Fly Fishing Report for August 23rd, 2010

Snake River
The Snake continues to fish very well. However, the warm temps and low flows (releases at Jackson Lake Dam are below 1,700 cfs currently) in the drainage has meant that the dry fly activity has narrowed a bit. The best surface action currently is from approximately 9:30 am to 2 pm with trout being taken on Quigley Cripples (size 10 to 12), Ausable Wullfs (size 12), yellow Stimulators (size 10 to 12), Melon Bellys (size 8 to 10), Tara Xs (size 8 to 10), purple or gold Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), and Will’s Red Ants (size 8 to 12). These patterns have been effective because they are taking advantage of the prevalent bugs on the water currently, especially PMDs and caddis. We are also seeing more and more Claassenia stoneflies, which generally make their appearance at the end of August.

To compensate for the lack of action in the afternoon, many of our guides have been turning to double nymph rigs. Yes, this is almost considered sacrilege on the Snake at this time of year, but we are having very good results with it. It is simply producing consistent size – 17 to 19 inch cutthroat – throughout the latter half of the day.

Best sections to fish – we would have to say South Park to Prichard Landing has been the most consistent. Pacific Creek to Deadmans Bar is also good, as is Wilson to South Park.

South Fork
The South Fork is fishing well, but the lower flows (releases at Palisades Dam – approximately 9,000 cfs), warm water temps and amount of fishing pressure is making the fishing a bit tougher than it has been over the past six weeks or so. A little perseverance and ingenuity can go a long way in making the fishing seem to be as good as it was all season.

PMDS, caddis, and Claassenia stoneflies are about currently, and the former two generally means that the riffles are the best place to fish. This is the case currently, but straight-up adult patterns are not necessarily bringing the fish up. Instead, the best action is happening on emergent patterns and in-the-film flies. The best flies in this regard have been Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14 to 16), Pink Sulfur Emergers (size 14 to 16), and Perkins’ PM Muskrat Nymph (size 12 to 16). The pools below the riffles are also fishing well with deep nymphs – olive Copper Johns (size 12), Bubbleback Pheasant Tail Nymphs (size 16), Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymphs (size 12 to 14), and Rainbow Warriors (size 16).

Banks and structure are producing trout every now and then with large attractors and hopper imitations, but the best action with these flies have been on flats extending off of banks and on confluence lines between main current channels and small inlets. in the past week we have picked up cutthroat ranging from 18 to 21 inches on this water type.

Best Sections - It is a toss up between the upper South Fork in Swan Valley and the Upper Canyon.

Salt River

Fishing is good on the Salt but the window is tightening as it seems to always do this time of year. Flows are fluctuating between 400 and 500 cfs. The best action is early, between 8 am and 12 pm. Tricos, speckled-wing quills, and infrequen PMDs are the most active bugs on the water at this time of the day, as are some terrestrials, particularly grasshoppers and carpenter ants. Dry fly action has been happening on Air-Flo Cahills (size 14), Ausable Wulffs (size 12-14), Parachute Adams (size 12-16), black Furimsky BDEs (size 16), red SRA Chernobyl Ants (size 10), and brown over salmon Snake River Water Walkers (size 10 -12). In the afternoon, dry fly action slows, but some large cutthroat and brown trout are being taken on nymphs fished as a dropper rig with small attractors. The most productive nymphs have been black or olive Copper Johns (size 14 - 16), Robins (size 14), and Lightening Bugs (size 12 - 14).

Flat Creek
Just in time for late August, the fishing on Flat Creek is becoming challenging. The fishing can be rewarding, however, as the cutthroat being taken on nymphs and small dries are exceedingly large. Cutthroat up to 23 inches have been taken in the early morning and late evening hours on the creek in the vicinity of the National Fish Hatchery. The best flies have been Parachute Hare's Ears (size 16), Parchute Hoppers (size 10 - 12), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14 - 16), Day Two Emergers (size 16), BH Hare's Ears Nymph (size 14), Bloody Marys (size 14 - 16), and Rainbow Warriors (size 18). Fish these close to the undercut banks and deep riffles on 6X fluorocarbon, and be prepared to muscle the cutthroat away from structure and collapsed sod. Most likely you will break the fish off, but if you can land them, it is something to behold.

