The Last Report Of August

Snake River

The Snake is starting to get into late-season shape with a reduction in natural flows and exquisitely clear water.  All reaches are fishing well.  Claassenia continues to emerge and grasshoppers are populating the banks, which makes large and moderately sized baitfish imitations worthwhile – especially in the morning – although there is a waning in activity on these bugs as fish have seen a LOT of them, and activity slows by 2pm most days.  Caddis have waned noticeably, but PMDs are still out in intermittent fashion, as are crane flies.  We are find our first Hecubas of the year – only one or two per reach per day - and as a result, drake adult and emerger imitations have been working very well, particularly on the middle reaches from Moose down to South Park.  Side channels, banks, structure, troughs, riffle current margins and head, confluences, and the head of seams are all fishing well with dry patterns and nymphs.

Streamers have picked up big time, although there is still inconsistency from day to day.  Better action is coming on sinking tips in the 3ips to 6ips range with both larger and moderately sized streamers.  Target banks, structure, parallel drop-offs, troughs, riffles, and seams primarily and go with steady, even retrieves that are moderate in nature.  Downstream retrieves are working best. 

South Fork

Flows from Palisades are at approximately 8,000cfs. Mutant stones are starting to appear on all reaches but are most pronounced on the upper reach from around Irwin down to Cottonwood.  Early starts are key to fishing this hatch successfully, with the best action occurring from 7am until around 11am.  PMD emergences are slowing but still out in good enough numbers to render fishing riffles, seams, and side channels with adults and emergers worthwhile on all reaches from around 1pm to 4pm.

Streamers have been working well on all reaches.  A bit less of a puzzle now compared to a couple weeks ago when size and water column depth were critical.  For the most part, both large and moderately sized patterns are producing with moderate patterns taking the cake with a slight edge.  Parallel drop-offs, banks and structure, troughs, seams, and the inside turn of fast riffles are prime targets.  Used floating lines, intermediate sinking lines, and sinking tips in the INT to 3ips range. Slow to moderate retrieves and hesitations in line strips are worthwhile if action lacks consistency.

Flat Creek

As has been the case over the past couple of weeks, expect to see a smattering of caddis in the morning, a little more PMDs in the afternoon, and decent to good trico emergences in the mid-day period from around 10am to 2pm.  There has been increasing activity on damsel, dragonfly, and crane fly imitations as naturals become noticeably more abundant.  Damsel and dragonfly nymph patterns should be retrieved with natural movement also undercut banks, eddy current margins, and confluence seams with either floating lines or hover lines.  Crane fly larva patterns are working best when dead drifted along structure and deep riffle pools.  Go somewhat small with Mopscicles or Transluscents.

Salt River

Still decent trico hatches during the mid-day period with them lasting until 4pm or later some days.  Caddis and PMDs are still there but waning significantly. Carpenter Ant remain out in decent numbers and are worth imitating with a Power Ant or Ant Acid after 1:30PM.  Target riffles, troughs, banks with overhanging vegetation, and confluences primarily.  Eddies are very much worth targeting on lower gradient sections, but most of the action is on midge and trico nymph/larva/pupa patterns.