Monday, July 25, 2011

Fly Fishing Report for July 31st, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River


At long last the Snake River is dropping and clearing and much of it is becoming fishable with at least streamers and nymphs. Flows from Jackson Lake Dam currently stand at 2,800 cfs. Clear water and dry fly fishing can be found from Jackson Lake Dam down to approximately three miles below Pacific Creek. on this




reach there are nice hatches of caddis, small golden stoneflies (Acroneuria), black tricos, PMDs (infrequens) and LOTS of yellow sallies. Small to moderately sized cutthroat are being taken in riffles and along slow seams on Booty's Emerger (size 12), yellow Stimulators (size 10 t0 12), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 12 to 14), and CDC Caddis (size 14). Bigger cutties an be taken along fast banks and structure on red Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8) Will's Red Ant (size 10), and red PMXs (size 8 to 10).

Below the Buffalo Fork of the Snake River, there is less clarity but more than enough to have action on Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 14), Prince Nymphs (size 12), red or olive Copper Johns (size 10 to 16), and pink or Red San Juan Worms. These are being fished most effectively as part of a double nymph rig with a large rubber leg stone nymph or caddis larva pattern. We are also seeing large trout being taken on big articulated streamers fished tight to banks and structure. The most productive have been Booty's Quad Bunny, Galloup's Sex Dungeon, and Silvey's Sculpin, all in light colors like light olive, yellow, and white.

As flows continue to drop and clarity increases over the next month, expect more large cutthroat to make their way down from the tributaries and into the main river.

South Fork


Flows from Palisades Reservoir have dropped to 13,500cfs. Clarity remains an issue, but fishing is picking up on most sections, particularly the lower reach below Heise Bridge and the upper reach in Swan Valley. Double nymph rigs are working very well in riffles, fast current lines, and especially along banks. Hatches have not been strong, but as flows drop, aquatic larva are retreating from banks and shallow bars parts of the riverbed with more water and current. Hence the action we are now getting on Pat's Rubber Leg Stone (size 10 to 4), Q's Yellow Sally Nymph (size 10 to 12), Cyclops Lightening Bugs (size 10 to 12), red, olive, and black Copper Johns (size 12 to 14), and Zug Bugs and Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 16).

We are also seeing big trout being taken on a variety of medium and large sized streamers (size 2 to 8) fished close to banks, through riffle pools and along structure. Brown over tan Clouser Minnows, Doll Hair Thunder Minnows, black or brown Bow River Buggers, and Butt Monkeys have been particularly effective.

Lastly, we are beginning to see signs of increased dry fly activity in riffles and shallow seams in the lower Canyon and in the lower reach of the river below Heise Bridge. This is generally happening later in the day (after 2pm) and when there are signs of at least moderate emergences of PMDs and caddis. As flow levels drop and clarity increases, dry fly action should pick up in a very big way.

Green River


Flows on the Green River continue to drop and as they do, action is picking up on streamers and nymphs above Warren Bridge and on the lower reach from Daniel down to Sommers. Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 10), 20-Inchers (size 10 to 12), Robins (size 12 to 14), and chartruese, black, and rust Copper Johns (size 10 to 14) have been the best producing nymph patterns. San Juan Worms in pink, rust, and red have also been effective. Dry fly fishing is starting come around in a more consistent fashion, especially above Daniel Bridge. Large attractors - Circus Peanuts, Will's Winged Chernobyl, Rainy's Foam Hopper, and Double Humpies - as well as large gray drake imitations (Booty's Snake Drake Emerger, Parachute Hare's Ear) have been solid producers thus far. Thee flies are working best along weedy cutbanks and structure, as well as slow recirculating eddies and seams.

The most productive streamers have been Clouser Minnows (olive over white, rust over white, and chartruese over white), Beldar Buggers (olive or black), and Bow River Buggers (gray, black, or olive). These are working best fished tight to best when fished tight to banks and structure and retrieved with a moderate to fast strip.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Fly Fishing Report for July 21st, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River
At long last we are seeing a significant drop in the runoff and with it has come a drop in flows from Jackson Lake Dam. The typical July emergence of aquatic insects - small golden stones, caddis, gray drakes, PMDs, and yellow sallies - are occurring throughout the watershed, but it is the upper reach of the river from Jackson Lake Dam down to approximately three miles below the confluence with the Buffalo Fork that fishing has been best, and this includes dry fly fishing. cutthroat and brown trout are being taken on yellow Stimulators (size 10 to 12), Sallie Emergers (size 10 to 12), Parachute Adams (size 14 to 16), and olive or black X-Caddis (size 12), as well as larger stonefly and attractor patterns like Snake River Water Walkers (size 10), and Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 10). Below the surface, Lightening Bugs (size 10 to 14), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 12 to 14), and Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 16) as part of a dropper rig or double nymph rig.