Fly Fishing Report for August 13th, 2010

South Fork
The South Fork remains the place to be - big trout coming up to dries on riffles, seam and eddy lines, and along banks and structure. Releases from Palisades Reservoir are at approximately 10,000 cfs, which is almost perfect for this time of year. The upper portion of the river in Swam Valley is now fishing as solidly on dries as the rest of the South Fork. The hot time periods are from approximately 11 am until early evening (6 am or so).

The primary bugs we are seeing on the water is similar to what we typically see in August - PMDs in riffles and seams, and grasshoppers and other terrestrials (beetles, ants, etc.) along banks and structure. Perkins' PM Muskrat (size 12 to 14); Pink Sulfur Emergers (size 14 to 18), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14), Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 14), Thorax PMDs (size 12 to 14), PMD Sparkle Duns (12 to 16), and pink Sparkle Duns (size 12 to 16) have been working very well in riffles and along seams. We are at times fishing a tandem dry rig consisting of an adult pattern as the lead and a cripple or emerger as the trailer.

On the banks and along structure terrestrials and large attractors are bringing big cutthroats and cutthroat to the surface. Grand Hoppers (size 6 to 10), olive or yellow Popper Hoppers (size 6 to 10), Dave's Hoppers (size 8), Circus Peanuts (size 8 to 10), South Fork Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), and Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) in olive, gold, and black have been out performing most other flies when targeted at this water. But nothing is bringing the big fish up like a purple Snake River Water Walker size 6 to 8). This pattern has been responsible for at least four cutthroat and browns over 20 inches on the upper South Fork over the last week. Yes, we are giving these all flies movement with twitches and skitters, but trout are taking them with dead drifts as well.

Nymphing is obviously working well, but a double rig is overkill at this point of the season. We have been using a simple dropper with the large dry flies, particularly in the morning and into late afternoon.



Snake River

Dry fly fishing is the name of the game on the Snake at the moment. You can get into hefty numbers on almost any section of the river that you fish, but most of the size is being found on the upper portion of the river above Moose Bridge. The best action is coming from approximately 10:30 am to 5 pm. Water temperatures are climbing significantly throughout the day and are hitting 65 degrees by early evening. This should change, however, as the forecast over the coming weeks call for overnight lows to be in the low to mid-40s, an improvement over what we have experienced over the past month or so.

PMDS, yellow sallies, caddis, and grasshoppers are emerging intermittently throughout the day, allowing anglers to have success on a wide variety of patterns. Tara Xs (size 8 to 10), Circus Peanuts (size 10), gold, purple, or salmon Snake River Water Walkers (size 6 to 12), Will's Red Ant (size 10), olive Popper Hoppers (size 8 to 10), rust Ausable Wulffs (size 12), olive X-Caddis (size 12), peacock or tan Elk Hair Caddis (size 10 to 12), Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 16), yellow Stimulators (size 10 to 12), and Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 12 to 16).

There have been some unconfirmed reports of mutant stoneflies (Claassenia sabuloa) in the canyon section of the river. This is a sure sign that our wonderful fall fishing is approaching fast.


