Snake River Fly Fishing Report for December 28, 2011 by Boots Allen

After a moderately wet November, the Snake River region has experienced a notably dry December. As of solstice (December 21), this past December has been the 3rd driest in the past 30 years.

But finally we are starting to get some precipitation in the valley in the form of a warm, wet, North Pacific storm. This system should last until New Years Eve. So far, it has bumped our snow pack up from 59% to 65% of normal.

And now for the fishing - temperatures are much warmer than they were over the past three weeks. This has made fishing in the lower South Fork/lower Henry's Fork area comfortable. Temperatures there are expected to be in the 40s over the next several days. Flows in this region (2,800 cfs at Lorenzo) have been higher than normal thanks to last years runoff. All of this has made the fishing in this part of the Snake River region fairly solid for at least a few hours each day. Nymphing has been good with Day-2 Midge Pupas (size 18), Tungsten Midge Pupas (size 18 to 20), Lightening Bugs (size 14) in gold or silver, and Flashback Hare's Ear Nymphs (size 12 to 16). The window for dry fly action has generally been for about two to three hours in mid-afternoon. Trout are taking Parachute Extended Body BWOS (size 18), and Furimsky BDEs (size 18) in olive or black. Most of the surface action is occurring in flats and shallow riffles where water temperatures are warming fast than in the deeper parts of the river.

Another piece of water in the same region that is fishing well is the main stem of the Snake River around, Menan, Mike Walker, and Roberts. We have been using larger nymphs like Hare's Ears and Prince Nymphs in size 10 and picking up big browns on long seams. Streamer fishing has been inconsistent on the main stem but some brown trout are being picked up on rust or black Bow River Buggers (size 4 to 6), purple, black, or olive Lite Brite Zonkers (size 8), and J.J. Specials (size 8).

Snake River Angler Fly Fishing Report for November 21, 2011 by Boots Allen

We have had a fair amount of snow in the Snake River area over the past two weeks with over 70 inches at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Grand Targhee. For the intrepid, there is still some decent fishing in the region. The issue is finding access. On the Snake, the Green, the Teton, the Salt, and the upper South Fork, snow shoes may be required. It can be worth it, though, as there is a three to four hour window of activity on these rivers mid-day with nymphs and small dry imitations of midge and BWOs.

The lower South Fork and lower Henry's Fork are the two places where access is easier and the window of activity is longer. Nymphs like Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 16), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 12 to 14), black, red, or olive Copper Johns (size 12 to 18), gray or black Tungsten Midge Pupas (size 18 to 20), LOF Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 16) are performing well when fished as part of a tandem rig. Surface activity is good for approximately three hours in riffles, seams, and flats with black Furimsky BDEs (size 18), Air-Flo Midges (size 18 to 20), Parachute Extended Body BWOs (size 18), and BWO Comparaduns (size 16 to 18).

Get out there and fish it while you can.

Snake River Angler Fly Fishing Report for November 1st, 2011

One of the best months of fly fishing in the region has just come to an end. Nonetheless, November can be stellar with the right kind weather - cool, cloudy, and some precipitation, but not enough to drive water temps down to the point that trout just are not active and not enought to force even hearty anglers from our area streams.

October is a great month to hook

into hungry cutthroat preparing for a long winter and big browns as they stage for their autumn spawning runs. This type of activity can extend well into November. Here is what to expect -

Snake River

Flows are low but still above average levels thanks to the big winter and spring we had this past season. When air temps are in the mid 40s to mid 50s, expect water temps to be from the low 40s to upper 40s. This means that good and sometimes excellent dry fly action. Discriminating anglers generally focus on the lower Snake from Wilson Bridge down to Sheep Gulch because air temps and water temps are generally lower than in the rest of the drainage, but at time the upper reaches, particulalry that from Deadman's Bar down to Wilson Bridge can fish well. It certainly did this past October. Blue-winged olives, October caddis, midges, and a smattering of mahogany duns will be the most active aquatic insects on the water.

