Last Updated on Monday, 13 June 2011 11:33

June 12. 2011

The South Snake River is well above 20,000 csf with the water being muddy and difficult to fish.  Some salmon flies and PMD's can be fished along the bank but most of the trout being caught are on weighted nymphs along seams and tailouts.

 

 

April 5. 2011

What has changed on the Snake is the river flow and not the fishing.  The river is currently flowing at around 10,000 cfs and climbing weekly if not daily.  The fishing has been about the same as reported before with the exception of a few more Baetis on the water and it's a little warmer.

 

March 25, 2011

The flows from Palisades Dam are around 3500 csf.  It's still cold up there and you will find some snow around but the fishing has been pretty good for the hearty few who fish this river on a regular basis.  Midge fishing and a scattering of Blue Winged Olives are what the fish are rising to if you are lucky enough to find a pod of rising fish.  Most successful anglers are using nymph rigs with either a double bead head or a weighted rubber leg with a bead head dropper.  Fish the bottom hard!

 

August 26, 2010

With the river flowing just under 9000 cfs this river has been fishing extremely well.  PMD's, caddis and hoppers should all be in your fly box along with their emerger patterns if you are going to the Snake.  Even though the PMD's have slowed down some, trout are still rising to the fly and you should still see trout in some sections dinning on them.  The evening is a special time on the Snake.  The caddis are coming off on a consistent bases and you should do quite well depending on what section of the river you are on.  The key to this hatch is have a good caddis emerger to drop behind you Elk Hair Caddis when you start.

 

 

June 20, 2010

The South Fork is flowing at around 12500csf.  The fishing has been real good using basic nymph rigs and streamer fishing with Slump Busters and Black Woolly Buggers.  When you find good fishy water, eddy the boat out and really work the water.  As a nymph rig use a weighted Golden Stone or Henry's Fork Rubber leg that is dropped with a bead head beatis.  Be sure to use the correct weight to slow your rig down and get to the depth that you need.  Look for PMD's in the early afternoon and Caddis in the evening.

 

June 1, 2010

The South Fork Snake River is the hottest spot in Idaho right now.  However things can change and often do with tailwater rivers.  Flows could change overnight and the fishing now can become suspect at best.  But for right now drop what you're doing and get to the South Snake.  Pretty much its been nymph fishing through the tailouts into the holes that have been bringing up the Hogs.  Large weighted nymphs or streamers dropped with your favorite bead head nymph is how you should start.  Just remember to adjust your weight with every different situation.  Good Luck!

 

April 4, 2010

On the South Fork Snake River when the weather is good the fishing has been good.  If you had to pick on river to travel to this would be my pick.  The water level is still low (900 cfs) and the water is very clear.  Access to the river has improved such that most of the river is now accessible.  Starting at Palisades dam all the way down past Heise bridge anglers have been fairly successful in catching good size browns and few cutthroat trout.  Baetis (BWO's) and Midges will take care of any rising fish and small bead head Beatis or Pheasent Tails drifted through good tail out water will take care of any nymphing you wish to do.  Take your time and don't be afraid to move to more productive water should the fishing slow down or not produce.

 

March 22, 2010

Trout are still feeding on Midges but there are some Baetis action starting to heat up especially with the weather warming up.  Have some size 20 and 22 black Midges and Griffiths Nats with a good assortment of emerging pupa's on hand and that should take care of any top water action should you see any.  Small nymphs and Midge Pupa patterns that are weighted and drifted through good holding water has been the method for most of the trout taken up until this time.

 

March 1, 2010

Lots and Lots of snow.  If you can get to the river and you are lucky enough to get to a good section then  be sure to have a good selection of Midges with you.  Working the end of tailouts and the deeper runs with a good assortment of Midges when rising trout are present will reward you with some really nice trout.  When no rising trout are to be seen then nymphing with small bead head nymphs weighted to get to the bottom will produce some nice white fish and a few trout.

