I feel like Memorial Day weekend snuck up on us this year but it’s here, and if you’re headed out on the South Fork this weekend here’s what you need to know. The flow out of Palisades Reservoir was bumped up to 10,000 cfs from 8,700 cfs over the last 24 hours. **Update, we just received word that the flows will now be increased to 12,000 cfs by Friday morning.** This is a good level and any increase in the flows gets the fish feeding, mostly on worms but success has been found on streamers as the bait fish adjust to new habitats.
The fishing this week has been most consistent on the “upper” from the Dam to Conant. Tributary streams like Palisades, Rainey Creek, and Pine Creek are still running high and off-color due to snow melt. There is still a lot of snow to melt in the mountains so we’ll be dealing with this for several more weeks. The water clarity remains fishable from Conant downstream but as I mentioned the guides are reporting the most consistent fishing above the dirtiest water.
Anglers will have the most action on double-nymph rigs. I would make sure my box was stocked with some big ugly bright San Juan worms and Rubberlegs. I’d trail those big nymphs with small midge imitations like a Zebra Midge and fish those in back eddies and foam lines where the fish are concentrated even if they aren’t feeding on the surface. The same applies to streamer fishing, big, bright, and ugly will be the name of the game and put that streamer on their nose.
If you need any flies, equipment, tips, and tricks swing by our Swan Valley fly shop, we’re open all weekend.
Have a great weekend.
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