South Fork

Flows from Palisades Reservoir are at 4000 cfs and should remain there for most of the month. Like the Snake, warm air temps will generally lead to warm water temps and good surface action will result. This is much more the case on the South Fork with its lower elevation. Cool, cloudy weather with a little precipitation can produce good hatches of blue-winged olives, infrequen PMDs, micro caddis, October caddis, mahogany duns, and midges, which can put the surface activity into a different realm. Lots of hungry cutthroat should be hitting everything as they prep for the winter, but expect lots of angry browns as they get deeper into spawn mode. Streamers can work awesome in this regard when swung across flats and at the tails on slow, shallow riffles. the Swan Valley reach is the streetch of choice for most anglers, but don't forget about the canyon reach, where a lot of brown trout stage and spawn.

Salt River

The Salt River is always a hidden gem in the region, but at no time more so than in November. Just like the Snake, there will be lots of hungry cutthroat. Like the South Fork, you can get some big brown trout staging and spawning on a number of sections of this river. Some of the buiggest cutthroat and brown trout on the Salt are caught in October and November. Expect to see lots of midges and tricos, but you may also find micro caddis, October caddis, and a few infrequen PMDS about.

Snake River Angler Fly Fishing Report for October 17th, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River

With the possible exception for a two to three week period in late August and early September, the anglers on the Snake River are experiencing the best dry fly fishing of the season. Cool weather and precipitation has resulted in a lot more PMDs, blue-winged olives, Mahogany duns, micro caddis, October caddis, and tricos emerging throughout the day. Add to this the fact that flows are now down to winter levels, and what we are left with is a stream in prime fishing condition. The middle sections running from Moose to South Park are fishing very well, as is the Canyon reach from Astoria down to Sheep Gulch. In the morning, from approximately sunrise to 12 pm, nymph rigs are producing best, with Lightening Bugs (Size 12 to 16), Day -2 Midges (size 14 to 18), black Copper Johns (size 14 to 18), Zug Bugs (size 12 to 14), and RW's Chamois Caddis (size 10 to 12) taking the lion’s share of trout during this time period.

In the afternoon, the trout really begin to look as hatches intensify. Booty's Mahogany Emerger (size 12 to 14), Booty's Snake Drake (size 12), PMD Sparkle Comparaduns in pink and cream (size 12-14), Parachute Extended Body PMDs (size 12 to 14), Parachute Extended Body BWOs (size 16), Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 14), Hares Ear Emergers (size 16), Copper Hazes and Purple Hazes (size 12 to 14) and Furimsky BDEs (size 12 to 16) in black, olive, and gray are producing in riffles, the tails of shallow seams, and along shallow banks and structure. Fishing these flies as part of a tandem rig separated by 18 to 24 inches of tippet is a fine tactic at the moment.

South Fork

Like the Snake, the South Fork is fishing the best it has since the end of August and the first week or so of September. Flows from Palisades Reservoir are currently at approximately 4500 cfs, still higher than normal but still at a very good level for this time of year. PMDS and BWOs are the most evident insects on the water with mahogany duns and October caddis also making appearances when the weather is cloudy with some precipitation. Both the upper Canyon and the Swan Valley reaches are fishing well on nymphs in the morning - from sunrise to noon - with Pat's Rubber Legs (size 8 to 10), Lightening Bugs (size 12), Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 14) and Zug Bugs (size 12 to 14). These flies are working best when presented two to four feet from banks, one to two feet from steeper banks. Riffles are also active with these patterns. Flats can also produce in an intermittent fashion.

In the afternoon, surface action picks up in riffles, recirculating eddies, and along banks with mayfly imitations like Purple Hazes (size 14 to 18), orange or yellow Stimulators (size 10), Quigley Cripples (size 12), Pink Sulfur Emergers (size 16 to 18), and Parkin's PM Muskrats (size 16 to 18). Tandem dry rigs are a big help in terms of effectiveness with these flies.

