Spring is Here!

Snake River

Warm, spring temps and good surface action on the Snake from around noon until around 6pm with the middle (Moose to Wilson) and lower (South Park to Alpine) offering the production. Midges still dominate the scene and capnia continues to emerge in fair numbers after noon. Slow water targets – ledge rock pools, riffle pools, and eddies – are fishing best early. Later in the afternoon, faster currents – particularly seams and sweeping riffles – can offer just as good production.

Streamer fishing has picked up noticeably over the past two weeks with moderate and small sized baitfish imitations working best. Fish these with slow to moderate retrieves and go with a countdown in slower water during the morning hours. Floating lines, hover lines, and sinking tips in the INT to 3ips range is the way to go. Target submerged structure along banks with slow currents, ledge rock pools, eddies, and seams.

Dry flies – Micro Winged Chernobyls, Micro Purple Bruces, Furimsky BDEs, Fore-and-Aft Midge, Parachute Midges, GT’s Trico, and CDC Midge Emergers.

Nymphs – Hustler CDC Lite, Duracells, Egan’s Iron Lotus, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Jujubee Midges, Perdigons, and RS-2s.

Streamers – Arum’s Lil’ Kim, Booty Call Minnows, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow, Pine Squirrel Zonkers, Fruit Rollups, and Rickard’s Seal Bugger.

South Fork

Consistent midge emergences just about every day and a smattering of BWOs on those days with cloud cover and precipitation. Midges are popping by 10am and intensify in the afternoon. Water temps are cold – 36 degrees to 38 degrees – so you will have to really work for your fish. Surface action is sporadic but is most active in riffle tailouts and seams from around 11am until 2pm. Dry fly action has been best on the lower reaches (from Wolf Eddy down to Lorenzo).

Nymph rigs are best fish shallow – six feet for double nymphs rigs and two to three feet with dry-dropper rigs. Target the same water as you would with your dry flies.

Streamer fishing continues to pick up with the lower reaches taking the cake. Moderately sized patterns are working best with smaller imitations fished in tandem also producing throughout the day (three to four feet of separation. Use floating and intermediate sinking lines or sinking tips in the 3ips range and go with slow to moderate retrieves. Intermittent hesitations with you line strips can help when using moderate retrieves. Target structure, riffle pools, and seams primarily.

Dry flies – Micro Peanuts, Renegades, Griffith Gnats, Married Midges, Parachute Midges, Parachute Adams, Chez’s Krystal Midge Emerger, and CDC Midge Emergers.

Nymphs – Brush Hogs, Duracells, Lightening Bugs, Copper John’s in red or black, Military Mayflies, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, and Perdigons.

Streamers – Arum’s Lil’ Kim, Kreelux, Booty’s Tri-Bunny, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow, Marrabou Muddlers, Booty Call Minnows, J.J. Specials, Beldar Buggers, and Slump Busters.

Henry’s Fork

Its April and a damn good time to be on the Herny’s Fork. Fishing has been productive from Warm River down to Chester with good midge activity each day and some BWO action on cooler and wetter days. Little winter stones are out as well. Surface action has been best in riffles, seams and eddies. The best surface activity occurs from around 11am until 4pm to 5pm. Nymphs (dry-droppers and double rigs) will work throughout the day in riffle pools and along seams. There can be some good stuff on dropper nymphs when fished along banks and structure with slow to moderate currents after 1pm.

Streamers have been hit-or-miss but there is very good production in very slow water, particularly just above Ashton and just above Chester. Fish your patterns on intermediate sinking lines and or sinking tips in the 3ips range. Consistent moderate retrieves are clearly working best. Doubling up moderately sized baitfish imitations can intensify production.

Dry flies – Parachute Adams, Parachute Extended Body BWOs and Mahogany Duns, Booty’s BWO Emerger, Griffith Gnats, Mating Midges, Parachute Midges, Chez’s Krystal Wing Midge Emergers, and CDC Midge Emergers.

Nymphs – Duracells, Rabid Squirrels, Egan’s Blue Dart, KK’s Matte Demon, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Brackett’s LBS, Military Mayflies, Lite Brite Serendipities, Zebra Midges, Miracle Midges, Perdigons, and Lil’ Foams.

Streamers – McCune’s Sculpin, Booty Call Minnows, Flesh Fry, Lawson’s Woolhead Sculpins, Chez’s Clump Dubbing Leech, Kreelux, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, and Tubeturders.