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.