Salt River
The Salt River has been offering some surprisingly good dry fly fishing despite water flows dropping below 500 cfs and warming water temps. What is most surprising is that the surface action has been occurring during longer periods of time each day than one would expect, from approximately 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. The most prevalent hatches have been infrequen PMDs, tan tricos, and micro-caddis. Grasshoppers and flying ants are also about. Cutthroat and brown trout are coming to the surface primarily for smaller attractors and terrestrial imitations - Circus Peanuts (size 10 to 12), tan over red Will's Winged Chernobyl (size 10 to 12), Jimmy-Zs (size 12) and olive or tan Parachute Hoppers (size 10). But trout are also coming up for mayfly and caddis imitations, particularly tan and black Elk Hair Caddis (size 16 to 18), Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 16), Minimal Mayflies (size 12 to 16), and Parachute Adams (size 14 to 18).

Nymphing is producing as well throughout the day. We have been fishing nymphs as part of a dropper system with the most productive nymphs being Rainbow Warriors (size 16 to 18), Lightening Bugs (size 16), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 12 to 14), and red or black Copper Johns (size 16 to 18). We are fishing these with 18 to 24 inches of leader from the surface fly to the dropper.





Flat Creek
Some big cutthroat have been taken on Flat Creek over the past week. A few have cleared 24 inches. Of course, the fishing is getting tougher as August gets longer and these fish get more acquainted to the anglers stomping around on the banks, but it is still worthwhile to get out there and sight-cast to these big, wonderful cutties. Grasshopper are becoming more frequent, but it is really callibaetis, tricos, infrequen PMDs, and caddis that the fish are focusing on most. Pink Sulfur emergers (size 14 to 16), unweighted Pheasant Tail Nymphs (size 16 to 18), gold-ribbed Hare's Ear Nymphs (size 16), and Air-Flo Cahills (size 12 to 14) are fishing best along undercut banks and at the head of deep riffles. But small attractors are working as well, primarily South Fork Chernobyls (size 10 to 12) and black over peacock Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 12).

Great Dry Fishing Fishing Continues - Snake River Update for August 3rd, 2010

South Fork
The South Fork continues to offer terrific fly fishing throughout all of the reaches from Palisades Reservoir down to Lorenzo. Flows from Palisades are currently at just under 12,000 cfs. The primary hatch activity are yellow sallies, PMDs, and a variety of caddis in the early morning and the evening. The Canyon of the South Fork and the lower South Fork down to Lorenzo remain best for dry fly fishing with big browns and cutthroats coming in on Red Butt Sallies (size 10 to 12), Quigley Cripples (size 12), Pink Sulfur Emergers (size 14 to 16), gray Comparaduns (size 12), olive X-Caddis (size 12), and black Furimsky BDEs (size 10-14). Yes, big trout are coming up for larger attractor/hopper/stone fly patterns, but not near to the degree that they are taking the smaller, more imitative patterns. Target riffles, seams, and eddy lines with the patterns mentioned above.


The upper reach of the South Fork from the Dam down to Conant Valley continues to fish well with nymphs but dry fly fishing now much more consistent, especially from Power Line Riffle down to Spring Creek Bridges. Use the patterns listed above and target the same types of holding water.

Snake River
The Snake River is crystal clear and should be this way for the rest of the season except for the days following any torrential downpours. It is safe for us to say that the entire river is fishing solid from Jackson Lake Dam down to Sheep Gulch. The best action has been from roughly 11 am to 4 pm, a time period when water temperatures are relatively ideal (running from 53 degrees to 62 degrees). The warm weather we are experiencing is driving water temps up and making the fishing difficult from late afternoon until early evening (roughly 7:30 pm).

Dry fly fishing gets better by the day with lots of juvenile fish (11 inches and under) being taken in riffles and eddies on Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 14), Parachute Adams (size 12 to 16), Snowshoe Hair Wing Duns (size 12 to 14), and Elk Hair Caddis (size 12 to 16). These patterns are also picking up larger trout up to 19 inches in riffles, but also along structure and in side channels with defined riffles features.

Large attractors, particularly red or purple Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), gold or salmon Snake River Water Walkers (size 8-12), and red or purple Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 10), are bringing in big trout along banks and structure, but these are working primarily in the morning and shutdown before noon. We are continuing to fish these larger bugs in the afternoon, but doing so as part of a tandem rig with a smaller, more imitative pattern.