Salt River

The Salt is currently flowing at 800 cfs at McCoy Creek and is fishing really well as tricos, BWOs and PMDs get active on the surface throughout the day. Black or olive Air-Flo tricos (size 16 to 20), black or olive Furimsky BDEs (size 16 to 20), Purple Hazes (size 18) Booty's Mahogany Emergers (size 14 to 18) and Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 16 to 18) fish well from early morning to early evening along banks, in flats, and in eddies. Another option is to fish a small attractor like a Stimulator (size 10 to 12) or a SRA Chernobyl (size 10 to 12) in red, pink, or pearl in tandem with the smaller patterns mentioned above or with a dropper like a Lightening Bug (size 16 to 18), Bubbleback Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 18), and black or olive Copper Johns (size 16 to 18) dropped 12 to 14 inches from the surface fly.

Snake River Angler Fly Fishing Report for October 2nd, 2011 by Boots Allen

Jackson Lake Dam Flow Schedule Update: Bureau of Reclamation will begin to decrease flows from Jackson Lake Dam starting the evening of Sunday, October 2^nd. Flows will be reduced from 2,800 cfs to winter flows of 650 cfs by October 7^th.

Snake River

The Snake is fishing very well as daytime temperatures cool while the weather remains mostly sunny and comfortable. We are beginning to see more of our important autumn hatches like hecubas and mahogany duns. PMDS and caddis remain active as well. Above Pacific Creek, there have been heavy hatches of olive and black tricos. Mornings are fishing well along banks and in deep riffle pools with dropper rigs consisting of gold Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), yellow Tara Xs (size 8 to 10), yellow or olive Stimulators (size 8 to 10), and yellow, olive, or royal PMXs (size 8 to 10). Dropper nymphs such as Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 14), Zug Bugs (size 10 to 14), or olive Soft Hackles (size 12 to 14) are working best when dropped between 20 inches and 30 inches below the surface fly.

Mid and late day fishing picks up on the surface with the best action being in riffles, deep seams, and slow confluence points. A variety of large attractors like those mentioned above are successful, but so too are smaller, more imitative flies like Quigley Cripples (size 10 to 12), Booty's Mahogany Emerger (size 12), Parachute Hares Ears (size 12 to 14), and gray Parawulffs (size 12 to 16). Fish these solo or as part of a tandem rig with a large attractor.

South Fork

Releases from Palisades Reservoir beginning to ramp down to their late autumn flows, going from 9,000 cfs last week to 7,000 cfs as of today. Inconsistent but good fishing can be found at the moment. There are still lots of PMDs as well as a few caddis, but we are now starting to see some mahogany duns and October caddis. Surface action has been best on large attractors like Melon Bellies (size 8 to 10), purple Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), orange Stimulators (size 8 to 10) and Orange Crushes (size 6 to 8) fished tight to banks and structure. Riffles have been fickle at best, but at times some large cutthroats have been coming up to Quigley Cripples (size 12) and Booty's Mahogany Emerger (size 12).

The best fishing has unquestionably been on nymphs either fished as droppers or as double nymph rigs. The most productive patterns have been Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 14), Zug Bugs (size 12 to 14), Prince Nymphs (size 12 to 14), Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 10 to 14), Sanchez Sparkle Stones (size 8) and Pat's Rubber Leg (size 8 to 10) in a variety of colors. There is acceptable activity on these nymphs in riffles, seams, and eddies, but the best action has been along banks and in flats. No double this is due to the fact that aquatic insects have been retreating from shallow water as flows have been dropping, which makes them accessible and vulnerable to feeding trout.

