Thank you for reading this week’s fishing report. It’s an excellent time to be on the South Fork with hot weather, good hatches, and feeding fish if you’re lucky enough to be on the water, you’re lucky enough. Flows out of Palisades Reservoir have been constant this week at 13,200 cfs and Palisades is at 87% capacity. The water temps from the dam are right about 50 degrees and rise to 54 at Conant. The Salmon Flies are in the last part of their emergence on the banks below the Dam and can be found sporadically all the way down to the Canyon. There are also a good number of Golden Stones, Caddis, PMD’s and Sallies so there’s no lack of food and food choices for the fish.
Dry flies and dry dropper rigs are the norm these days with some guides and guests fishing double nymph rigs before hatches as needed. PMD fishing in the afternoon continues to improve and the water warms and the hatches grow in numbers.
To be successful with the big foam dry flies remember you’ve go to out fish or our present your fly when compared to other anglers. This means get that fly close, in, and under banks, bushes, logs etc. Even though that dropper is catching some fish it might be worth removing it if you want to catch fish on dry flies. As for the PMD’s if you see a good number of PMD’s hatching, in the air and on the water but the fish aren’t rising, rest assured the fish are eating them, they’re just eating them in their nymph and emerging forms.
If you’re interested in flattening the learning curve, consider hiring one of our guides for a day trip or staying with us for a few days. We have guides available and some lodge openings as well. Give us a call at 208.483.2222 or email [email protected].
Thanks again and have a great weekend on the river.
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