Snake River Angler Fly Fishing Report for April 1st, 2012 by Boots Allen

April is officially upon us. This has traditionally been the start of the fishing season in Jackson Hole. Year around fishing took affect in 2003 (on much of the South Fork opening day was May 1st until regulations changed in 2003). April has always been marked by gin clear streams, warming temperatures, and hungry trout coming out of a long winter. The difference this year is that March has felt a lot like April. Luckily for us fly fishers, the forecast for much of this coming week is continued warm weather and, most likely, continued good fishing. Here is how our rivers are looking now.

Snake River

Fishing remains good throughout most reaches of the river. Surface action has been variable with activity concentrated in the afternoon on some days and in the morning on others. Blue-winged olive hatches have been more sporadic compared to the previous two weeks with chironomids making up the lion's share of of emergences. Dry fly fishing has been best on side channels and the tail of seams on the main channels with Furimsky BDEs (size 18), Parachute Midge Emergers (size 18 to 20), Griffiths Gnats (size 18), Parachute Extended Body BWOS (size 16 to 18) and Parachute Tricos (size 18) being the most productive patterns.

Nymphing has been good along banks with moderate depths and along the entire length of seams. On the seams, be sure to fish your rigging completely through the tail, as a lot of trout are being picked up there. Double nymph rigs consisting of black Pats Rubber Legs (size 8 to 10), PR Muskrats (size 8 to 10), red or black Copper Johns (size 16), Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 18), and Batmen (size 16) have been working best of all. The action on Pats Rubber Leg patterns has been

impressive.

Cutthroats continue to move to streamers fished along banks and structure. Patterns like Booty's Quad Bunny in black and olive, Meat Sticks in black and olive, and Bow River Buggers in olive, black, or rust have been most successful amongst the anglers we have guided over the past week.

South Fork

Releases from Palisades Reservoir remain at approximately 6100 cfs. Dry fly action has waned noticeably over the past week but the South Fork is still fishing good with nymphs, particularly on the upper reach in Swan Valley and the lower reach from Hiese Bridge down to Menan Buttes. Banks, riffle pools, and seams have been productive targets. Double nymph rigs consisting of Sanchez Sparkle Stones (size 8), PR Muskrats (size 8 to 10), black or olive Pats Rubber Legs (size 8 to 10), Bubbleback Sparkle Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 18), Lightening Bugs (size 14), red or black Copper Johns (size 14 to 18), Booty's Day-2 Midge Pupa (size 18), and Prince Nymphs (size 14 to 18) are working well in most water types.

Streamer action has picked up on the lower reaches from Twin Bridges down to Menan Buttes when they are fished along grassy banks and structure. Olive or black Sex Dungeons, black or olive Booty's Quad Bunnies, black or gray Silvey's Sculpins, and rust Zoo Cougars have been producing with moderate retrieves on intermediate and Type III sink tips.

Henry's Fork

Action has been sporadic on nymphs rigs, but trout are still being picked up in riffle pools, along banks, and along the entire length of seams. Hickey's Auto Nymphs (size 16 to 18), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 16 to 18), and gold Lightening Bugs (size 16 to 18) are productive when fished in tandem with a 20-Incher (size 10) or a Pats Rubber Leg (size 8 to 10).

Some of the tributaries on the Henry's Fork are up and this is producing off-color water conditions on the river, especially on the lower reaches. One tributary that has been clear and fishing well is the Fall River. Rainbows of consistent size - 12" to 14" - are being caught on banks and in riffle with many of the same nymphs that are working on the Henry's Fork, as well as LOF Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 16), and Biot Bugs (size 14). The LOF in particular is working like a charm when swung through riffles and at the tail of seams.

Snake River Angler Fly Fishing Report for March 25th, 2012 by Boots Allen

The warm weather is back, and it looks like it will be here for several days. The excellent fishing from last week should be more than matched this week as air temperatures rise into the 60s in Swan Valley, Jackson Hole, Teton Valley, and the Island Park area. Here is what we have been experiencing over the past few days.

