Fly Fishing Report for September 1st, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River

PMDs and caddis are moderately active on the surface. There is also a very noticeable activity with craneflies all along the river and its tributaries. In addition, we are now seeing some of our autumn hatches, including Claassenia stoneflies and hecubas, although only in minimal numbers.

The Snake is still offering some of the best dry fly fishing in the region. Small to moderstely sized cutthroats are being taken in riffles and seam. Parachute Adams (size 12 to 16), Purple Hazes (size 12 to 14), Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 14), X-caddis (size 12 to 16) in black and olive Thorax PMDs (size 12 to 16), Snowshoe Hare PMDs (size 14 to 16), PMD Comparaduns (size 12 to 14), and Harrop CDC PMDs (size 14 to 16) have been productive in these waters and along flats and confluence points.

Bigger fish have not been as active as they were a week and a half ago, and the warm weather may have a lot to do with this. However, recently we have experienced overnight temperatures dipping down into the 30s for an extended period of time, and this, along with the slightly wetter weather we have coming, should improve things significantly. In the meantime, it is possible to get into larger, and significantly larger, cutthroat by fishing hard along banks, structure, and in deep riffle pools with large attractors that imitate grasshoppers and short-wing stoneflies. Rubber Leggeed Double Humpies (size 8) in red or yellow, Tara Xs (size 8 to 10), Circus Peanuts (size 8 to 10), Kaseys Creature (size 8), Melon Bellies (size 8 to 10), gold, red, or purple Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), SRA Water Walkers (size 8 to 10), and a variety of Wills Winged Chernobyls are working in this regard, especially when skittered on the surface or fished in tandem with a trailing cripple or emerger that is fished just below the surface.

South Fork

Fishing continues to pick up on the South Fork where flows from Palisades Reservoir are stable at 9,000 cfs. Fishing has been best in the lower Canyon from Cottonwood Flats down to Byington and on the upper reach in Swan Valley. PMDs and caddis have been the most active aquatic insects, but we are also starting to our mutant stoneflies and more terrestrials like carpenter ants and grasshoppers.

Large attractor trailing deep droppers (around 24 to 30 inches) are working well throughout the day along banks and in deep riffles, seams, and recirculating eddies. SRA Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) and Parachute Hoppers trailing Fuegos (size 14), Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 16), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 14), LOF Pheasant Tails (size 12 to 16) and Copper Johns (size 12 to 16) have been the most successful in this regard. The vast majority of the action has been on the dropper nymphs, but it is still possible to pick up big browns and cutthroat on the surface flies, especially along banks and in the head of seams.

Towards afternoon, trout is riffles, seams, and eddies become active on the surface. This is an ideal time and situation to make a switch to imitative PMD and small terrestrials like tan, black, or purple Sparkle Ants (size 10 to 12), Bi-Viz PMDs (size 12 to 16), CDC Bubbleback PMDs (size 14 to 16), and Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 16).

Green River

Flows at Warren Bridge are currently at around 425 cfs. This is usually an ideal water level to fish the Green, but there has been showing definite signs of slower fishing throughout the day as water temperatures continue to warm into the low 60s by early afternoon. The best fishing is being found in the early morning hours from approximately 6:30 am until about 10 am. The exception to this has been those days with substantial cloud cover that can produce some precipitation. When this occurs, dry fly fishing can be very productive with Tara Xs (size 10), Wills Winged Chernobyl (size 8 to 10), Melon Bellies (size 8 to 10), Jimmy Zs (size 10 to 12) and Turcks Tarantula (size 8 to 10). In riffles and in slow currents along structure, Parachute Hares Ears (size 14), Hair Beetles (size 10 to 12), Furimsky BDEs (size 12 to 14), and Quigley Cripples (size 10 to 14) can also be very effective.

But even when fishing is slow, a good bet is to fish a nymph as a dropper with a large attractor. Biot Bugs (size 12), 20-inchers (size 16 to 18), Rainbow Warriors (size 16 to 18), and Zug Bugs (size 14 to 16) have been working when nothing else is happening.

Flat Creek

Its the typical Flat Creek that we are so familiar with at this time of year. Fishing is best in the early morning hours from sunrise to about 9 am, and then again from about 7 pm until dark. PMDs, caddis, tricos, and grasshoppers are the most active trout foods on Flat Creek during these hours and throughout most of the day. Expect mahogany duns and baetis to make an appearance soon as fall temperatures begin to drop. Rusty Spinners (size 14 to 18), gold Sulfur Emergers (size 16 to 18), PMD Parachute Extended Bodies (size 14 to 16), and PMD Thorax Duns (size 14 to 18) are the go-to patterns currently.