 

October 27, 2009

The South Fork Snake is around 3000 cubic feet below the damn.  The fishing has been pretty good from the damn down to Hiese.  The Brown's are hitting streamers close to the banks and the cutthroat can be caught in the tailouts and seems along the river braids.  The flow from Byington to the Highway ends up at about 14000 cfs and the river really braids to the point where you are going to have to get out and drag your boat.  The fishing from Cottonwood  to Byington has been pretty good with Browns along the banks.

 

October 7, 2009

The South Snake is at around 4500 cfs and the fishing has been very good.  The colder weather has brought out the Beatis May flies and the fish are really keying in on them.  Have a good selection of BWO's from emergers to cripples to different styles of dries from size 18 to 20.  The Brown trout are now in the prespawn stage and you can really pick up some hawgs by throwing out some large weighted streamers.

 

September 23, 2009

At 7130 cfs the South Fork Snake River has been a little slower in the catch rate department.  Mutant Stone are the hot topic but you will see Flav's and Caddis in the evenings and some Mahogany's in the afternoon.  Hoppers and Chernobyl's are still catching trout during the day so you might as well start with those.

 

September 15, 2009

Slamming the banks with Hoppers and Chernobyl's seems to be the ticket the past week.  Caddis are still coming out in the evenings but the PMD's are about done.  You should start seeing Mahoganies and Baetis now but you should never ignore the nymphing.  Good patterns right now are Madam X, Chernobyl Ants, Beatles and big Streamers.

 

September 4, 2009

The river is flowing at 8750 csf and fishing has been reported still pretty good all up and down the river from Palisades Damn to Rigby.  You still need to pound the banks hard with Hoppers and Madam X type patterns.  The May fly action has not changed that much, but you will start to see a few more Mahoganies in the afternoon and the Caddis are still coming out in the evenings.

 

 

August 24, 2009

With higher flows you need to be on the look out for smoother floating and fish along the banks.  You should be pounding the banks with Hoppers, other Terrestials and Madam X's as your primary strategy.  Look for feeding pods of Trout in the tailout and other likely area's and go after them with your spare dry fly rod.  They will be rising to PMD's, Baetis or Caddis.

August 5, 2009

Get your fly rod and drive to the South Fork Snake. The Fishing has been great.  Big dry flies like Chernobyl Ants, Freddie's or any large foam fly will probably do the trick.  Switch back and forth with a nymph rig and your dry fly rig until you have it figured out.  Pound the banks and Get out of the boat when you come across prime fishy water.  By mid morning you should start seeing some PMD's and by afternoon Mahoganies so watch the water for those flies and Trout feeding on them.  The River is over 10,000 cfs.

 

July 22, 2009

The Hatches are here.  Salmon Flies, Golden Stones, PMD"s Green Drakes and Mahoganies are all on the river at this time.  Fishing has been excellent.  The mornings are Stone fly time with the afternoon belonging to the Mayflies. Pound the banks hard and look for Trout that pod up.  Keep a good eye out for Hoppers.

June 25, 2009

The ,flows from Palisades Dam have been inconsistent but the fishing has been pretty good.  As of today the river should be around 20,000csf so it will be a little fast for some.  If you're fishing from a drift boat what is working best is weighted nymph combinations or large streamers.  Slump Busters and large Wollybuggers are the hot subsurface flies lighting up the river.  Look for PMD's in the late morning and early afternoon.  When you see rising fish try and anchor the boat and get out to work over the fish.

June 10, 2009

Last report was the river is still up over 20000cfs and the water is still a little cloudy. However if you don't mind fast water you can still fish the river with success. If you've never floated the river that high then you should probably hire an experienced guide. Use large weighted nymphs with a bead head nymph for a dropper. PMD's and Caddis are on the river now so having an extra rod rigged up for dries. If you're not floating the river you can usually fish the river at the likely places such as boat ramps.