River Conditions
Happy Fourth of July, and happy 250th birthday, America! Before we get to the fishing, the whole crew here at The Lodge at Palisades Creek wants to wish you a great weekend on the South Fork and a safe, happy holiday.
Flows on the South Fork currently sit at 13,200 cfs and are set to rise heading into the weekend. With a bump of about 500 cfs today and another 475 cfs tomorrow, we’ll be sitting right around 14,125 cfs by this weekend. With warm weather on the way, the farmers and irrigators are calling for a little more water, so expect these higher flows to hold. Clarity remains good, and the fishing should sty strong right through the increase.
The Word From Our Guides
The big story this week is a changing of the guard. The Salmon Fly hatch has pretty much wrapped up — you might still catch a few fluttering around on the upper stretch between the dam and Irwin, but for the most part, the Salmon Flies have made their run through the South Fork. And what a run it was.
The focus now turns to PMDs. There are still some Little Yellow Sallies around, but it’s the PMD fishing in the riffles that’s been absolutely fantastic. Keep your eyes out for Golden Stones, too — we typically see a wave of goldens roll through just after the Salmon Flies, starting down on the lower river. Don’t be surprised if you notice some of our guides quietly sneaking back down to the lower floats — Heise to Lorenzo, or Menan — in anticipation of that golden stone wave.
Tactics: Ride the PMD Riffles, Watch for Goldens
Right now, the riffles are your friend. PMD fishing has been excellent, so focus your attention on those riffle edges and seams in the afternoons when the bugs come off — have your emergers, cripples, and dun patterns ready. A few Little Yellow Sallies mixed in will keep the fish honest. And keep a Golden Stone imitation in the box, especially if you’re headed to the lower river. That second wave of goldens is one of the South Fork’s best-kept secrets, and being ready for it early can mean some outstanding dry fly eats.
Weekend Outlook
The holiday weekend is shaping up beautifully. After a slight chance of showers today (high near 77), things clear out and warm up nicely: Friday looks mostly sunny with a high near 80, the Fourth itself brings sunshine and a high near 82, and Sunday warms further to near 87. In short — it’s going to be a gorgeous stretch to be on the river. With the warm temperatures, plan to fish the mornings and evenings hard, and enjoy the holiday sunshine in between.
At the Fly Shop & Lodge
The Swan Valley Fly Shop will be open all weekend long — swing by for PMDs, goldens, and anything else you need to make the most of the holiday. Give us a call at 208.483.2727 or shop anytime at tlapcflyshop.com.
There may even be a possibility to book a guided day trip or sneak into the lodge this weekend — but the only way to find out is to give us a call at 208.483.2222.
Once again, happy Fourth of July, and we’ll see you on the river.
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