Snake River

All boat launches from Moose Bridge In Grand Teton National Park to Elbow in Bridger-Teton National Forest are open and accessible to watercraft.

Air temperatures have been five degrees warmer on average downstream of the Gros Ventre River confluence than they are further upstream. Hatches of midges, blue-wing olives, and micro caddis are evident. We are also starting to see a small number of skwalas. Nymphs such as Batmen (size 14 to 16), black Copper Johns (size 16 to 18), Prince Nymphs (size 14 to 18), and Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 16) have been working consistently throughout the day. But by 12pm we are seeing constant surface action in riffles and seams, especially in side channels. Standard midge and blue-winged olive patterns like Challenged BWO Emergers (size 16 to 18) and Parachute Midge Emergers (size 18) are working well, but one of the best patterns going at the moment are size 18 trico duns, which are obviously imitating midges.

Slowly but surely, cutthroat on the Snake River are starting to take streamers as water temperatures continue to warm through March. Black, gray, and rust Silvey Sculpins, rust Zoo Cougars, and black or white Morrish Sculpins are attracting large cutties as they are swung and stripped along banks and riffle pools. There is not a lot of consistently yet, but action on streamers is moving in the right direction.

South Fork

All boat launches on the South Fork are acessible.

Flows from Palisades Reservoir remain at approximately 6,100 cfs. Surface action on the surface is not as strong as what is happening on the Snake, but riffles, flats, and small seams do come alive for a few hours in the afternoon on just about all reaches of river on blue-winged olive and chironomid imitations. BWO Compoaraduns (size 16 to 18), Parachute Extended Body BWOs (size 18), Parachute Midges (size 18 to 20) and Griffith's Gnats (size 18) have been the most consistent producers on the surface.

Nymphs are working very well throughout the day especially on the Swan Valley reach and in the Canyon. Productive holding water include riffles, flats and seams. Hickey's Auto Nymphs (size 16 to 18), Booty's Day-2 Midge Pupa (size 18), Lightening Bugs (size 16), Beadtail Caddis (size 16), and black, red, and olive Copper Johns (size 14 to 16) are amongst the nymphs producing best.

Streamer fishing has waned noticeably over the past week but the warm and sunny weather might be playing a big role in this. Expect streamers to start working well when more seasonably cool and wet weather moves in later this spring.

Henry's Fork

Action on the Henry's Fork is not as consistent as it was a couple of weeks ago but the reach from Warm River to Ashton and just below Vernon Bridge. Activity is almost exclusively on nymphs. Doubler nymph rigs comprised of 20-Inchers (size 8 to 10), Morrish Anato Nymphs (size 8 to 10), Pheasant Tail Nymphs (size 14 to 16), Rainbow Warriors (size 18), and Czech-Mate Nymphs (size 14 to 16) in red, cream, and olive are working in a decent fashion in riffles, seams, and submerged structure.

Snake River Angler Fly Fishing Report for March 18th, 2012 by Boots Allen

The warm weather that has settled on the Snake River region continues but with some cloudy days mixed in here and there. All of this has made for comfortable and consistent fishing on area waters. Blue-winged olives, chironomids, little black and little brown stoneflies, March browns, and even a few October Caddis and are evident everywhere. This is making for some of the best March dry fly fishing we have experienced in recent memory. The past week has been good on the water and the extended forecast for the coming week calls for much of the same. Here are how things have looked on the Snake River, South Fork, and the Henry's for over the past several days:

Snake River

Wading access is good and getting better from Wilson Bridge down to Elbow in the Snake River Canyon. Blue-winged olives, midges, little black stoneflies, and minute caddis are the prevalent aquatic insect on the water and dry fly action in the afternoon has been best in riffles, seams, and on flats with slow currents. Furimsky BDEs (size 18) in black or olive, Krystal Midges (size 18), Elk Hair Caddis (size 16 to 18) in black or brown, olive Comparaduns (size 16 to 18), Parachute Adams (size 14 to 18) and Booty's BWO Emerger (size 16) are productive on the surface during the afternoon hours from approximately 1 pm until just before dusk.