Flat Creek and Blacktail Ponds

Flat Creek and Blacktail Ponds opened up on August 1st and, while certainly crowded throughout the day, both are offering very good opportunities for hooking into large cutthroat, some in the 20 to 22 inch range. Olive, black or gray X-Caddis (size 14) and olive or gray Comparaduns (size 16-18), have been the most successful patterns coming out of our shop. The is no doubt that these flies are imitating emergent caddis and infrequen PMDs which are hatching on both pieces of water throughout much of the day in at least an intermittent fashion. It is hard to suggest a good time to be on Flat Creek and Blacktail. While we are focusing much of our attention at these waters in the morning (dawn until 10 am) and the evening (6 pm to sundown), the fact is that mid-day fishing has been fairly strong as well. If the dry fly action slows down, don't be afraid to go subsurface with a Pink Sulfur Emerger (size 16 to 20) or a lightly weighted Hare's Ear Nymph (size 16-18). These flies will be less than four inches under the surface and, frankly, the subsurface takes are easy to see and just as fun as anything that happens directly on the surface.

Green and New Fork Rivers

The Green and New Fork are dropping fast and currently stand at just under 400 cfs. Both are fishing well but the windows of opportunity have narrowed to just a couple of hours in the morning (roughly 8 am to 12 pm) and the evening (roughly 6 pm to sundown). It is large attractors and mayfly imitations that are bringing larger browns to the surface - Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8), Will's Red Ant (size 10 to 8), gold or purple Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), Tara Xs (size 8), Parachute Adams (size 10 to 14), and gray Quad Drakes (size 10 to 14).

When the windows of dry fly fishing closes in the afternoon, grabby fish can be picked up on double nymph rigs consisting on a Pat's Rubber Leg or a Perkins' Stone Nymph trailing a Zug Bug (size 12 to 16), 20-Incher (size 16), Lightening Bug (size 12 to 14), or Flashback Pheasant Tail (size 10 to 14). This rig fished close to banks and structure are doing the trick. Riffles, however, have been quite inconsistent with this nymph rig.

Salt River
Flows on the Salt River are at approximately 450 cfs and is producing solid hatches of PMDs and caddis. It is fishing well along deep banks, seams, and at the tail end of riffles with mayfly imitations and, to a lesser degree, large attractors. The most productive patterns have been Parachute Adams (size 12-16), Quigley Cripples (size 14), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 12 to 14), Circus Peanuts (size 10 to 12), and Will's Red Ants (size 12). The lower sections of the Salt from Jackknife down to McCoy Creek are fishing best.

Fly Fishing Report for July 25th, 2010

South Fork
The South Fork continues to offer some of the best fishing in the region. Yes, the salmon fly hatch is a bust for the most part, but there are strong emergences of yellow sallies and PMDs. The lower section of the Canyon of the South Fork and the lower South Fork from Byington down to Lorenzo is as good as it gets with dry flies. Big attractors - Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), South Fork Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), and gold or olive Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 8) - are bringing up large trout along undercut banks and partially submerged structure. Patterns imitating PMDs and yellow sallies are working in riffles, eddies and on seam lines and confluence points. The most successful patterns have been Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14), ILRs (size 12 to 14), Quigley Cripples (size 12-16), Parachute Cahills (size 12-14), Tailwater Humpies (size 12), Red Butt Sallies (size 10- to 12), and yellow Stimulators (size 10 to 12).


On the upper portion of the South Fork below Palisades Reservoir, big trout are being caught on double nymph rigs consisting of Pat's Rubber Legs trailing Rainbow Warriors (size 16), Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 14), and black or green Copper Johns (size 10 to 12). However, dry fly activity is picking up significantly with small flies imitating PMDs, prairie caddis, and yellow sallies - Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 12-14), CDC Caddis Emergers (size 12), Pink Sulfur Emergers (size 14-16), and Red Butt Sallies (size 12). Target these flies in the heads and tail end of riffles, in deep troughs and along shallow seams and eddy lines.



