Blog

HENRY’S FORK –

Lower River - Things are shaping up and the weather is holding; good reports of Golden Stones on the lower sections, as well as a few Green & Grey Drakes and PMD's. Spinner Falls are fair to good.

Anglers who are willing to work a little harder have been rewarded with some really nice healthy Trout. Get your fly under those bushes and into the hard to reach areas.It’s been rather busy lately, advanced tactics should apply here, don’t be afraid to keep the boat further off the banks than normal to get your fly away from the boat.





The Ranch - bug activity has picked up. Depending on the areas, PMD hatches have been decent to ecellent, and a few ants are around and beetles too. The evening spinner fall has been good the past few nights along with good caddis activity.

Add a little lenght to your leader for those tough targets. For those of you who cringe at going down to 6x for those picky big fish, try the new TroutHunter 5.5x in nylon or Fluoro a new staff favorite!






MADISON –
This just in from the Madison River Agency, looks like there is still a lot of water.

Madison River Agency Partners:
Excess precipitation, around 150% of normal for the first half of June, coupled with a very large snowpack still in the upper Madison River high country, is expected to continue to provide inflows into Hebgen Lake that could result in an elevation greater than the Project 2188 License full pool elevation of 6534.87 feet while also maintaining downstream river flows below 3,500 cfs at the Kirby gage. In response, PPL Montana will endeavor to maintain Hebgen Lake at or below full pool by providing flows at the Kirby gage between 3,400 cfs and 4,000 cfs in the near term. PPL Montana believes this balanced operation will prevent over filling Hebgen Lake and will reduce the need, as this late runoff progresses, to release even higher downstream flows (e.g. in excess of 4,500 cfs) at the Kirby gage. Resource agencies will be notified by PPL Montana as further operational adjustments are made to manage this situation.
Please pass this information on to your constituent groups as appropriate. PPL Montana is also considering a public press release.
Regards,
Jon Jourdonnais
Manager Hydro Licensing and Compliance

Salmonfly hatch in the Box Canyon, again! - Island Park Reservoir water level is now at maximum capacity. The bladders are up and water is slightly pouring over the spillway. This influx of warmer water might be what kicked started a late bloomer Salmonfly hatch. They popped big in the box a few days ago, and fish are definitely looking for them. Anglers are picking up fish tight to the bank with a single dry and out in the mainstream current in those fast water pockets. The ranch is getting underway, PMD hatches have improved, ants showed up and a few drakes of various colors have been sparkly seen. Lower River continues to fish well, Golden stones have been the main players but look for PMD spinner falls in the late evening. Overall, fishing has improved tenfold from last week and only continues to get better and better.

Celebrate the Fork and support the Foundation! All day event kicked off with a Pancake breakfast, Best of the Fork Casting Competition followed by Free Beer and Wine, Live and Silent Auction and Prime Rib/Grilled Chicken Dinner. Learn more about the HFF's research and restoration program in the Caldera and maybe walk away with a new ClackaCraft drift boat! Bring a friend and a rod and experience the blue ribbon trout fishing in between!