Fishing Report for October 12th, 2010

Snake River
Dry fly fishing on the Snake was showing signs of waning over the past week, but a recent low pressure system has chilled the water, sparked more intense hatches, and has allowed the Snake to get back to what it typically is this time of the year. PMDs, blue-winged olives, hecubas, and October caddis are all making appearances on the surface at different periods throughout the day. We are also seeing speckled-wing quills in bits and pieces. Quigley Cripples (size 12), Mahogany Emergers (size 12 to 14), orange Stimulators (size 10), white or gray Furimsky BDEs (size 12 to 14), and Parachute Hares Ears (size 12) are bringing up big cutthroat when fished as part of a tandem rig with a red Fat Albert (size 8 to 10), olive SRA Chernobyls (size 8), or a variety of Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 8 to 10).

While the entire river is fishing well, the best action is without question from Wilson Bridge down to Sheep Gulch in Bridger-Teton National Forest. Banks and structure and producing in the early part of the day from approximately 11 am to 1:30 pm, after which time riffles, seams, and confluence points begin to pick up with mayfly adult and emerger imitations. The river should fish well until dusk.

One additional point - The Snake is fishing well throughout the day with a double nymph rig or a hopper-dropper rig. Olive or black Copper Johns, Prince Nymphs, and Zug Bugs have been performing best. Consider using these nymphs in conjunction with a Pat's Rubber Leg or Parkins' Stone Nymph in the morning and fishing it until dry fly action picks up.

South Fork
Flows from Palisades Reservoir have dropped to 6,000 cfs and the fishing on the South Fork has brokn through its late September-early October lull. Action has picked up without a doubt. When the weather is overcast and a little on the wet side, expect to see tricos, BWOs, and a lot of mahogany duns. This will make riffles, recirculating eddies, and flats off of banks fairly active, especially in the afternoon. Mahogany Emergers (size 14 to 16), CDC BWOs (size 16), Purple Hazes (size 14 to 16), Copper Hazes (size 14 to 16) and olive or dun Parachute Adams (size 16 to 18) have been the best producers.

Subsurface flies are worth considering when the dry fly action isn't happening. San Juan Worms are working fine in all water types, but it is Lightening Bugs (size 14), Bubble Back BWO Nymphs (size 14 to 16), black Copper Johns (size 14 to 16), and Prince Nymphs (size 14 to 16) that can really hammer it home, especially in riffles and on long flats with a little depth to them. A variety of white, gray, or olive streamers fished at the tail end of riffles, along banks, and on flats are bringing in big browns that are prepping for the spawn.

Salt River
The Salt is low and clear and fishing well, especially when low pressure systems are in the area. Olive tricos have been the most prevalent bug on the water, and at times they can be quite prolific. Blue-winged olives and caddis can also be abundant at times. Fishing from the narrows to Etna and from Jackknife to Perks are two of the best reaches to hit at the moment. Get your mayfly nymph and adult patterns in close to undercut banks and fish them along the entire length of riffles with as long of a drift as possible. Expect strikes from big browns and cutthroats.

Fishing Report for October 3rd, 2010

Snake River
Incredible weather persists in western Wyoming and flows are dropping out of Jackson Lake Dam. The result is some good fishing on the Snake River. It can get tough at times with the warm air temperatures and the consistently high pressure system sitting over the area, But persistence can pay off big time. All sections of the river from Deadman's Bar down to Sheep Gulch are displaying decent dry fly action from approximately noon until dusk (around 7 pm currently). Holding water that is producing best include riffles, seam lines, and confluence points. Banks and structure become active as the day progresses and water temperatures warm. The most successful dry fly patterns include Royal Wulffs (size 12 to 14), Ausable Wulffs (size 12 to 14), Parachute Hare's Ears (size 10 to 12), Purple Haze (size 12), gold or orange Stimulators (size 10), gold or olive Parachute Hoppers (size 8 to 10), red Fat Alberts (size 8 to 10), Tara Xs (size 8 to 10), gold Chubby Chernobyls (size 10), SRA Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) in a variety of colors. Our guides have been fishing these as tandem dry rigs with the larger fly in lead and the smaller fly as a trailer.