Green and New Fork Rivers
Both the Green and the New Fork are holding steady at around 600 cfs. Dry fly fishing is solid on each with yellow Stimulators (size 10 to 12) and Quad Quill Drakes (size 10) to match the impressive hatches of yellow sallies, gray drakes, and inermis PMDs. But the best action has been on big attractors fished close to banks and structure. Patterns such as the Melon Belly (size 8 to 10), red or purple Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size size 8), and gold or salmon colored Snake River Water Walkers (size 8 to 10) are producing browns clearing 20 inches when fished tight to banks and structure. The catch is that the windows of surface activity have tightened up considerably, somewhere between 2 and 3 hours in generally ending sometime by early afternoon.

If the trout on the Green and the New Fork are getting finicky, try fishing a Quigley Cripple (size 10 to 12) or a Halo Emerger (size 12) in slow riffles and along slow banks.



Snake River
The Snake is getting better by the day with large fish coming to the surface on every section. Large dries are doing well with Circus Peanuts (size 8 to 10) and Tara Xs (size 8 to 10)bringing trout to the surface along banks and on the downstream ends of structure. Yellow sallies and caddis dominate as hatches currently and are being matched with yellow Stimulators (size 10) and Elk Hair Caddis (size 10 to 12). These flies are bringing up bigger trout in riffles and along seams and confluence lines. Its a great start to a river that will no doubt take off in August and into September.

Its Dry Fly Time! - Fly Fishing Report for July 15, 2010

South Fork


Flows from Palisades Reservoir are holding steady at 12,500 cfs and fishing has been solid on most of the South Fork. Dry fly action is best from Cottonwood down to Menan. The green drake activity is beginning to wane but salmon flies are about, as are strong hatches of yellow sallies and PMDs. Banks, riffles, seams, and structure are producing good sizes of browns and cutthroats rising to tandem dry fly rigs. The most productive patterns have been Chubby Chernobyls (size 8), South Fork Chernobyls (size 8), Wills Twisted Stone (size 8-10), Tara X's (size 8), Melon Bellies (size 8-10), yellow Stimulators (size 10), Perkins PM Muskrat Emerger (size 12), gray Parawulffs (size 12), and Q's Loop Wing Cripple (size 12-14). Our tandem rig is consisting of the large attractor as the trailer and the smaller PMD/yellow sallie imitation as the lead fly. This allows us to place the large fly closer to banks and structure.

On the upper South Fork from the Dam down to Cottonwood, dry fly action is picking up but nymphing still reigns supreme. A standard South Fork double nymph rig consisting of a Pat's Rubber Leg or Perkins Stone Nymph leading a San Juan Worm, Prince Nymph (size 12), Lightening Bug (size 12), or Rainbow Warrior (size 14) is working best when fished in riffles, on confluence lines, and in eddies and seam lines.





Snake River

The Snake is dropping fast and has cleared significantly over the past week. It is safe to say that the entire river is fishing well, and fishing well with dry flies. Most of the trout are small cutthroat under 12 inches, but we are seeing more and more larger cutthroat coming to the surface over the past several days. The current hatches we are experiencing are as broad as ever. Yellow Sallies, caddis, PMDs, speckled-wing quills, gray drakes, and golden stones are everywhere. We are even seeing some yellow quills in the canyon section of the Snake. Riffles have been hot with Red Butt Sallies (size 12), Quigley Cripples (size 12), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 12-14), Elk Hair Caddis (size 12-14), and yellow Humpies (size 10-12). Along banks and structure, larger attractors like Circus Peanuts (size 8-10), gold or yellow Snake River Water Walkers (size 8-10), red SRA Chernobyls (size 10), Tara X's (size 8-10), and Will's Red Ant (size 10) are working well and bringing up larger and larger fish everyday.





