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  It's Baetis weather here on the Henry's Fork!!!... lots of bugs, plethora of rising fish, and zero crowds!




  **Stop by the shop or give us a call to take advantage of late season discounts on Lodging, Guide trips or Guide/Lodging combo packages. We also have a large selection of Clothing, Outerwear and Gear at late season discounts***

HENRY’S FORK FISHING REPORT FOR EARLY OCTOBER 2011

v           Stop by the shop or give us a call to take advantage of late season discounts on Lodging, Guide trips or Guide/Lodging combo packages. We also have a large selection of Clothing, Outerwear and Gear at late season discounts.

BOX CANYON:   Flows out of Island Park dam have been holding steady between 740-780cfs. With the cooler temps and inclement weather as of late, we’re starting to see the Box Canyon stretch of the Henry’s fork light up again. As we continue to move through fall & experience diverse weather, the fishing will only get better. Nymphing is still the most consistent technique to target Box Canyon Rainbows. Be sure to have a strong selection of Beadhead Baetis, Stonefly & Caddis nymphs in your arsenal. Be sure to present those bugs with a drag free drift. Focus on deeper water between weed beds & behind those big Box Canyon boulders. The Streamer fishing is really starting to heat up as well. Cloudy days, as well as early & late in the day are the best times to throw the big stuff. Focus on deeper water & vary your retrieves to find out how the fish like it…..then hold on, because these fish are eating aggressively to pack on the pounds for the harsh winter ahead. Be sure to pack the rain jacket & extra layers as the weather this time of year can change in a heartbeat.

LAST CHANCE/HARRIMAN RANCH/WOOD ROAD 16: This recent turn in the weather has brought the bugs out in full force down in the Ranch. Look for Baetis, Midges & a few left-over October Caddis. Cooler overcast days are best, but we’re seeing solid hatches even on the warmer sunnier days. The fish are responding well & there is no shortage of targets when things really get going. The terrestrial window is beginning to close as we move deeper in to fall, but a hopper, ant or beetle is still a safe bet on the warmer sunny days and when the wind picks up a bit. The big Ranch Rainbows won’t soon forget the protein- packed meal of a hopper or beetle. If you’re not seeing good numbers of fish or bugs, move around a bit, you’ll soon find a pod of hungry risers. The fish in the Ranch still demand a perfect presentation, so approach with stealth & deliver those flies with a drag free drift for consistent results. Once hooked, these well-fed Rainbows will shoot straight for the weed beds, so do your best to get a hold of ‘em right outta the gate. Stop in the shop & pick up some of our revolutionary TroutHunter flouro tippet material, it will aid greatly in landing these strong fighting brutes!

WARM RIVER TO ASHTON: This is a great time to float & fish this beautiful stretch of the Henry’s Fork. The crowds have thinned quite a bit leaving this already under-utilized section almost void of anglers on any given day. Nymphing is a sure fire way to pick up a plethora of fish here, but as the temperatures continue to cool, the fish in this stretch will begin to react aggressively to streamer patterns. When the big Browns start to get restless for their yearly spawn, they get super territorial. A well presented streamer pattern can really trigger some ferocious grabs. Big Articulated stuff like the Bottoms-up, Sex-Dungeon & Circus Peanut really fit the bill well for this kind of fishing. As for nymphs, stick with the standard fare of Rubberleg nymphs trailed with a smaller flashy Beadhead. On any given day you can still find good numbers of fish up on Baetis, so keep your eyes peeled for pods of rising fish. We probably have a few weeks of terrestrial fishing left as well, so don’t pack away that hopper box quite yet.

ASHTON DAM TO THE CHESTER/ST. ANTHONY: Flows out of Ashton Dam have been fluctuating some due to the ongoing work on the Dam. They are currently at 1,820cfs. We’ve had guides on this stretch in the past week and the fishing has been fair. Word on the street is that the work is almost complete and this stretch will be fishable again soon. When it does come back in to shape, the fishing here is going to be stellar! We’ll keep you up-dated here….or call the shop for a current report on the situation. If you do choose to fish this area, rope up to the big articulated stuff & pound the banks & deeper water.

HENRY’S LAKE: This little gem continues to provide killer fishing, day in and day out. The fish have spread out a bit, but you’ll still find thicker concentrations around the springs & creek mouths. A wide array of nymphs, leeches & streamers will produce here. Vary your presentation & retrieves until you find what they like, then stick with it. When the fishing slows, move to a new area or change up your bugs/presentation/retrieve. Denny Rickard still-water patterns, Chironomids & a good selection of Nymphs will get the job done. Stop in the shop to see our large selection of Henry’s Lake flies. Huge fish are being landed daily so get up here & get some before the hard deck moves in and shuts ‘er down for winter.

HEBGEN LAKE: The Callibaetis action here is all but buttoned up, but you can still find fish gulping midges at certain times. There’s still a smattering of October Caddis & the Terrestrial fishing here will continue for a few more weeks. The Browns are beginning to stage & move up into the creek/river mouths. Stripping leeches & streamers in these areas can produce some super fast fishing on any given day. You can still patrol the shallow bays and sight fish to cruisers with a hopper, ant or beetle. The fish are really putting on the feed-bag for winter and aren’t near as weary as they were just a few weeks ago.

MADISON RIVER BELOW HEBGEN DAM: Current flows out of Hebgen Dam are 1,160cfs. On cloudier days, look for Baetis action on top. There are still a few October Caddis fluttering around as well. When the dry fly fishing isn’t an option, tie on a Rubberleg & trail a Beadhead behind it. Streamer fishing here is always a safe bet and as we move deeper in to fall, it will only get better.

 

 

Great article by Fly Fisherman on the Fork and the Harrop's... enjoy the good read!!

’78-2011 Henry’s Fork Revived
by John Randolph • September 23, 2011

Bonne and René Harrop are as iconic on the Henry's Fork as the fence line on the Harriman Ranch. John Randolph photo

Curtains of rain hover north of us toward Sawtell as evening thunderclouds build along the Yellowstone Plateau toward the Grand Tetons (named as “big breasts” by the mountain men who rendezvoused here when whites first trapped in the Rockies). We start to fish the grass- and weed-filled knee-deep wading flats below Osborne Springs on the 16-Mile road near Last Chance, Idaho.

Entire story here --> http://www.flyfisherman.com/2011/09/23/%E2%80%9978-2011-henry%E2%80%99s-fork-revived/