Nymphing has been consistent throughout the day with the best patterns being Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 18), Day-2 Midge Pupa (size size 18), Zebra Midges (size 18 to 20), Ice Cream Cone Midges (size 16 to 18), Batmen (size 14 to 16), 20-Inchers (size 10), and Copper Johns (size 14 to 18) in black, blue, or olive. These are working best when fished as part of a double nymph rig.

There have been instances when larger cutthroats are coming up for bigger attractors like Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 10) and SRA Chernobyls (size 10 to 12) in the late morning and early afternoon hours along banks and in seams. Action is sporadic, though, and it is best to combine these patterns with a dropper nymph or a small dry fished in tandem.

South Fork

The South Fork is a great place to be at the moment. Flows from Palisades Reservoir are now up to 5,300 cfs and just about every section of river is fishing well. The weather on the lower River from Heise Bridge down to Menan is warming up to 60 degrees every day and we are seeing lots of blue-winged olives, caddis, and some March browns. On the upper river in Swan Valley, air temperatures have been in the 50s most days and midges, caddis, and blue-winged olives have been active during the afternoon. Nymphing has been consistent everywhere. Scud imitations like Vladi's Woven Scud (size 12 to 14) in gray, silver Flashback Scuds (size 12 to 16) and Galloup's Mysis (size 14 to 16) are favorites at the moment, no doubt because of the plethora of mysis shrimp coming out of the reservoir. Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 16), Tungsten Fuegos (size 16) and Hickey's Auto Nymphs (size 16) are also producing.

But it is the few hours of dry fly action we are getting into each day that is making the South Fork such a good experience over the past week. Riffles on the upper reach and in the Canyon are exploding with life each day. It is possible to see a dozen or more rainbows or cutthroats coming to the surface all at once. Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 16 to 18), Quigley Cripples (size 14 to 16), Booty's BWO Emerger (size 14 to 16), and Krystal Midge Emergers (size 18) have been working best in these riffles, as well as in seam and in the re-circulating eddies that are starting to re-establish themselves with the increasing flows.

Streamers are also working well on the lower river when fished along deeper banks, structure, and through seams with moderate currents. Go with Stacked Blondes, Bow River Buggers in rust, olive, gray or black, and Silvey's Sculpins in gray, black, and olive.

Henry's Fork

There is decent fishing from Vernon Bridge down to Chester, but the action has slowed some in the past few days. But it is still giving some good fishing with nymphs such as Hickey's Auto Nymphs (size 16 to 18), Ice Cream Cone Midges (size 16 to 18), Rainbow Warriors (size 18), and Bead Body Scuds (size 16 to 18) in olive or amber. These are producing in riffles and along shallow banks and banks with moderate depths.

Snake River Angler Fly Fishing Report for March 11, 2012 by Boots Allen

Unseasonably warm and sunny weather has invaded the Snake River area and the result has been some of the best early spring fishing we have experienced since 2007. Much of this is due to the higher than normal flows on the South Fork of the Snake River and the Snake River in Wyoming, but the weather has certainly helped over the past week. Here is what we are experiencing on our local streams -

Snake River

Early morning has been defined by strong hatches of midges and good nymphing activity with midge pupa imitation in riffles and shallow seams and eddies. The best action has been on Day-2 Midge Pupa (size 18), Ice Cream Cone Midge Larva (size 18 to 20), Rojo Midge Pupa (size 18) and Zebra Midges (size 16 to 20).

