Fly Fishing Report for July 31st, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River

At long last the Snake River is dropping and clearing and much of it is becoming fishable with at least streamers and nymphs. Flows from Jackson Lake Dam currently stand at 2,800 cfs. Clear water and dry fly fishing can be found from Jackson Lake Dam down to approximately three miles below Pacific Creek. on this

reach there are nice hatches of caddis, small golden stoneflies (Acroneuria), black tricos, PMDs (infrequens) and LOTS of yellow sallies. Small to moderately sized cutthroat are being taken in riffles and along slow seams on Booty's Emerger (size 12), yellow Stimulators (size 10 t0 12), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 12 to 14), and CDC Caddis (size 14). Bigger cutties an be taken along fast banks and structure on red Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8) Will's Red Ant (size 10), and red PMXs (size 8 to 10).

Below the Buffalo Fork of the Snake River, there is less clarity but more than enough to have action on Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 14), Prince Nymphs (size 12), red or olive Copper Johns (size 10 to 16), and pink or Red San Juan Worms. These are being fished most effectively as part of a double nymph rig with a large rubber leg stone nymph or caddis larva pattern. We are also seeing large trout being taken on big articulated streamers fished tight to banks and structure. The most productive have been Booty's Quad Bunny, Galloup's Sex Dungeon, and Silvey's Sculpin, all in light colors like light olive, yellow, and white.

As flows continue to drop and clarity increases over the next month, expect more large cutthroat to make their way down from the tributaries and into the main river.

South Fork

Flows from Palisades Reservoir have dropped to 13,500cfs. Clarity remains an issue, but fishing is picking up on most sections, particularly the lower reach below Heise Bridge and the upper reach in Swan Valley. Double nymph rigs are working very well in riffles, fast current lines, and especially along banks. Hatches have not been strong, but as flows drop, aquatic larva are retreating from banks and shallow bars parts of the riverbed with more water and current. Hence the action we are now getting on Pat's Rubber Leg Stone (size 10 to 4), Q's Yellow Sally Nymph (size 10 to 12), Cyclops Lightening Bugs (size 10 to 12), red, olive, and black Copper Johns (size 12 to 14), and Zug Bugs and Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 16).

We are also seeing big trout being taken on a variety of medium and large sized streamers (size 2 to 8) fished close to banks, through riffle pools and along structure. Brown over tan Clouser Minnows, Doll Hair Thunder Minnows, black or brown Bow River Buggers, and Butt Monkeys have been particularly effective.

Lastly, we are beginning to see signs of increased dry fly activity in riffles and shallow seams in the lower Canyon and in the lower reach of the river below Heise Bridge. This is generally happening later in the day (after 2pm) and when there are signs of at least moderate emergences of PMDs and caddis. As flow levels drop and clarity increases, dry fly action should pick up in a very big way.

Green River

Flows on the Green River continue to drop and as they do, action is picking up on streamers and nymphs above Warren Bridge and on the lower reach from Daniel down to Sommers. Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 10), 20-Inchers (size 10 to 12), Robins (size 12 to 14), and chartruese, black, and rust Copper Johns (size 10 to 14) have been the best producing nymph patterns. San Juan Worms in pink, rust, and red have also been effective. Dry fly fishing is starting come around in a more consistent fashion, especially above Daniel Bridge. Large attractors - Circus Peanuts, Will's Winged Chernobyl, Rainy's Foam Hopper, and Double Humpies - as well as large gray drake imitations (Booty's Snake Drake Emerger, Parachute Hare's Ear) have been solid producers thus far. Thee flies are working best along weedy cutbanks and structure, as well as slow recirculating eddies and seams.

The most productive streamers have been Clouser Minnows (olive over white, rust over white, and chartruese over white), Beldar Buggers (olive or black), and Bow River Buggers (gray, black, or olive). These are working best fished tight to best when fished tight to banks and structure and retrieved with a moderate to fast strip.

Fly Fishing Report for July 21st, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River
At long last we are seeing a significant drop in the runoff and with it has come a drop in flows from Jackson Lake Dam. The typical July emergence of aquatic insects - small golden stones, caddis, gray drakes, PMDs, and yellow sallies - are occurring throughout the watershed, but it is the upper reach of the river from Jackson Lake Dam down to approximately three miles below the confluence with the Buffalo Fork that fishing has been best, and this includes dry fly fishing. cutthroat and brown trout are being taken on yellow Stimulators (size 10 to 12), Sallie Emergers (size 10 to 12), Parachute Adams (size 14 to 16), and olive or black X-Caddis (size 12), as well as larger stonefly and attractor patterns like Snake River Water Walkers (size 10), and Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 10). Below the surface, Lightening Bugs (size 10 to 14), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 12 to 14), and Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 16) as part of a dropper rig or double nymph rig.