Salt River

The Salt River is flowing at about 770 cfs at McCoy Creek. This is about 15% above normal for this time of year. There is decent fishing on all reaches with best arguably being found in the vicinity of the Narrows and on the lower river from Freedom to McCoy Creek. Mid-sized attractors like Circus Peanuts (size 10), Pearl Bellies (size 10) and SRA Chernobyls (size10 to 12) are fishing well along the plethora of undercut banks and banks with heavy vegetation, but when fished with a dropper (Hares Ear Nymphs, olive or black Copper Johns, and Prince Nymphs), the dropper is being taken far more consistently. The best surface action have been on trico and PMD imitations like Air-Flo Tricos (size 16 to 18), olive or black Furimsky BDEs (size 16), PMD Sparkle Comparaduns (size 16), and Pheasant Tail emergers (size 16 to 18). These flies have been producing along the length of riffles, at the edge of flats, and along shallow banks.

Snake River Angler Fly Fhsing Report for September 22nd, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River

Autumn is the best time of the year to fish the Snake River and this season is not disappointing area anglers. Cooler weather and intermittent thunderstorms have helped to spark important fall hatches. PMDs remain the most prominent aquatic insect on the water, but we are now seeing more caddis, hecubas, and some mahogany duns. Grasshoppers and damsel flies are also making appearances. As has been the case over the past few weeks, large attractors have been working well in the morning. Some of the most productive include Melon Bellies (size 8 to 10), Circus Peanuts (size 6 to 10), pearl belly SRA Chernobyls (size 8 to 10), and Snake River Water Walkers (size 6 to 10) in salmon, dirty gold, and purple. In the canyon reach of the river from South Park to Sheep Gulch, we have been fishing these with droppers extending 18” to 30” from the surface fly. This rigging is working well in riffles and along banks and deeply submerged structure. The best droppers have been Lightening Bugs (size 12 to 14), Batmen (size 12 to 14), and Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 10 to 14), and Zug Bugs (size 12 to 16).

In the afternoon, surface activity picks up significantly with cutthroat trout feeding in riffles, eddies, and along seam lines and banks. Tandem riggings consisting of a size 10 lead attractor followed by a smaller mayfly or caddis imitation in size 12 to 16 are producing best. Another productive tactic along flats and side channels is to fish a tandem rigging consisting of a small mayfly or caddis imitation fished as a lead fly with a smaller emerger fished as the trailer. Purple Hazes (size 10 to 14), Parachute Adams (size 10 to 16), Parachute Hares Ears (size 10 to 16), PMD Sparkle Comparaduns (size 12 to 16), Parachute CDC PMDs (size 12 to 16), Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 14), Cole's Split-Wing Cripples (size 12 to 16), Sanchez Double Vision PMDs (size 12 to 14), Booty's Mahogany Emerger (size 12), and Booty's Drake Emerger (size 10 to 12) have all been solid producers.

South Fork

Flows continue to be stable at 9,000 cfs. Fishing on the South Fork is still good but the typical mid-September inconsistency is starting to creep in on this river, something many of us thought would not occur with the late and extended runoff that we experienced earlier this year. Nonetheless, trout are being taken on every stretch of river, with the canyon reach being the most consistent. When cloudy and wet weather creeps in, the fishing improves noticeably. Lots of inermis and infrequen PMDs will be about. Intermittent hatches of caddis are also evident. Large attractors fished with deep droppers have been successful along banks, flats, and in deep eddies. Lightening Bugs (size 10 to 14) and CDC Bubbleback Pheasant Tails have been producing in this regard. The best attractors have been Kasey's Creature, Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) in gold, red, or purple, and PMXs (size 8 to 10) in red or olive.

Small mayflies are producing throughout the day along slow banks and flats. Riffle action with these flies has been spotty at best, but they do come alive on the cooler and cloudier days. Parachute Adams (size 14 to 16), Booty’s Drake Emerger (size 12), Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 14), Pink Sulfer Emergers (size 14 to 16), Pheasant Tail Emergers (size 16 to 18), and Cole's Split Winger Cripple (size 12 to 14) all fishing well, especially canyon reach and late in the day from Palisades Dam down to Irwin.