Green River

The Green has dropped significantly and is crystal clear. It is for the most part fishing well, but sizes and numbers vary depending on where one is fishing. The campground sections above Warren Bridge are fishing strong with dries from browns and rainbows from 12 inches to 17 inches. The middles sections from Warren Bridge to Daniel Bridge have been fishing spotty with dries and nymphs but there is a possibility for hooking into 20-plus inch browns along many of the undercut banks. The best fishing currently is from Daniel Bridge to Piney Cutoff. Hook up numbers are not through the roof, but multiple 20-plus inch trout can be caught in a day and expect a healthy number of 17 inch to 19 inch trout as well. The key is to fish VERY tight to banks with big attractors like Tara X's (size 8-10), Wills Red Ant (size 6-10), red Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8), Bearback Riders (size 8), Mega Beetles (size 6-8), gold or purple Wills Winged Chernobyls (size 8), and SRA Chernobyls (size 8). Riffles will work mid-day - 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - with Quigley Cripples (size 10 to 12), Paratrooper Drakes (size 10 to 12), and Rusty Spinners (size 10 to 12).

Streamer fishing is still working well , especially in the morning from approximately 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Like the large dry flies we are throwing, streamers will need to be in tight to banks and structure. Strip them back with a short, fast retieve. Most productive streamers: think white! - Stacked Blondes (size 6), Clouser Minnows (size 4), and Bow River Buggers (size 4 to 6).

Fly Fishing Report - July 7, 2010

Snake River

The Snake is clearing fast and with it is coming better dry fly action. Yellow sallies, PMDs, and speckled-winged quills are about on most stretches of water. The tailwater section from Jackson Lake Dam to approximately 2.5 miles below the Buffalo Fork remains clear and is fishing best of all in riffles and along banks with Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14), black Airflo Tricos (size 16), and yellow Stimulators (size 12). Below the Buffalo Fork, the river is off color but cutthroat are being taken on large attractors like Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8), Will’s Red Ant (size 6-8), and Electric Banana Snake River Water Walkers (size 8). The surface action is by no means over the top, but it is enough to keep a fly fisher interested. Better dry fly action is just around the corner.

South Fork

Dry fly action is finally starting to happen on the lower South Fork from Wolf Flats down to Lorenzo. Salmon flies are appearing but they are over shadowed by heavy hatches of green drakes that are all over the river. Riffles, flats, and undercut banks are producing with Tilt-Wing Green Drakes (size 10), Green Drake Emergers (size 10), and green Hangdy Downdy Emergers (size 10). 18” to 19” cutthroat and browns are not out of the questions.

On the upper stretch of the South Fork from Palisades Reservoir down to Wolf Flats double nymphs rigs still rule the day. Pat’s Rubber Legs (size 6-10), San Juan Worms, 20-Inchers (size 12), Lightening Bugs (size 12-14) and Blue Tungstens (size 10-12) are doing the trick when fished tight to banks and deep in riffles and along seams.

Green River

The Green has dropped precipitously over the past few days and is beginning to fish very well. On the upper Green, large dry flies like the Circus Peanut (size 6-8), Will’s Purple Ant (size 8), and red Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8) are bringing up large browns, some clearing the 20” mark. This action is almost exclusively on banks with very little activity anywhere else. The lower Green – from Daniel down to Sommers – has very little by way of dry fly action but nymphs rigs are doing well along banks and seams. Pat’s Rubber Legs (size 6-10), San Juan Worms, long hackled Prince Nymphs (size 12), Zug Bugs (size 10-12) and red or black Copper Johns (size 10-12) have been producing best.

