South Fork of the Snake River Fishing Report 4/4/19

Happy Thursday anglers! Thank you as always for visiting our fishing report. We’ll be posting an updated fishing report every Thursday afternoon now through the first week of November or so.

We are really excited about the upcoming year. The river is fishing really well and we are already running a few guided trips. Tanner is out on the river today with clients. Shayde, our reservations manager is manning the phones and fly shop from 9 to 4 Monday – Friday for the coming weeks. If you need flies, shuttles, tips/tricks give him a call 208.483.2222.

Ok, now on to the fishing report. Flow out of Palisades Dam are stable at 7,000 cfs and running gin clear. This is above the historical average of 4,000 cfs but down from 10,000 cfs from this time last year. If history is any guide we’ll see flows steadily climb in April and May with a peak in June so right now with pre-runoff conditions is a great time to hit the river.

While fishing had been good throughout the entire system fishing has been best right below the dam with streamers, mysis shrimp and egg patterns. There are lots of rainbows staging for the spawn so it’s a great time to help the Idaho Fish & Game remove a few!

The lower river from Byington down is also fishing really well, probably due to the slightly warmer water and more active fish. (note the above photo of guide Buck Leonard doing research haha) For the lower river more traditional patterns are effective including streamers, stonefly nymphs, tungsten thread midges, san juan worms, and such. Remember lots of trout are still “podded up” this time of year so if you find fish don’t leave them to find more.

The weather forecast looks a bit cold and damp this weekend and next week so I would suspect if you get out to fish you’ll have the river mostly to yourself. The fish are already wet and cold so….get out and wet a line.

Have a great Friday and weekend ahead.