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.