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

Snake River

Continued warm air temperatures are leading to continued dyr fly action on the Snake River. Runoff is yet to start and the Snake is still crystal clear for the most part. However, the forecast for temperatures in mid-70s over the next several days might put the river into runoff soon.  Get out and fish it while you can.
Hatches have been heavily dependent on the weather we have in the area on a given day.  Midges, minute caddis, and blue-winged olives are the dominant hatches on those days when we have cloudy weather with precipitation.  Riffles, flats, and shallow banks with moderate current are fishing very well in the afternoon until dusk. Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 18), Furimsky BDEs (size 18), Quigley Cripples (size 16), and Booty's BWO Emerger (size 16 to 18) have been most productive in these water types. Larger attractors like Stimulators (size 10 to 12) and Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 10 to 12) are working well along banks and structure.
On warm, sunny days (which we have had a lot of), Skwalas and large caddis (Brachycentrus and Hydropsyche primarily) have been emerging with a lot of consistency to the point that dry flies can be fished all day.  Kasey's Creature (size 10), Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 10 to 12), PMXs (size 10 to 12), and Stimulator Xs (size 10), can be fished along banks, structure, and in eddies with success.  These flies are bringing up some pretty gerthy cutthroats.
Nymphing is productive throughout the day in most types of holding water. Liver Nymphs (size 14), Hickey's Auto Nymphs (size 16 to 18), Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 16), and Prince Nymphs (size 16 to 18) do well when fished in tandem with larger attractor nymphs.

South Fork
Releases from Palisades Reservoir have been dropping fast.  We have gone from 10,000 cfs early last week to 6,000 cfs as of last night.  The good news on the South Fork is that dry fly fishing has been getting better and better with each day in the Canyon reach and the upper in Swan Valley.  Much of this is due to the strong caddis emergences that have been evident over the past couple of days.  Chironomids have also been appearing throughout the watershed.  Riffles, flats, seams and eddies are good water types for fishing dry flies currently.  Olive or tan U-Con Caddis (size 14), olive, tan, or black CDC Elk Hair Caddis (size 10 to 16), olive Stimulators (size 12 to 14), and CDC Wing Caddis (size 14 to 16) have been very productive.  In fact, caddis imitations are about all you need on the suface currently.  In addition, Booty's BWO Emerger (size 16), black Parachute Tricos (size 18), Halo Emergers (size 16) and Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 18) have been working when fished in tandem with larger mayfly and caddis imitations.

Nymph fishing continues to be productive in riffles, eddies, and seams.  Czech Mate Nymphs (size 14 to 18), Booty's Day-2 Midge Pupa (size 18), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 16), Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 18), Mercer's Z-Wing Caddis (size 16), Dorsey's Mercury Caddis (size 14 to 16), Booty's Quick Decent Caddis (size 14 to 16) and Batmen (size 16) are performing best of all.