Snake River Fly Fishing Report for August 21st, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River

No river in the region is fishing better with dry flies than the Snake. All sections of water are producing with single and tandem dry fly rigs in riffles, eddies, banks, structure, seams, and confluence points. Literally every type of holding water is giving solid results on the surface at different parts of the day. Kasey's Creature (size 8 to 10), Melon Bellies (size 8), Circus Peanuts (size 8 to 10), red or yellow Double Humpies (size 8), and red Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8) have been the most successful large attractors on banks, structure, and in eddies and eddy seams. More imitative patterns like Purple Hazes (size 12), Copper Hazes (size 12), olive X-Caddis (size 12 to 14), and Booty's Drake Emerger (size 12) are producing in riffles and eddies. These are imitating the moderate hatches of caddis and infrequen PMDs occurring throughout the watershed. Start with these patterns early in the day and they should fish solid throughout the day. Do not forget to probe the side channels running from the Pacific Creek Confluence down to South Park Bridge. These are low enough to fish now and should fish really well until they begin to see too many artificial flies in a few weeks. The smaller emergent patterns are working best in these more intimate waters.

South Fork

Releases from Palisades Reservoir are currently at 9,000 cfs. Flows are ideal and fishing is really good. But the best news of all is that dry fly fishing has picked up in a serious fashion. It is possible to fish all day on the surface with big dries, small dries, tandem dry rigs, or a dry-dropper rig. Mornings have been solid with dry droppers fished close to banks, structure, and along flats. Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) in red or gold, Tara Xs (size 8 to 10), Melon Bellies (size 8 to 10), and Will's Claassenia Stone (size 8) are producing best when combined with Brassie Spinners (size 12 to 14), Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 14), Bubble Back Pheasant Tails (size 12 to 16), and Red-Headed Step-Childs (size 14). In early afternoon and into late afternoon as PMDs and remnant yellow sallies become active. Pink Sparkle Duns (size 12 to 16), Challenged Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 16), and Pink Sulfur Emergers (size 16 to 18) are bringing up large cutthroats and browns in riffles and at the head of seams. As water temperatures warm in late afternoon and into early evening, dry fly action slows noticeably but can still be had with large attractors like those mentioned above, but also with terrestrial imitations like copper or purple Parachute Sparkle Ants (size 10 to 12) and Mega Beetles (size 12). These patterns are working best almost exclusively along banks and on structure.

Green River

Flows at Warren Bridge are at 600 cfs. Consistent action on the Green is still occurring during a tight, two to three hour period from mid-morning to early evening. Much of this is occurring on the surface with Quigley Cripples (size 10 to 14), Parachute Hare’s Ears (size 16), and Copper Hazes (size 12 to 14) in riffles and re-circulating eddies. Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 8) and Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8) are bringing up large brown trout along banks from Warren Bridge down to Swain’s Bridge. Nymphs have been producing throughout the day, although you have to work hard in the afternoon hours to get results. Olive and red Copper Johns (size 12), and Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 14) have been successful as part of dry-dropper rigs along banks and in seams.

Fly Fishing Report for August 10th, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River

Flows are dropping on a daily basis and it is safe to say now that the entire Snake River is fishing and fishing well with dry flies. Expect the river to only get better over the coming weeks. Light to moderate hatches of yellow sallies (especially in the afternoon), caddis and PMDs can be fished throughout the drainage. A tandem dry fly rig is perhaps the best option going. Will's Winged Chernobyl (size 6 to 10), Melon Bellies (size 8), Circus Peanuts (size 6 to 10),Chubby Chernobyls in red, purple or gold (size 8 to 10), red Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8), Barrett's Stonefly (size 8 to 10) and PMXs in red or olive (size 8) are taking small to moderately sized cutthroats. Small dries trailing these large attractors are generally taking bigger cutthroats and brown trout. Amongst the most effective have been Parachute Adams (size 10 to 14), Purple Hazes (size 10 to 12), yellow Humpies (size 10 to 12), and Quigley Cripples (size 10). Banks, seams, and structure are producing solidly throughout most of the day. If one is fishing in or at the mouths of the numerous spring creeks, go with smaller, more imitative emergers like Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14 to 16) and Jay's Humpback Emerger (size 14 to 16).