South Fork
Flows out of Palisades Reservoir were cut significantly over the past week but have since went back up to 23,600 cfs. Fishing is tough, but trout can be taken on double nymph rigs consisting on a stonefly nymph (size 4 to 8) and San Juan Worms. Slower water at the tails of riffles and seams, as well as recirculating eddies are the key pieces of water to target. Once flows begin to drop again, the South Fork will most likely experience some of the best fishing in years.



Green River
The Green is still well above normal (2,300 cfs at Warren Bridge) but fishing surprisingly well. A very broad hatch is occurring along the river, consisting of small golden stones, infrequen PMDs, green drakes, gray drakes, caddis, and yellow sallies. Slower back waters are producing with San Juan Worms in tan or pink, but so too are faster banks with San Juan Worms as well as Zug Bugs (size 10 to 12) and Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 14). We are even experiencing dry fly action now along slower banks and in the slower water down stream of structure with Quigley Cripples (size 12), Booty's Drake Emergers (size 10 to 12), and Parachute Extended Body PMDs (size 12 to 14). The upper river is fishing best from the Forest Service Boundary, down through the BLM Campgrounds, past Warren Bridge, and down to Daniel Bridge. Expect the rest of the river to pick up with action as flows drop below 1,500 cfs.

New Fork
The New Fork is flowing at almost three times of normal but the fishing has been very strong on large attractors, large streamers (especially Zoo Cougars, Butt Monkeys, and Quad Bunnies), and big nymphs. Town to Boulder has been one of the best stretches. It will be interesting to see how well that New Fork fishes when flows drop to normal.

Fly Fishing Report for July 11th, 2011 by Boots Allen

Yellowstone National Park
The lakes of Yellowstone National Park continue to fish very well. This is especially the case with Lewis Lake and the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. Consistency in activity has been based in large part on the types of flies, sink tips, retrieve and piece of water being fished. The best flies have been Clouser Minnows, Bling Minnows, and Bow River Buggers in lighter shades of olive or gray. Sink-tips from between long belly intermediates to TYPE VIs have been working best with slow to moderate retrieves. Lastly, the best action has been occurring it the transition zones between flats and the descent of the lake bed down to the 6 foot depth of the thremocline. At times, cutthroat, brown trout, and smaller lake trout can be caught as the are cruising the flats and feeding on drakes and callibaetis, but the best action has been in the deeper lies of the lakes that are accessible with a fly rod.

Henry's Fork
The Henry's Fork is still a good option during this time of high water in the region. Decent dry fly action is occurring from Warm River to Ashton and from Oro Bridge down to Chester on imitations of golden stones, PMDs, caddis, and yellow sallies. Further upstream, the reach of river in Lower Mesa and from Riverside to Hatchery Ford have produced with smaller nymphs - blue Copper Johns (size 14), Biot Bugs (size 14) and Bubbleback Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 16) - as well as larger streamers like Quad Bunnies and Sex Dungeons. Evening hatches of caddis have been bringing trout to the surface in the Railroad Ranch section of the Henry's Fork. Box Canyon still fishes a little on the slow side but is doing much better now that flows have dropped to below 1000 cfs from Island Park Reservoir.

Also worth prospecting are Henry's Lake and Island Park Reservoir. Henry's Lake is fishing solid with double nymph rigs stripped consisting of Prince Nymphs (size 10) Soft Hackles (size 14 to 16), and olive or chartreuse Copper Johns (size 12 to 16). Strikes are coming on fairly slow retrieves.

Snake River
High and muddy still but fair fishing can be found from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek. Here there is noticeably clearer water and trout are being taken on double nymph rigs consisting of Pat's Rubber Legs (size 6 to 8), San Juan Worms, and Micro Stones (size 10 to 12). There is even a little dry fly activity in the riffles on Parachute Adams (size 18) and Red Butt Sallies (size 10 to 12). Expect this to change in the next week or as releases from Jackson Lake Dam (currently at 2,300 cfs) must be increased to meet inflow from upstream.

South Fork
The South Fork was showing signs of increased clarity and and better fishing on nymphs and streamers, but flows have recently been increased to 23,000 cfs. This will put the fishing off for a little while, but once the flows have settled and the increased clarity returns, we should see decent fishing again. The South Fork can be fished successfully at around 21,000 cfs, ala' 2009.