Salt River

Like other streams in the region, the Salt is fishing best on days with cloudy weather and/or a little bit of precipitation. PMDs and caddis can been found on the water throughout most parts of the day. There are still intermittent emergences of trico, especially on thoe lower reach of the river from Etna down to McCoy Creek. Large attractors like Circus Peanuts (size 10), SRA Chernobyls (size 8 to 12) in red or yellow, and Chubby Chernobyls (size 10) in purple and red are fishing well, but it is smaller, imitative patterns of dry flies that are producing best. Air-Flo Tricos (size 18 to 20), Furimsky BDEs (size 14 to 18) in olive, gray, and black, PMD Sparkle Comparaduns (size 14 to 16), Sanchez's Everything Emerger (size 14 to 16), and Harrop's CDC PMD (size 14 to 18) are producing along cutbanks and at the tails of riffles.

Snake River Angler Fly Fishing Report for September 13, 2011 by Boots Allen

Snake River

The Snake River continues to fish very well on the surface with large attractors like Melon Bellies (size 8 to 10), Tara X's (size 8 to 10), Circus Peanuts (size 8 to 10), Kasey's Creature (size 8), and Wills Red Ant (size 8 to 12) drifted or twitched along banks, structure and through fast riffles and riffle pools. Although the prominent hatch so far this September has been PMDs, we are starting to see a few hecubas about. Because of this, we are starting to see more and more cutthroat come to the surface for smaller mayfly duns and emergers. Patterns like Quigley Cripples (size 12), PMD Comparaduns (size 12 to 14), Thorax PMDs (size 12 to 16), Booty's Drake Emerger (size 12), Parachute Adams (size 12 to 16), Purple Hazes (size 12 to 16), and Parachute Hares Ears (size 10 to 12) have been successful when fished in riffles and in slow moving currents along structure and banks in side channels.

Streamers are still fishing well on either a floating line or with an intermediate or TYPE III sink tip. They have been very productive in the morning along banks in currents with fast or moderate speed. In the afternoon, however, look for deep riffles with fast currents to come alive. These are best fished with a floating line and a lightly weighted streamer like a Quad Bunny, Zoo Cougar, Angel Eye Sculpin, or Kiwi Muddler, all in light shades of rust, white or tan. They fly will only be a couple of inches below the surface, but it is a lot of fun watching big cutthroat hit streamers just a little under the surface film.

South Fork

With each passing day, the South Fork is fishing better on the surface with a variety of dry patterns. Flows are at 9,000 cfs from Palisades Reservoir, which is almost ideal for dry fly fishing.

The upper South Fork in Swan Valley is fishing best with large attractors along banks and in riffle pools. Kasey's Creature (size 8), Melon Bellies (size 8 to 10), Bean’s Orange Crush (size 8), Barrett's Stone (size 8 to 10), and Chubby Chernobyls (size 8 to 10) in red, gold, or purple have been the best performing flies.

The same big attractors that are working on the upper South Fork are working downstream in the Canyon reach. But the Canyon is also fishing solid with mayfly and caddis patterns. Quigley Cripples (size 12 to 14), Halo Emergers (size 12 to 14), Purple Hazes (size 10 to 14), Klinkhammers (size 10 to 12), and Harrop's CDC PMD (size 14 to 16) are producing on riffles and in riffle pools and in eddies and seams. These same flies have also been successful when fished on flats and on banks with moderate current speeds.

Salt River

This is a fun time of year to be on the Salt River. Lots of cutthroats and browns are rising to a variety of patterns including moderately sized attractors, caddis patterns, and mayfly imitations. Dry fly fishing has been best from approximately 11am until evening, but when there is decent cloud cover, the surface action really begins to pick up on tricos and infrequen PMDs. When this occurs, think seriously about going to more imitative patterns like Parachute Extended Body PMDs (size 14 to 16), black Furimsky BDEs (size 16 to 18), black or olive Air-Flo Tricos (size 18), and PMD Comparaduns (size 14 to 16). You can pick up a fair amount of trout no matter what you are using, but there will be better size and numbers with imitative trico and small PMD patterns.