Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Snake River Fly Fishing Report for February 22nd, 2012 by Boots Allen


Our drier than normal weather this winter is beginning to turn a little wetter this week. Area anglers have benefitted from warm air temperatures by focussing their attention on the lower South Fork and Henry's Fork where it has been a balmy 40 degrees during the afternoon over the past two weeks. Most of the action has been on midges and blue-winged olive imitations, but caddis larva imitations have also been performing well below ther surface. Productive patterns have been Day-2 Midge Pupas (size 18 to 20), Stauffer Midge Nymphs (size 18 to 12), LOF Pheasant Tails (size 16 to 18), Glasstail Caddis Pupa (size 14 to 16), and RWs Chamois Caddis (size 12 to 14). Flats, shallow riffles, and shallow seams.

The forecast for wetter weather over the next 10 days also calls for a couple of days with temperatures on the lower South Fork and Henry's Fork reaching the high 40s. This could mean increased surface action on blue-winged olives and little black or little brown stoneflies, known collectively as the winter stones. Action on blue-winged olives will be good in riffles and seams. Look for action on the winter stones to be primarily subsurface in flats and shallow riffles. Prince Nymphs and Brackett's LBS should be the best patterns to match the winter stones.