South Fork
Flows out of Palisades Reservoir were cut significantly over the past week but have since went back up to 23,600 cfs. Fishing is tough, but trout can be taken on double nymph rigs consisting on a stonefly nymph (size 4 to 8) and San Juan Worms. Slower water at the tails of riffles and seams, as well as recirculating eddies are the key pieces of water to target. Once flows begin to drop again, the South Fork will most likely experience some of the best fishing in years.



Green River
The Green is still well above normal (2,300 cfs at Warren Bridge) but fishing surprisingly well. A very broad hatch is occurring along the river, consisting of small golden stones, infrequen PMDs, green drakes, gray drakes, caddis, and yellow sallies. Slower back waters are producing with San Juan Worms in tan or pink, but so too are faster banks with San Juan Worms as well as Zug Bugs (size 10 to 12) and Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 14). We are even experiencing dry fly action now along slower banks and in the slower water down stream of structure with Quigley Cripples (size 12), Booty's Drake Emergers (size 10 to 12), and Parachute Extended Body PMDs (size 12 to 14). The upper river is fishing best from the Forest Service Boundary, down through the BLM Campgrounds, past Warren Bridge, and down to Daniel Bridge. Expect the rest of the river to pick up with action as flows drop below 1,500 cfs.

New Fork
The New Fork is flowing at almost three times of normal but the fishing has been very strong on large attractors, large streamers (especially Zoo Cougars, Butt Monkeys, and Quad Bunnies), and big nymphs. Town to Boulder has been one of the best stretches. It will be interesting to see how well that New Fork fishes when flows drop to normal.





Friday, July 8, 2011

Fly Fishing Report for July 11th, 2011 by Boots Allen

Yellowstone National Park
The lakes of Yellowstone National Park continue to fish very well. This is especially the case with Lewis Lake and the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. Consistency in activity has been based in large part on the types of flies, sink tips, retrieve and piece of water being fished. The best flies have been Clouser Minnows, Bling Minnows, and Bow River Buggers in lighter shades of olive or gray. Sink-tips from between long belly intermediates to TYPE VIs have been working best with slow to moderate retrieves. Lastly, the best action has been occurring it the transition zones between flats and the descent of the lake bed down to the 6 foot depth of the thremocline. At times, cutthroat, brown trout, and smaller lake trout can be caught as the are cruising the flats and feeding on drakes and callibaetis, but the best action has been in the deeper lies of the lakes that are accessible with a fly rod.

Henry's Fork
The Henry's Fork is still a good option during this time of high water in the region. Decent dry fly action is occurring from Warm River to Ashton and from Oro Bridge down to Chester on imitations of golden stones, PMDs, caddis, and yellow sallies. Further upstream, the reach of river in Lower Mesa and from Riverside to Hatchery Ford have produced with smaller nymphs - blue Copper Johns (size 14), Biot Bugs (size 14) and Bubbleback Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 16) - as well as larger streamers like Quad Bunnies and Sex Dungeons. Evening hatches of caddis have been bringing trout to the surface in the Railroad Ranch section of the Henry's Fork. Box Canyon still fishes a little on the slow side but is doing much better now that flows have dropped to below 1000 cfs from Island Park Reservoir.

Also worth prospecting are Henry's Lake and Island Park Reservoir. Henry's Lake is fishing solid with double nymph rigs stripped consisting of Prince Nymphs (size 10) Soft Hackles (size 14 to 16), and olive or chartreuse Copper Johns (size 12 to 16). Strikes are coming on fairly slow retrieves.

Snake River
High and muddy still but fair fishing can be found from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek. Here there is noticeably clearer water and trout are being taken on double nymph rigs consisting of Pat's Rubber Legs (size 6 to 8), San Juan Worms, and Micro Stones (size 10 to 12). There is even a little dry fly activity in the riffles on Parachute Adams (size 18) and Red Butt Sallies (size 10 to 12). Expect this to change in the next week or as releases from Jackson Lake Dam (currently at 2,300 cfs) must be increased to meet inflow from upstream.

South Fork
The South Fork was showing signs of increased clarity and and better fishing on nymphs and streamers, but flows have recently been increased to 23,000 cfs. This will put the fishing off for a little while, but once the flows have settled and the increased clarity returns, we should see decent fishing again. The South Fork can be fished successfully at around 21,000 cfs, ala' 2009.