Air temperatures have been in the high forties by early afternoon and this is bring water temperatures into the low 40s. These warm temperatures are sparking moderately strong hatches of blue-winged olives and little brown stoneflies. While going subsurface with nymphs is still producing, the action on the surface has been strong enough that one can fish all afternoon with dry flies and expect consistent productivity. Olive Parachute Adams (size 16 to 18), olive Parachute Extended Bodies (size 16), Booty's BWO Emergers (size 16), and BWO Comparaduns (size 16 to 18) are working well in riffles and flats. Moderately sized attractors - particularly Tara Xs (size 10 to 12), Wills' Winged Chernobyl (size 10 to 12) in red and gold, and Snake River Water Walkers (size 10 to 12) in salmon, gold, olive, and brown - are bring up cutthroats along shallow banks, confluences points, and at the tails of riffles and seams.

The best fishing on the Snake has without a doubt been on the middle and lower reaches running from Wilson Bridge down to Astoria.

South Fork

Flows on the South Fork have been steadily on the increase since the beginning of the month. We are now at 4600 cfs. This is a terrific early spring level for this river. Warm temperatures in Swan Valley and the lower reaches of the South Fork around Byington and Lorenzo have made March fishing on this South Fork some of the best in the Rocky Mountain region. Air temperatures have been in the mid to high 50s on some days. Blue-winged olives and little brown stoneflies are the most prevalent hatches, but we are also seeing micro-caddis and some Rhithrogenia duns and October caddis at certain times during the day.

Nymphing has been productive on all sections of the South Fork with Hickey's Auto Emerger (size 16 to 18), Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 18), Dorsey's Mercury Caddis (size 16), Sanchez's Biot Bug (size 14), Robins (size 14) and Copper Johns (size 14 to 16) in olive, black, and red being the most successful. These patterns are fishing well in riffles, moderate to deep seams, and re-circulating eddies. They are working particularly well when fished as a double rig with Pat's Rubber Leg (size 8 to 10), RP Muskrats (size 8), and 20-Inchers (size 8 to 10).

Surface action has also been good with BWO and small caddis imitations in riffles and seams. Quigley Cripples (size 14 to 16), Booty's BWO Emerger (size 16), Furimsky BDEs (size 14 to 18) in black or olive, Lawson's Diving Caddis (size 16), and CDC Caddis (size 16 to 18) have been solid producers are are bringing up some really nice cutthroats and brown trout in the 18 to 19 inch range.

Streamers are also working well throughout the day. Bright baitfish imitations like J.J. Specials (size 8), Zoo Cougars (size 4 to 6), Clouser Minnows (size 4) in brown-over-yellow, and yellow Sex Dungeons have been productive along banks and structure and in deep riffles and seams. We have been fishing these on intermediate and Type III tips with standard or variable retrieves and slow to moderate stripping speeds.

It is hard to pick a portion of the South Fork that is fishing best. We have been concentrating on the upper reach in Swan Valley and the lower reach from Kelly Island down to Lorenzo. However, there are solid reports coming in from the Canyon reach as well. No matter where you go on the South Fork, it is bound to be good.
Henry's Fork
The Henry's Fork has been a great winter fishery since regulations changed several years ago, and this season has not disappointed. Fishing on the Henry's Fork is open from Vernon Bridge downstream to the confluence with the South Fork and on the Box Canyon reach below Island Park Reservoir. The warm, sunny weather over the past week has made the Henry's Fork a joy to fish. Nymphing has been excellent with good action on Hickey's Auto Emerger (size 16 to 18), chartreuse Copper Johns (size 14 to 18), Super Men (size 16), and Rainbow Warriors (size 18). These patterns are hammering rainbows when fished along structure in the Box Canyon section and through long riffles and along banks below Vernon Bridge.

Surface action has also been good on the warmer days, even when the sun is at its brightest. This is particularly the case from Vernon Bridge down to Chester and from Chester down to St. Anthony. Look for rising rainbows in riffles and on the downstream portion of structure. Imitations of blue-winged olives and micro caddis are your best bet. BWO Comparaduns (size 16 to 18), olive Sparkle Comparaduns (size 16 to 18), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 18), and Booty's BWO emerger are the most productive patterns currently. Keep in mind that midges will be active throughout the day. Larva, pupa, and adult Chironomid imitations can be fished throughout the day with consistent action.