Blog

Appearing at least weekly, April showers of the white variety continue to punctuate a very unusual Spring in the flat land. Navigating the ice ledges continues to add an extra element of excitement to fishing the bank feeders along the edges at Fun Farm but otherwise, access to the lower ‘Fork has greatly improved during this past week.

Historically we no longer expect to add to snow pack levels after the 15th of April.  What we have by mid-April is all we should expect to get.  However, as I write this report a huge storm is coming across the border from Canada, it is expected to arrive sometime during the next 24 to 36 hours, and they are predicting snow accumulations of from one to two feet.  Day time high temperatures over the next four or five days are predicted to be in the twenties and night time lows in the single digits.  So, in fact, we may still be adding to an already above average snow season.  

With the weather showing some signs of Spring, Brad Miller and I have gotten out on the water quite a bit recently.  We began in late March, swinging streamers around the Chester backwaters, and the Fun Farm and Del Rio bridges for aggressive, early season Henry's Fork fish looking to pack on a few pounds. Now we are transitioning into early season stonefly, mayfly, and midge surface activity below Vernon bridge.  Streamer fishing has started to wain lately, but fish have been susceptible to dry/drop rigs, nymphing, and the occasional dry fly. Stonefly patterns such as small, dark Hedgehogs, Green Machines, and Mr. Beams are being used to float small beads, such as Zebra midges, Baetis nymphs, or Pheasant Tails, with most of the fish coming on the subsurface patterns. Hatches of midges have been pretty consistent, but the Baetis hatches have been spotty. We've seen some Skwallas, and are expecting to see more Baetis and the start of the Rithrogenia (March Brown) hatch soon.
By Pat Gaffney

Life is good at 17 degrees 30 minutes north.  The weather has been perfect.  There has been just enough wind over the last few days to keep the anglers cool and the fish comfortable.  The clouds have been small and sparse creating excellent fish spotting light.  As result there have been a number of angler's raising the rum.

Taking a break from "the blood in the streets" that is the current status of the financial markets, Dirk from NYC has been getting some business done on the heartless predators of the flats catching a 25lb Barracuda, providing the staff at Turneffe a delicious dinner.

In addition, a number of bonefish have been caught the last two days.  Yesterday was day for the ladies, with our own Millie Paini catching good numbers out of the boat, and Dirk's wife Betsy landing her first ever bonefishes wading the outer flats.  Today began with Charlie Herbek bringing a 4 pounder to hand, and tonight, I am raising a Pantie Rippa in celebration of my guides Dion and Pops guiding me into 2 permit in 2 days.