Fishing Report for July 2nd, 2011 by Boots Allen

Yellowstone National Park

Lewis Lake is fishing very well with Clousers (olive or white), olive or yellow Mohair Leeches, silver Zonkers, and white or gray Bow River Buggers on Type VI and Type VIII sink tips in the transitional zones between the flats and the descent of the thermoclines to deeper water. We have notices that lake trout are beginning to feed in deeper water each day so it might be better to start fishing with T-11 or T-14 to reach the deeper feeding zones. Nonetheless, it is still possible to pick up cruising trout, particularly brown trout, on the flats in Brookie Bay and near the inlet in the morning hours between 8a. and 11 pm. There is even brown trout feeding on callibaetis and drake adults on the surface. When this event occurs, hit the flats with drake and quill imitations or strip a streamer on a intermediate tip or floating line through the feeding areas.

Yellowstone Lake is also fishing well in the vicinity of West Thumb. Some very big cutthroat are being taken on Fergus Strungout Leeches in olive-over-white and brown-over-white as well as CH Woolley Buggers in olive, white, and gray. These patterns are being fished on intermediate and floating lines close to shore and retrieved with a moderate strip.

The Firehole continues its up-and-down flows but is still fishing in a productive patterns at the tail-end on riffles, and tailouts with olive or cream Soft Hackles, Long Hackles Prince Nymphs, and Lightening Bugs.

Henry's Fork

Some of the best fishing in the region can still be found on the Henry's Fork. All sections from Railroad Ranch down to Chester are fishing productively and there is some decent dry fly action in the reaches of river from Lower Mesa down to Vernon. Golden Stone Fly patterns and PMD imitations have been the most successful surface flies fished in riffles, along structure, and a few feet off of banks. Dropper rigs still remain the best bet for size and number however when fished in the same water. Pat's Rubber Leg (size 6 to 8), Batmen (size 14 to 16), Bubble Back Pheasant Tails (size 12 to 16), and black or olive Copper Johns (size 14 to 18).

South Fork

Releases from Palisades Reservoir have dropped to 14,800 cfs and each day there is partial clearing on the South Fork. Fishing continues to pick up each few days on Double Nymph Rigs consisting of Pat's Rubber Legs and Parkins' Stone Nymph trailing San Juan Worms in pink, red, and brown or egg patterns in pink, chartruese, or yellow. A triple rig consisting of all three have been especially productive. This rigging is working at the down stream ends of riffles, tailouts, and seams where slower currents develop.

Streamers are also producing along banks and structure on intermediate and Type III sink tips with moderate to fast retrieves. Larger streamers - olive or black Sex Dungeons, tan Zoo Cougars, black over light olive Quad Bunnies, and black or silver Silvey Sculpins - have been the most successful baitfish patterns on the upper reach of the South Fork in Swan Valley and in the Canyon stretches.

Fly Fishing Report for June 22nd, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River
The runoff continues on the Snake River but the section of water running from Jackson Lake Dam to Pacific Creek has fishable clarity and continue to show signs of additional clearing each day. The standard double nymph rig consisting on large rubber leg stone nymphs (size 6 to 8) and red or pink San Juan Worms are picking up cutthroat along banks, structure and the tail end of riffles. Big browns ranging in size from 16 to 19 inches are also being taken at the tail end of riffles and along flats and inside seams. Streamer fishing has also been moderately productive with large sculpin and leech patterns on intermediate and TYPE III sink tips.

South Fork
Flows on the South Fork have been increased to 17,100 cfs and fishing remain really tough. One bright spot is that there is some clearing occurring although visibility remains limited. Heavily weighted nymph rigs that includes Pat's Rubber Legs with either San Juan Worms or Egg patterns are producing in bits and pieces on flats and in riffles on the Swan Valley section of river running from Palisades Reservoir down to Spring Creek Bridge.

Henry's Fork
With the opening of the Railroad Ranch section on June 15th, all reaches of the Henry's Fork are now available to fly fishing. Good reports are coming out of Henry's Lake with mid-sized streamers, including Clouser Minnows in olive-over-white, gray-over-white, and brown-over-white, and Lite Brite Zonkers in olive, black, and purple. Box Canyon is flowing at 1276 cfs. Anglers are having moderate success with double nymph rigs consisting of large stonefly nymph patterns trailing Prince Nymphs (size 14 to 16), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 14), and Copper Johns (size 12 to 18) in olive, black, and red. Riverside to Hatchery Ford and Lower Mesa are fishing well with the same nymph rigs as in Box Canyon. There is also decent surface activity on March brown patterns (size 12 to 16) as well as old standbys like Parachute Adams (size 14 to 16), and Ausable Wulffs (size 12 to 16).

Yellowstone National Park
The Firehole recently rose to above 350 cfs but has now dropped to below 200 cfs and is fishing very well with yellow, cream, or olive Soft Hackles (size 12 to 16), Batmen (size 12 to 14), Glasshouse Caddis Nymphs (size 14), olive, black, and blue Copper Johns (size 14 to 18), and Biot Bugs (size 12 to 16). Riffles and undercut banks remain the hot targets.

