After a moderately wet November, the Snake River region has experienced a notably dry December. As of solstice (December 21), this past December has been the 3rd driest in the past 30 years.
But finally we are starting to get some precipitation in the valley in the form of a warm, wet, North Pacific storm. This system should last until New Years Eve. So far, it has bumped our snow pack up from 59% to 65% of normal.
And now for the fishing - temperatures are much warmer than they were over the past three weeks. This has made fishing in the lower South Fork/lower Henry's Fork area comfortable. Temperatures there are expected to be in the 40s over the next several days. Flows in this region (2,800 cfs at Lorenzo) have been higher than normal thanks to last years runoff. All of this has made the fishing in this part of the Snake River region fairly solid for at least a few hours each day. Nymphing has been good with Day-2 Midge Pupas (size 18), Tungsten Midge Pupas (size 18 to 20), Lightening Bugs (size 14) in gold or silver, and Flashback Hare's Ear Nymphs (size 12 to 16). The window for dry fly action has generally been for about two to three hours in mid-afternoon. Trout are taking Parachute Extended Body BWOS (size 18), and Furimsky BDEs (size 18) in olive or black. Most of the surface action is occurring in flats and shallow riffles where water temperatures are warming fast than in the deeper parts of the river.
Another piece of water in the same region that is fishing well is the main stem of the Snake River around, Menan, Mike Walker, and Roberts. We have been using larger nymphs like Hare's Ears and Prince Nymphs in size 10 and picking up big browns on long seams. Streamer fishing has been inconsistent on the main stem but some brown trout are being picked up on rust or black Bow River Buggers (size 4 to 6), purple, black, or olive Lite Brite Zonkers (size 8), and J.J. Specials (size 8).
