Mid-February Report for the Snake and the South Fork

Snake River

Variable weather over the past two week with some cooler days in the 20s and some warmer ones in the mid to high 30s. The warmer days have brought out the midges in consistent fashion from approximately noon until around 4pm. Surface action is still best slow current channel with several feet of depth and at the seam edges where these channels joins main channel currents. Nymphing is good in the same water and at the mid and tail of slow current riffles.

Streamer fishing has been picking up in slower water types like those described above. Floating lines, hover lines, and INT tips are working best. Go with smaller baitfish imitations and slow but consistent retrieves.

Dry flies – Renegades, CDC Midge Emergers, Parachute Midges, Mosquitos, and Krystal Wing Midge Emergers.

Nymphs – Peach Fuzz Jigs, CDC Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle Jigs, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph, Rainbow Warriors, Zebra Midges, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Ice Cream Cone Midges, and Brassies.

Streamers – Fruit Roll Ups, Slump Busters, Mohair Leeches, and Rickard’s Seal Bugger.

South Fork

Pretty decent fishing on midge adults and nymphs particularly on the upper reach in Swan Valley and in the lower Canyon from Wolf Eddy down to Kelly’s Island. Target riffle pools, riffle current margins, and the inside turn of riffles. If going with a double/triple nymph rig, go light and use tippet in the five to six foot range from line to trailing fly. As on the Snake, the best surface action has been from noon-ish to around 4pm.

Streamer fishing is ticking up and getting better in bits and pieces with each passing week. Smaller to moderately sized imitations are performing better than larger ones. Floating and hover lines are working best with slow to moderate retrieves. Target riffle pools and banks with moderate depth and slow to moderate currents.

Dry Flies – Griffith Gnats, Renegades, CDC Midge Emergers, Parachute Midges, Krystal Wing Midge Emergers, and Mating Midges.

Nymphs - Peach Fuzz Jigs, Flashback Hare’s Ear Nymphs, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Redemption BWOs, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, and Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa.

Streamers – Bow River Buggers, Shaka Zulus, Strung-Out Leeches, Slump Busters, and Clouser Minnows (lightly dressed).