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Henry’s Fork Fishing Report for May 26th, 2011
By Rich Paini
Images by Bryan Gregson

Box Canyon: Current flows out of Island Park dam are currently at 1970cfs, which makes for a mighty big river. All that deep white stuff we received over the winter is melting & filling the reservoir fast. I would expect higher than average flows for the next few weeks.  Access to both the dam put in & Last Chance take out are clear of snow, so getting a boat in is not a problem. Wade fishermen, on the other hand, are going to have a more difficult time accessing the river in Box Canyon. These higher than average flows & lower than average water temps can make the fishing a little tricky, but for those willing to work a little harder, the fishing can be great. Focus on deep/slow holding water & present big Stonefly nymphs, SJ worm patterns & Beadhead nymphs. Rubberleg patterns, SJ’s in red/ pink/ purple and beadhead prince, PT, caddis & zebra midges have been taking fish regularly. Streamers are also turning some nice big fish when fished deep - with a slow retrieve. Try Double Bunnies, Bling Streamers & big articulated flies like the Sex Dungeon to agitate the big Rainbows of Box Canyon. If we get a few days of consistent warmer weather, we could see the Salmonflies start to pop; we will keep you updated on this. With these higher flows it pays to think safety, so be on your toes (& oars) & keep an eye out for debris in the river & other hazards that come along with the bigger flows.

Last Chance/Railroad Ranch/Wood Road 16: This section of the Henry’s Fork is closed to angling until June 15^th, 2011. As the opener approaches, we will update this page regularly with hatch information & water conditions. Stay tuned….

Warm River to Ashton: As is the case with Box Canyon, this section of the Henry’s Fork is flowing very high as well, but the water clarity is OK and good fish are being caught. We floated this section the other day and saw a few adult Salmonflies, but nothing in great numbers, so the hatch is probably still a week or two out. Focus your fishing against the banks and in deep slower runs. Big stonefly nymphs, worm patterns & beadhead nymphs are producing when fished tight to the bank. With these higher flows, there is a myriad of great fishable water up against the banks. All this good bank water makes for some great streamer fishing as well. Chuck the big stuff to the bank and vary your retrieve to turn the bigger fish in this Section of the Henry’s Fork. We will keep you posted as conditions improve.

Ashton Dam to Chester Backwater: Current flows out of Ashton dam are 5,180cfs.  I hate to sound like a broken record here, but the conditions on this section of the Henry’s Fork pretty much mirror the other sections. Focus on the deeper slower water and banks for best success. Big stonefly nymphs, worm patterns & beadhead nymphs will put fish in the net. Fishing streamers to the bank with varied retrieves will entice the alpha fish in this section.  Big heavy articulated flies with a lot of action will get the job done.

Chester to St. Anthony: Flows below Chester are currently 8,710cfs. The Falls River is chugging pretty high, adding an intense amount of water to this section. Big weighted nymphs and streamers along the flooded edges will catch fish. If you choose to float this section, practice extreme caution.

Henry’s Lake: The Lake is ice free and the fishing should be awesome for the opening weekend.

Madison River below Hebgen Dam: Releases from Hebgen dam are currently at 1,800cfs. The River is running clear until the confluence with Cabin Creek, after this it gets pretty dirty. The River below Quake Lake is high & off colored but fishable. Fish big weighted Stonefly nymphs tight to the bank or in deep/slower holding water. Big articulated streamer patterns are turning fish as well. Slow down your presentation, and focus on the banks to find fish.