News and Fishing Reports

Box Canyon: Flows out of the Island Park Dam are presently at about 1200 cfs (this is about 200 cfs above average for this time of year). This is just about the perfect flow for float fishing and a little to high for comfortable wading. Fishing has been very good to excellent in the "Box" over the past couple of days. Best results have been with medium sized (#6 & 8) rubber leg nymphs, size #14 and #16 tungsten beadhead nymphs and streamers. I have had a few reports of fish being taken on top with adult Golden Stone imitations throughout the Canyon and with adult Green Drake patterns on the lower end of this popular section of the Henry's Fork.

Last Chance/Railroad Ranch/Wood Road 16: Fishing on this world famous stretch of the Henry's Fork has been wonderful (understated) from the first day that it officially opened on June 15th. Prolific hatches of PMD's, Caddis, Brown Drakes, Green Drakes and Flav's (throw in a few beetles and ants as well) have had the fish on the prowl almost constantly. I really don't think I have talked to a fisherman who has been disappointed with his fishing experience on this section of the river yet this season. You can start with spinners in the morning, look for the PMD hatch late in the morning and early afternoon, the Green Drakes start around noon to one o'clock and last till about two-thirty, then the Flav's will start late afternoon through the early evening when you should start to look for the various spinners again -- and all the while the caddis will be around. The Brown and Green Drakes are starting to wind down so if you want to get in on these two great hatches you had better get here over in the next couple of days.

Riverside to Hatchery Ford and Cardiac Canyon: I haven't heard much about these two sections of the river lately. I suspect this is because of the great fishing we have been having in the Box Canyon and on the Ranch. Fishing is usually pretty good this time of year on these two somewhat remote sections of the river. Try Golden Stone and Yellow Sally imitations along with Caddis, attractor dry flies and beadhead nymphs. Most of the larger fish taken in the Cardiac Canyon section are usually caught on streamers this time of year.

Warm River to Ashton: Fishing on this section of the river has been excellent for good numbers of small to medium sized trout and whitefish. Fisherman have reported excellent success with dry flies, nymphs and streamers.

Ashton to Chester and Chester to Saint Anthony: This "lower" section of the Henry's Fork continues to produce good fishing with Caddis, PMD, Grey Drake, Flav, Golden Stone and Yellow Sally adult imitations. Small beadhead nymphs and streamers are also working well. The water temperatures have started to rise into the mid to high 60's down here so it won't be long before this section of the river is just too warm for good fishing.

Madison River, Montana: The water is finally in great shape and running at normal flows. The Salmon Flies and Golden Stones are out in force from the Pine Butte section all the way down to the Varney Bridge and the fishing has been excellent over the past couple of days. This hatch won't be around too much longer so grab your Salmon Fly imitations and get over there soon. Also look for hatches of PMDs and Caddis.

Get here this year (trust me)!  Please call the shop if we can be helpful in any way.
-Rick Smith
(208)558-9900

Photos by Bryan Gregson.  How great is his stuff?