News and Fishing Reports

By Rick Smith

Box Canyon: Water releases from the Island Park Dam are slightly below normal at 600 cfs (725 cfs is average for this time of year). At this flow there is still enough water for floating but it is at a level that allows good wading opportunities for the shore fisherman. Fishing in the "Box" has been very good to excellent lately for good numbers of small to medium sized trout and whitefish. Best results have been with small, size 16, 18 and 20, beadhead nymphs. Some of our favorite beadhead nymphs include red and brown standard Zebra Midges, black and red Krystal Zebra Midges, Red Headed Stepchild's, Flashback Pheasant Tails and Prince nymphs. There has also been some dry fly fishing opportunities with adult midge, BWO and caddis imitations mostly at the upper and lower sections of the canyon. One word of caution about fishing in the "Box" at this time of year. Be prepared to spend some time cleaning off your flies after several drifts. There is quite a bit of moss present in the canyon right now and this presents the angler with a few minor distractions.

Last Chance/Railroad Ranch/Wood Road 16: Fishing on the "Ranch" continues to be very good although a bit more challenging than it was a week or so ago. We are in that transition time of year where the summer hatches are quickly winding down and the fall hatches are just beginning. This is a time of year where the properly prepared fisherman approaches his "Ranch" fishing with his fly boxes filled with a wide variety of flies if he or she expects to be successful. There are still some Tricos, PMD's, Callibaetis, Ants (black and honey) and hoppers around providing the angler with good dry fly opportunities. It's just that these insects are not distributed evenly throughout the "Ranch" water. You will find pockets of activity here and there so if you want to be successful you must be prepared to carry enough patterns to change flies and meet the challenges that you are presented with. The same is true with the fall baetis and Mahogany hatches which are just starting.

Riverside to Hatchery Ford and Cardiac Canyon: Fishing on these two sections of the river has been very good with attractor dry fly patterns and beadhead nymphs. One word of caution when fishing on these two somewhat remote sections of the river at this time of year. Be BEAR AWARE!!!

Warm River to Ashton: This section of the Henry's Fork continues to produce excellent fishing for good numbers of small to medium sized trout and whitefish. Dry flies, nymphs and streamers are all producing fish on this section of the river. We expect this part of the river to start producing some larger sized rainbows and browns as we get closer to the end of September and into the month of October.

Ashton to Saint Anthony: The fishing down on this lower portion of the Henry's Fork has been a little slower than normal to materialize. It might be because we are having a nice Indian summer. We probably need a little cooler and nastier weather to get this section of the river going.

Henry's Lake: The lake has been inconsistent lately. You might go out one day and catch a fair number of 16" cutthroats. The next day nothing at all. The day after that you might catch only a few fish but they will be those nice big hybrids. The next day after that nothing again then the following day not many fish but a few good brookies. We would expect the lake to begin to fish much more consistently as we get closer to the month of October.

Other area waters: Hebgen Lake (Montana): Hebgen has held up really well this year and it is still producing excellent fishing for "Gulpers" on the Callibaetis (the Tricos are pretty much over). Fishing on the lake has also be excellent with leeches and nymphs.

Madison River (Montana): Fishing from Quake Lake to Ennis is still very good although it has slowed down a little over the past week or so. Hopper/dropper rigs and streamers have produced the best fishing down on the float sections.

We still have some room & guide availability for this Fall.  Please call us at (208) 558-9900 if we can be helpful in any way.