In the morning hours from dawn until noon, the dry fly action has been slow. One should think seriously about throwing a double nymph rig or at least a hopper-dropper rig until serious surface action begins. The most successful nymphs include olive or black Copper Johns (size 12 to 14), Lightening Bugs (size 12), and long hackled Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 14). Fished in riffles and on seam lines, these nymphs have been fishing as good as dry flies later in the day.

South Fork
Flows out of Palisades Reservoir are at 6900 cfs and while the fishing is tough on the South Fork, one can still have success if they fish hard in the right water at the right times and with the right tackle. The upper section in Swan Valley and the upper part of the canyon are fishing best of all. Nymphing is good in the morning hours fished as hopper-dropper rigs along banks and structure. In the afternoons, dry fly action picks up in riffles, seams, and along banks and structure. Tandem rigs featuring large dry flies trailing small mayfly imitations are working well from mid-afternoon until dusk, although there are days when the dry fly fishing picks up earlier. Amongst the best producing dry flies are Bosworth Fenzys (size 8), gold or red Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), peach Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 10), Quigley Cripples (size 12), Mahogany Emergers (size 12), and Ausable Wulffs (size 12 to 14). Side Channels are still fishing well but imitative patterns are a must as is lighter leader to get into the spooky trout inhabiting them at the moment. Think about using Pheasant Tail Emergers and CDC Bubble Back Emergers. No matter where you fish, the takes have been excruciatingly slow over the past three weeks, so be on the ball with you hook sets.

And one last point - whether you are on the Snake or the South Fork, take a moment to look up from the water to take in the fall colors. It is absolutely gorgeous right now.

Fly Fishing Report for September 23rd, 2010

Snake River

The Snake continues to fish well as we get further into autumn. All of the bugs we associate with this time of year - September stoneflies, mahogany duns, hecubas, and October caddis - are on the water, as are PMDs and some remaining grasshoppers. This is the best fishing of the year and the Snake is living up to the hype it usually gets. While the upper reaches in Grand Teton National Park are producing good results, it is the lower reaches from Wilson Bridge down through the Canyon in Bridger Teton National Forest that are fishing best of all. Riffles are producing with small mayfly imitations like Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 14), Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 14), Copper Hazes (size 12 to 14), Parachute Hare's Ear (size 10 to 12), and Furimsky BDEs (size 12 to 14) in rust and olive. Banks and structure are also producing with yellow or orange Stimulators (size 10), SRA Chernobyls (size 10) in rust or peach, Tara Xs (size 8 to 10)and Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10). These patterns have been very effective in the morning hours - roughly 8 am to 11 am - when surface action is limited. No doubt these flies are being taken as Claassenia stoneflies, which have really come on strong over the past week or so.

South Fork

Fishing has become a bit more difficult on the South Fork over the past week and a half but it is still worth fishing but to the big cutthroats and browns that can be taken at the moment. Mornings have been slow with action picking up in the afternoon generally, but don't be surprised if the morning produces better than afternoons on some days. Mornings have been productive with large stonefly and hopper imitations such as Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) with trimmed wings, Rubber Legged Double Humpies (size 8), Fat Alberts (size 10) and Kasey's Creature (size 8 to 10). We are fishing these primarily along banks and in the skinny water extending off of banks. In the afternoons, we are targeting the same water with the same flies but fished as a tandem rig with small mayfly or caddis imitations. These flies, as well as emergers such as Q's Loop Wing Cripple (size 12 to 14), Quigley Cripples (size 12), and Bootie's Mahogany Emerger (size 12 to 14) are fishing well in riffles and eddies throughout the afternoon. Takes have been subtle even amongst the brown trout, so be on your toes with your hook sets.

Fly Fishing Report for September 13th, 2010

Snake River

The Snake is low and gin clear and is now experiencing the best fishing of the season. September and October are the prime time months on the Snake and so far this season has not disappointed. Wilson to South Park has some of the best fishing at the moment, as does the Canyon stretches from South Park down to Sheep Gulch. The typical autumn smorgasbord of flies are about with Claassenia stoneflies, PMDS, October caddis, micro caddis, and mahogany duns on the water most days. When the weather turns a bit cloudy and wet, you should expect to see hecubas and some BWOs out as well.

