Can you feel it? The weekend is near. I hope you, like me are looking forward to some fishing!
The weather forecast over Memorial Day weekend looks cooler and wetter than a “normal” May but looks better than we’ve seen this week. A 30 – 50% chance of showers each day but temps a good 10 degrees warmer than today with the forecast for 68 on Sunday.
The cooler temperatures this month have slowed the snow melt and resulted in good planning and flows coming out of Palisades reservoir. The reservoir is slowly filling and currently sits at 61% of capacity with an outflow of 13,100 cfs.
The consistent flow and slowly warming water has really helped the fishing the past few weeks. Our longtime guides report that this May has been some of the best fishing they’ve ever had in the Spring (“jaws on the floor” was the exact quote) and they are predicting an excellent summer ahead with all eyes on the upcoming Salmon Fly hatch. Today we launched our 101st guide trip in May alone.
We are seeing a few Blue Winged Olives (BWO’s) hatching with fish feeding on them in protected foam lines and riffles, not throughout the entire river so keep your eyes peeled. Fishing on the upper river from the dam to Conant has been slower than the lower river but producing bigger fish. The fishing from Conant all the way to Lorenzo has been better as the warm water has more active nymphs and therefore more active fish. Make sure you have stonefly nymphs, san juan worms, BWO nymphs, streamers and some BWO emergers and dry flies in your box and you’ll be ready for the weekend.
Fishing on Palisades Reservoir has been consistent as has the fishing on the Snake below American Falls. We have guides available this weekend on the South Fork, Main Snake and the Reservoir. Give us a call! 208.483.2222
Have a great weekend out there! Don’t hesitate to come by the shop or call if you need shuttles, licences, flies, or fishing tips.