Thank you for joining us for this week’s fishing report. Our lodge is open for the season and our first guests of the 2023 season are already out on the water and enjoying all the South Fork has to offer. The flow out of Palisades is following its typical Spring trend and was bumped up to 4,500 cfs on May 1st. The water exiting the reservoir is clear and cold.
Fishing on the “upper” river from the Dam to Conant has been good. It’s egg and worm season so the guides and guests who have been willing to “dig for it” had success. There are also quite a few midges around so zebra midges have also been catching fish.
From Conant downstream the water is off-color with quite a bit of debris floating around making the fishing a bit tougher. One of our guides who had a tough day on the lower river said he was scared to go back haha. I would expect the debris to clear out barring any additional rise in the flows but unfortunately, the tributaries muddying up the water will be high and off-color for a while.
If you’re headed out on the river this weekend I would plan to start your float at the dam and focus on nymphs (eggs, san juan worms, stonefly nymphs, and midge patterns). Pack your warm layers and rain gear as the forecast is looking “western”.
As always if we can help with anything over the phone or in our Swan Valley Fly Shop please stop by or give us a call. 208.483.2222 (lodge) 208.483.2727 (fly shop)
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