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Fishing Report by Rick Smith
Photos by Bryan Gregson

Box Canyon: Flows out of the Island Park Dam are presently at 600 cfs. This is about 400 cfs below average. At these flows the wade fisherman can gain access to some of the better holding water that is unapproachable to them at higher flows. At 600 cfs the "Box" is still floatable but you can expect to hit a few rocks no matter how good you are on the sticks. Fishing throughout the canyon has been excellent over the past couple of weeks. Nymphing with small (size #16 and #18) beadhead nymphs has produced the best results. Don't forget your streamers, especially if your fishing early in the morning or late in the evening. Streamer patterns that incorporate either olive and white or olive and black have produced the best results.

Last Chance/Railroad Ranch/Wood Road 16: I can't put into woods just how good this famous section of the Henry's Fork has fished over the past three weeks. Excellent hatches of PMD's, Callibaetis, Baetis, Pseudos, and tricos have provided innumerable feeding opportunities for all those big healthy rainbows that are now out there prowling the waters of the upper Henry's Fork. In addition to the mayfly hatches mentioned there have also been a good number of caddis around as well as a variety of winged ants and hoppers. Many a die hard "Railroad Ranch" fisherman has stopped by the fly shop over the past couple of days to express their belief that the past three weeks have been some of the best and most exciting fishing they have ever experienced on the Henry's Fork. Right now I would say that the best fishing opportunities on this part of the river are from the Last Chance area down river to the Mailbox bridge and then down around the Wood Road.

Riverside Campground to Hatchery Ford: This is usually a good time of year to explore this somewhat remote section of the upper Henry's Fork. Good dry fly fishing can be expected with little yellow sallies, caddis, PMDs, general attractor patterns, ants and grasshopper imitations. Be alert when hiking on this section of the river as the huckleberries are ripe and the bears know where the best patches are. Cardiac Canyon: Several of our more adventurous guides have been floating there clients down here and they have reported having excellent fishing with nymphs, dries and streamers.

Warm River to Ashton: For those fisherman seeking an uncomplicated fun day of fishing this section of the river never seems to disappoint. The fish are seldom large but what they lack in size they more than make up for in numbers. Whatever type of fishing you like to do, nymph, dry fly or streamer, you can expect to catch fish on this scenic section of the Henry's Fork.

Ashton to Saint Anthony: Water temperatures are still a little to high for me to recommend anyone to fish down here.

Madison River, MT: Fishing on the Madison has been very good with caddis, Epeorus, spruce moth imitations, attractor dry flies and hoppers.

Hebgen Lake, MT: Fishing on Hebgen Lake has been excellent in the Madison Arm of the lake with trico's and in the Grayling and Duck Creek arms with Callibaetis. I fished the Duck Creek arm of the lake a few days ago and experienced the heaviest Callibaetis hatch I have ever seen in my life. It was simply magnificent and the fish were up everywhere.

Larry & Jenny Keel are back in town for a three night run! On Wednesday and Thursday the duo will treat fans to short free sets after dinner. If you haven't been introduced to the Keels, be sure to check them out one of those evenings. You will undoubtedly be back for the big show on Friday night!

Wednesday August 18th & Thursday August 19th
9:30-10:30 pm. Free. All Ages. Dinner served until 9pm.

Friday August 20th - The KEELS in Concert!Keels Tickets - $10. 21+. All You Can Eat Hog Roast - $10. Advance Purchase Special: Keels Ticket & Hog Roast - $15.

LARRY & JENNY KEEL are undeniably the most powerful, innovative and all-out exhilarating Acoustic Americana duo performing today. Period. Lead by award-winning Flatpicking Guitar genius Larry Keel, this pair takes Bluegrass instrumentation into totally surprising places and spaces, from the purest traditional forms to the most astonishing experimental sonic journeys a listener can undertake. The mission is always clear: to let technical skill, honest emotion and fearlessness connect their playing and singing to their audience, to entertain and to thoroughly ENJOY the experience.