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Snake River
Hi everyone,
The last part of
February had been relatively dry and cold here in
Jackson Hole.
We had several pleasant days but for the most part low moisture and cool
temps. The bad news is that we haven’t added to our snowpack. The good
news is due to the cool temperatures the snowpack has stayed relatively
the same. Not like last year when early unseasonably warm temperatures
decimated our snowpack. March has come in with continued chilly
temperatures. Where the Weather Channel told how nippy it was back East,
try -28 below at my house last Sunday morning. Unlike February, March
has started out with good snowfall and the extended forecast is for
being on the wet side the remainder of the month. Anyway, based on the
30 year average, here are the current conditions.
River
Basin Total Percentage Snow Water
Equivalent
Snake
River
84 80
Upper Yellowstone
River 87 83
Upper Madison
River 87 83
Upper Green
River 81 76
A couple of things
that we have going for us this year is: #1 That the whole Yellowstone
Area has around an 80% snowpack or better. #2 This is also true for the
Minadoka Water Project watersheds, which the Upper Snake River is part
of. This is very important, because unlike some years ago when the Upper
Snake was the major supplier, all systems will contribute. #3 American
Falls Reservoir, the largest in our system, is already 70% full. So
Jackson Lake should have a moderate spring release. All of this
information and much more is in our web site, or go directly to:
http://www.highcountryflies.com/library/current_conditions.htm.
All rivers and
streams in the Snake
River Basin that lie within Wyoming are
closed to fishing the month of March. The exceptions are the Hoback,
Greys, and Salt
Rivers, which are open all year. The
Salt is the most dependable of the three and has been starting to
produce with some consistency.
Small nymphs, beadhead nymphs, and midge patterns have been the ticket.
Pretty typical for our winter-spring fishing. Bigger rubber-legged
nymphs will be coming in to play soon. For dries it has been midges but
with the cool temps it has been day to day. For days when there is dry
fly activity, try some of the newer cluster patterns like the Hi-Vis
Griffith’s Gnats.
Over in Idaho,
lower sections of the South Fork and Henry’s Fork are open all year. The
South Fork has still been inconsistent but the Henry’s Fork has been
fishing quite well since the end of January. Same winter-spring fly
patterns I mentioned earlier, small nymphs and midge patterns
underneath. I think you find something like the Beadhead Bubble-Back or
a Copper John can be trout flies of choice. For those of you into fly
tying, start spinning up some stonefly nymphs for the Skwallas.
Anderson’s Rubber Leg Stone would be a good choice. Soon they will be
getting very active underneath and look for the dries the end of March
or first part of April. Current dry flies will again be the midges in
black and grey.
The Snake will open
April 1st. Spring water flows should be low and stable
making for a good early season. Also new regulations will open fresh
early season water to us. Winters are long here in Yellowstone Country
and we are eager to launch our 2002 season. We will keep you posted on
the Snake’s opener.
New Fishing Regulations for Area 1 (Jackson Hole and vicinity)
Wyoming Game & Fish is attempting to make the regulations for Area 1
more uniform throughout. As a result more Snake River tributaries will
open on April 1 as opposed to May 21 in the past. Furthermore, while the
overall limit of six trout in possession has not changed, beginning in
2002 only three trout can be cutthroats only one of which can be over
12”.
Until next time…
Howard Cole
High Country Flies
Jackson
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