Fly Fishing Update - June 29th, 2010

South Fork
Releases from Palisades Reservoir have been at over 16,000 cfs for the past week. Fishing has been spotty on the upper have of the South Fork from the Dam down to Fulmer, but there is decent fishing from Fulmer down to the confluence with the Henry's Fork. It has been nymphing almost across the board - San Juan Worms, Prince Nymphs (size 12-14), Zug Bugs (size 12), Cyclops (size 12-14), Lightening Bugs (size 10-12), and Pat's Rubber Legs (size 6-8). Many of us have been fishing our double nymph rigs with at least 9 ft. of leader from the indicator down to the lead fly and with double BB shot approximately one foot above the lead fly. Yes, this is leading to lots of snags, lost flies, and a fair amount of whitefish, but it is also getting to South Fork trout, most of which are holding and feeding deep under the current conditions.

One upbeat note for the South Fork - our guide on the lower South Fork from Heise to Lorenzo are picking up trout on stonefly nymphs fished close to banks and shallow structure. Perhaps we are seeing the salmon flies move towards the surface for emergence. Water temps have been topping out at 53 degrees on the lower South Fork, approaching that magic 56 to 59 degree temp needed for full-on emergence.

Snake River
The runoff on the Snake is beginning to recede but only the section of river from Jackson Lake Dam down to Pacific Creek is fishable. Releases from the dam are at 3,600 cfs. Trout are being taken on black or red Copper Johns (size 12-16) and Prince Nymphs (size 12-16). Lightening Bugs (size 12-16) and Rainbow Warriors (size 18) are also bringing in trout, but the are also hooking into a lot of whitefish. Riffles and submerged structure are producing the best. We are not seeing large cutthroat yet, but lake trout up to 20 inches are being taken.

We are seeing a little bit of dry fly action on this section of river, also. Adult blue-winged olives, PMDs, and caddis are making an appearance on the surface. But what little surface activity is occurring is happening on large dry flies like Parachute Adams (size 10), red SRA Chernobyls (size 10), and a variety of Will's Winged Chernobyl (size 8-10).


Green and New Fork Rivers
The Green and New Fork rivers are clearing but remain high and are receding slowly. This should be prime streamer time, but the spotty action that is taking place has been on nymphs, particularly Pat's Rubber Leg (size 8-10), Prince Nymphs (size 12-14), Zug Bugs (size 12), 20-Inchers (size 16), and LOF Pheasant Tails (size 14-16). Generally, it is riffles that have been producing in the mornings and banks and structure in the afternoon. Eddies and confluence points have not been performing well as of yet. On the New Fork, the two reaches running from Town to Boulder and Boulder to East Fork have been the most productive sections. On the Green, the reaches running from Warren Bridge to Hatchery and Hatchery down to Daniel Bridge have been the best.


Yellowstone National Park
Firehole River - We are seeing a lot of caddis and blue-winged olives on the water and a few yellow sallies. Most of the activity is below the surface on olive Copper Johns (size 14), long hackled Prince Nymphs (size 12-14), Biot Bugs (size 10-12), and Z-Wing Caddis Nymphs (size 14-16). But surface action is occurring with olive or gray X-Caddis (size 14-16), Tilt-Wing Caddis (size 14), and olive Hare's Ear Wulffs (size 14-16). Riffles running from stem-to-stern has been the the best producing piece of holding water.

Lewis Lake - Lewis Lake is still fishing well on the west shore flats with white Clousers (size 8), gray or olive Mohair Leeches (size 8-10), chartreuse over pearl Bend Backs (size 10), and Mallard Spiders (size 6-8). We are fishing these with Type 3 sink tips and picking up lake trout and brown approaching 20 inches.


Lewis River - Drakes are starting to appear at least intermittently on the Lewis River in the meadows below Lewis Falls. Most of the big browns on this section are being taken on drake nymph imitations (Flashback Pheasant Tails and Copper Johns in size 10). Surface action should begin to happen here within the next week or so.

Salt River
The Salt River is finally receding but is still muddy and very difficult to fish at the moment.