Yellowstone Lake is ice free now and fishing very well with mid-sized sculpin and leech patterns. Ice is coming off Lewis Lake but access is still difficult with heavy snow still blocking the boat ramp.

Green, New Fork, and Salt Rivers
Still high and off-color. It will still be a few weeks before we can begin to fish these streams.

Fishing Report for June 11th, 2011 by Boots Allen

South Fork
Flows from Palisades Dam have been decreased to just over 16,000 cfs and the river is showing signs of clearing somewhat. It is tough fishing but by the end of the June this river should be in much better shape. The South Fork is heading in the right direction.

Henry's Fork
The Henry's Fork is still offering some of the best fishing in the area. Flows are variable on the different sections, but the big news to come out of the Henry's is the appearance of the salmon fly hatch, almost every part of the river has experienced this emergence thus far. Double nymph rigs with a Pat's Rubber Leg or a Bitch Creek Nymph has been producing very well. We are also getting action on the surface as well with size 10 and small size 8 attractors like Tara Xs, Will's Chocolate Ant, Chubby Chernobyls. Lower Mesa and Riverside down to Hatchery Ford are two of the hotter sections as of now.

Snake River
The only fishable section of the Snake is from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek. The lake above has turned over and is causing a bit of dis-clarity on the river but it is far more clear than the rest of the river below Pacific Creek. Flows from Jackson Lake Dam have dropped to 3,100 cfs, making the fishing much better compared to the past two weeks. Pink or red San Juan Worms, Lightening Bugs (size 14 to 16), and Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 16) are doing well in riffles and along banks. We are seeing fish hit the surface, but not with enough consistency to warrant surface patterns yet.

Yellowstone National Park

The Firehole experienced a big peak over 450 cfs this past week but has receded to under 200 cfs and continues to fish as well as it has since opening day. Sporadic hatches of caddis, PMDs, and bwos are allowing anglers to go to the surface with dry flies. Nonetheless, nymphs are the best game in town. The standard double rig consisting of Green Beans (size 10 to 12), Long Hackle Prince Nymphs (size 10 to 12), black or olive Copper Johns (size 14 to 18), and Tungsten Midge Pupa (size 16) have been performing well, but the best pattern over the past two weeks have been blue Batmen (size 12 to 16). These are hammering Firehole trout in riffles and when swung along banks and structure.

Yellowstone Lake is mostly clear of ice and should be more than ready to go on June 15th (opening day).

Lewis Lake still has a lot of ice on it.

Fly Fishing Report for June 1st, 2011

Snake River

The Snake is well into runoff and will be for quite some time with a snowpack well over 230% still in the watershed. The one fishable reach is the tailwater section running from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek. Here the water is high (5,800 cfs) but is crystal clear and dropping by the day and water temps are getting up into the low 40s by late afternoon. There is little surface action, but trout are being taken on double nymph rigs with Prince Nymphs (size 14), Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 14), and red or olive Copper Johns (size 12 to 14). The fishing on this piece of the Snake is by no means "off the charts", but there is enough activity to keep an angler happy until more water opens up.

South Fork

The South Fork is running at 23,000 cfs and is very much off color from upstream runoff above Palisades Reservoir. We don't anticipate the South Fork to be fishable until the reservoir fills enough to allow sediment to settle. This might be a couple of weeks.

Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone opened to fishing on Memorial Day weekend and it is offering some of the best action in the region. Lewis Lake still has plenty of ice on it, but the Firehole River and Crayfish Creek are almost in ideal shape right now. Olive, cream, and white Soft Hackles (size 12 to 16) are working very well when swung through riffles and along seams and undercut banks. These same waters are producing with black or olive Copper Johns (size 14 to 16), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 14), Rainbow Warriors (size 16 to 18), And Bubbleback Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 16). Blue-winged olives are emerging around mid-day, giving the best opportunity for dry fly fishing right now with bwo imitations - BWO Comparaduns (size 16 to 18) and olive Furimsky BDEs (size 16 to 18) are particularly effective. These are some of the best streams an angler can be on right now.

Henry's Fork

With the cooler temps that came into the region last week, Henry's Fork tributaries have receded and allowed for a clearer river and some better fishing. Oro Bridge to Chester is fishing best of all. It is not in top-notch shape for this time of year but is offering fair fishing in comparison to most waters in the area. Riffles and inside turns are fishing well with red or pink San Juan Worms, Tungsten BH Prince Nymphs (size 14 to 16), and Glasshouse Caddis (size 14 to 16). The big news is that the salmon flies are beginning to pop in pockets from Chester up to Warm River. If this emergence begins to get going in earnest, the Henry's Fork could be a very good place to be.