect flows to increase and fishing to pick up significantly.

Fishing Report and Stream Flow Update for April 18, 2011

Snake River

Releases from Jackson Lake Dam are currently at 3,700 cfs and, despite the fact that the runoff has not officially started in the drainage, the river is beginning to go off color due primarily to the washing of banks. Flows should peak at 5,000 cfs this week. The Bureau of Reclamation reports that this level of release should hold into the 2nd week of May. If the releases are indeed stable at 5,000 cfs for the next three weeks, we should see much of the river from Deadmans Bar down to South Park begin to fish in a decent fashion.

The Snake River from Jackson Lake Dam to Pacific Creek is the one section that is starting to fish well. It is not on fire by any means, but it is possible to pick up cutthroat and lake trout on double nymph rigs, with much of the action being on black or olive Copper Johns (size 12 to 18), Ice Cream Cone Midges (size 16), March Brown Nymphs (size 12) and Hare’s Ear Nymphs (size 12 to 14). As the flows on this section continue to rise, expect the fishing to get better and dry fly action to pick up when weather conditions permit.

South Fork

After having experienced steady flows at 14,000 cfs for almost a week, releases from Palisades Reservoir have increased to 16,000 cfs. Prior to this, fishing has been solid on the upper portion of the river in Swan Valley where action has been solid on double nymph rigs consisting of Pat’s Rubber Legs and Bitch Creek Nymphs trailing red or pink San Juan Worms (size 10), red Copper Johns (size 10 to 12), silver or gold Lightening Bugs (size 16), Murphys Mysis (size 16 to 18), and Beadhead Bubbleback Pheasant Tail Nymphs (size 14 to 16). The Bureau of Reclamation reports that releases at Palisades Dam will hold at 16,000 cfs until the fourth week of May, at which time there will be a flush to scour the rainbow beds. Give the South Fork a couple of days to stabilize at 16,000 cfs. We should see fishing on this upper section that is just as good as what we have had over the past couple of weeks. And most likely the Canyon sections will start to fish good as well.

Another section of the South Fork that is starting to fish well is below Heise Bridge and down to Menan Buttes. Structure, confluence points, and seams are all producing with the same type of nymph rigs that are producing on the upper reach in Swan Valley. Streamers are also working well when fished along structure, confluence points, seams, and banks. Quad Bunnies, Silveys Sculpins, and Butt Monkeys are the streamers producing best of all. This lower piece of water may slow down a bit as the flows go up, but we should see fishing on this section pick up as flows stabilize.

Henrys Fork

The Henrys Fork continues to offer some of the best fishing in the area, although weather conditions are playing a big role in that regard (45 degrees and above are ideal. Partly cloudy to cloudy with a little precipitation can be really good). Flows at St. Anthony are at 2,250 cfs and at Ashton they are at 1,540 cfs. From Warm River down to Ashton, action is very good on Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 16), Batmen (size 16 to 18), black Copper Johns (size 16 to 18), Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymphs (size 12 to 16), and Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 16). Streamers like Clouser Minnows, Fergus Strung-out Leeches, and black or olive Mohair Leeches are also producing early in the day, especially along submerged structure and flats.

Fishing on the lower Henrys Fork below Chester is also fishing well with streamers. Black, olive, and gray CH Bow River Buggers (size 2 to 4), black or olive Rubber Leg Krystal Buggers (size 2), and olive Marabou Buggers (size 2 to 6) are producing and bringing in some large brown trout.

Fishing and Stream Flow update for April 10th, 2011

Snake River Flows from Jackson Lake Dam will increase 20% a day until April 19th when flows should hit 5,000 cfs. This is a lot of water for this time of year, but we should see two beneficial aspects from this. First, as flows increase, side channels on the reach of river running from Deadman's Bar down to South Park will fill and allow trout to move into them. This is something that we experienced in 2007, when releases were at 4,500 cfs for most of August and into September. Second, the tailwater section of the river from the Dam down to Pacific Creek generally fishes well with higher water levels. 2,500 cfs to 4,500 cfs is ideal. 5,000 cfs will probably fish very well. In addition, it won't be impacted by the runoff and will run clear for the duration of the season. South Fork Releases from Palisades Dam are at 14,000 cfs and will most likely stay there until the reservoir experiences significant infill. This is a very high level for this time of year, but the South Fork is actually fishing very well due to the increase in the number of mysis shrimp coming in from the reservoir. Mysis shrimp imitations are bringing in big rainbows and cutbows from the dam down to Conant Boat Launch. Chilly temperatures are making surface action almost non-existent, but the production on double nymph rigs and smaller streamers (size 8 to size 6) is more than making up for the lack of activity on dry flies.