Riffles, confluence points, and seams are the bread and butter now with mayfly and caddis imitations. Parachute Adams and Parachute Hare's Ears (size 10 to 16), Quigley Cripples (size 12), Split Wing Cripples (size 12 to 14), gray or purple Parawulffs (size 12 to 14) and Elk Hair Caddis (size 14 to 16) have been amongst the most productive flies coming out of our shop. On sunny and warmer days, big dry flies have been working well and bringing up big cutthroat when fished close to banks and structure. Melon Bellies (size 8 to 10), BSF Stones (size 8), Kasey's Creature (size 8 to 10), and a variety of Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) are working best. Skirting these flies have worked better than a dead drift at times, so do both.

South Fork

Its usually either very good or a bit tough with little in between on the South Fork in September. This September it has been very good. Big dries are working on banks and structures and small mayfly imitations are killing it in riffles and eddies. PMDs are about, as are a variety of caddis and some of the mutant stones. And despite killing frosts, you can still hear hoppers on the banks.

The upper reaches of the South Fork from Palisades Dam down to Cottonwood Flats have been fishing better than the lower half. Most of us have been fishing Will's Winged Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), Bareback Riders (size 10), olive or red PMXs (size 8 to 10), and IdylWilde Stones (size 10) and having luck in pocket water along banks and structure with big browns and cutthroat. In riffles and eddies, the most successful flies have been Halo Emergers (size 12 to 16), Pink Sulfur Emergers (size 16), olive or tan Snowshoe Hare Duns (size 14), Mahogany Dun Emergers (size 14 to 16), and Carlson's Copper Haze (size12 to 14). These flies are bringing up big Cutthroats and rainbows. Big trout on small dries in autumn - there is nothing better in the Rocky Mountain West.

Salt River

When the weather is chilly and the sky is overcast or cloudy, the Salt River is a great place to be. Caddis and PMDs and speckled-wing quills will be on the water and cutthroats and browns will be coming to the surface for them. X-Caddis, U-Con Caddis, Parachute Adams, Cahill Wulffs, Air-Flo Cahills, and Q's Loop Wing Cripples, all in a variety of colors and sizes ranging from 12 to 16, are working like a charm. There are lots of small trout ranging from 8 to 14 inches, but we are also seeing some big fellas well over 18 inches.

Fly Fishing Report for Sept. 2nd 2010

Snake River
Cooler and wetter weather is now in the area, and that means that the Snake is beginning to fish very well with dry flies. In fact, you might say that it is off the charts. Yes, streamers are working magnificently, but this is the time of the year when the Snake River gets its reputations as some of the best dry fly fishing river in North America. Claassenia stoneflies, hecubas, micro caddis, and infrequen PMDs are all on the water and the cutthroat are rising to just about anything that imitates them. If it cools down enough, expect to see BWOS. Mahogany Duns and October caddis are just around the corner.

The lower river from Wilson Bridge down to Sheep Gulch remains the best part of the river in terms of fishing, but the upper part of the river from Pacific Creek to downstream to Wilson Bridge is fishing very well with streamers along banks and structure and in riffles with small dry flies and emergent patterns. The most productive flies have been olive or rust Morrish Sculpins (size 4 to 6), black-over-gray Quad Bunnies (size 4 to 6), Parachute Hare's Ear Ribbed (size 12); Brown Drake Emerger (size 10 to 12); Quigley Cripple (size 12) and the Pheasant Tail Emerger (size 12 to 14). If you have the chance to fish a side channel, do it! It can be very good water to target when the weather is right.

Keep an eye on the water temps. We have been fishing streamers in the morning until the water temps hits 54 degrees. It is at that point that the PMDS and hecubas really start to come out. You can fish dry flies exclusively from then on for the rest of the day.


South Fork
Like the Snake, the South Fork has benefited from the recent change in the weather. The riffles have been where the action is, but they have really come alive over the past week. Recirculating eddies and seams are also producing well. This is especially the case from the Dam at Palisades downstream to Byington. Parkins' PM Muskrat (size 14), Pink Sulfur Emerger (size 14 to 16), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 16),cream or white Snowshoe Duns (size 14), and Parachute Adams (size 14 to 16). Nymphs are working in the riffles and along seams and confluence lines during the later part of the day. Try an olive or black Copper John (size 12), Zug Bug (size 12 to 14), or a Lightening Bug (size 14).

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).