Have you been outside today? It’s feeling pretty nice out and the forecast for tomorrow (Friday) looks exceptional before a cold front sweeps through for Saturday. If you can take Friday off to fish, you should haha!
The flow out of Palisades Reservoir was bumped up yesterday and again today. The graph on the Bureau of Reclamation website shows flows nearing 8,000 cfs. The reservoir remains at 87% full.
With the emergence of Mother’s Day Caddis and March Browns on the Henry’s Fork many anglers will be focusing their time there so it’s a great time to fish the South Fork. We won’t see any significant dry fly action for a month or more but what we do know is the fish on the South Fork EAT this time of year. We used to get nervous when the flows went up but now we know the big fish come out to eat when the river goes up. The “worm bite” is real and those who are willing to “chuck and duck” their favorite streamer will have chances at trophy fish.
The strategy this week is the same as the previous weeks. Focus on San Juan worms, Squirmy Wormies, Big Stonefly Nymphs, and egg patterns while fishing most banks, drops, and big water. Streamers are an option here as well. Riffles, foam lines, and softer water you can also try midge and BWO nymph patterns. Don’t be afraid to get down and dirty, most of our guides are throwing the biggest meanest worms they can find, often trailed by an egg pattern. It’s not pretty but it’s effective.
We now have two locations to serve your fly shop, license, and shuttle needs. Visit our Swan Valley Fly Shop in the new general store plaza or the lodge fly shop. You can contact us at 208.483.2222.
If you would like our weekly fishing report delivered right to your email inbox every Thursday afternoon May – October. Sign up HERE