During slower parts of the day, a double nymph rig or dry-dropper can bring up fish that the dry flies mentioned above can't. Red or olive Copper Johns (size 12 to 14), Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 14), and cream or olive Soft Hackles (size 12 to 14) are working very well in deep seams and riffles.

South Fork

Flows from Palisades Reservoir are currently at 9000 cfs, an almost ideal level for this time of year. The South Fork is one of the best places in the region to fish at the moment, although nymphing with double and triple nymph rigs remains the most productive game in town, while dry fly fishing is occurring in fits and starts along some stretches of the river. Nymph rigs consisting on two Pat's Rubber Legs as wells (one size 8 to 6 and the other size 10) with a trailing San Juan Worm is working well along banks and flats and is producing in riffles and seams. Rigs with a Pat's Rubber Leg trailing a Brassie Spinner (size 14 to 16), red or olive Copper John (size 12 to 16), or a Rainbow Warrior (size 16 to 18) are working VERY well in riffles and seams.

The little dry fly action that is occurring is almost exclusively with large attractors - Chubby Chernobyls (size 8), red Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8), and orange or yellow Stimulator Xs (size 6 to 8) - trailing small mayfly nymphs. There is intermittent action on yellow sally dry fly imitations and PMD patterns in shallow riffles and flat. Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 14), Stack Wing Sallies (size 10) and Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14 to 16) have been working best in this regard.

Flat Creek
Yes, most of the Snake River area streams are beginning to fish well, but Flat Creek, Blacktail Ponds, and Cottonwood Creek opened on August 1st and allow anglers a chance to fish to spooky, selectively feeding trout. Micro caddis (glossosoma), PMDs (infrequens), gray drakes, as well as grasshoppers and beetles are the most prevalent bugs on the water over the next several weeks. Some of the best patterns thus far have been Booty's Drake Emerger (size 12), gray Comparaduns (size 14 to 16), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14 to 16), and Halo Emergers (size 14 to 18). Below the surface, the best producing flies have been Sulfur Emergers (s9ze 16 to 18), Pheasant Tails (size 16), and black Copper Johns (size 16 to 18). 5X leader is still doing the trick, but think about 6X in the next few weeks as a better option. Early morning (sunrise to 9am) and evening (6pm to sundown) are the best times to be on Flat Creek and Blacktail Ponds, but cloudy and wet weather could push that time period deeper into the morning and earlier into the afternoon.

Salt River

The Salt River (currently at 1100 cfs) is now in prime fishing condition and should remain so over the next couple of months. Double nymph rigs consisting of Prince Nymphs (size 10 to 16), black, red, olive, an rust Copper Johns (size 12 to 16), Hares Ear Nymphs (size 12 to 18), and Biot Bugs (size 12 to 14) are doing well in seams and confluence lines. Still, one of the beautiful aspects of the Salt River is the excellent dry fly fishing that can be found under certain conditions. Purple Hazes (size 16 to 18), Parachute Adams (size 18), Quigley Cripples (size 14 to 18), and Krystal Midge Emergers (size 18) are working well along slow, undercut banks and long riffles. Hatches are not overly present, but the dry fly fishing is still pretty damn good.

Green River

With flows at 800 cfs at Warren Bridge, the Green is starting to fish exceptionally well. Clarity is near 100% and there are broad hatches of yellow sallies, PMDs (inermis), caddis, gray drakes, and small golden stones (Acroneuria). Fishing tandem dry fly rigs along banks, seams, and submerged structure is producing solid results from approximately 8am until 1pm. Red Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8), Tara Xs (size 8), Will's Winged Chernobyl (size 10 to 8), and SRA Chernobyls (size 10 to 8) trailing Purple Hazes (size 12 to 14) Parachute Adams (size 12), Ausable Wulffs (size 12 to 14), Booty's Drake Emerger (size 12 to 10) and Quigley Cripple (size 10 to 14) have been the most effective patterns.

Afternoon is leading to tougher fishing as water temperatures rise and Green River trout begin to feel the pressure of what has been more boats than usual each day, but trout can still be taken on large attractors like those mentioned above with a dropper nymph between 12 and 24 inches trailing behind or in front of the surface pattern. Black or copper Flashback Brassies (size 12 to 16) Copper Johns in red, black, and olive (size 12), Bloody Marys (size 10 to 12). These are producing along banks and seams.