Snake River

Well, the Bureau of Reclamation has held true to its word. As of today July 11^th the release from Jackson Lake Dam is 2510 cfs and fishing on the Snake has picked up considerably. This is just as we predicted in our last report. As for the valley tributaries, they have been fishing for awhile now. Though the Grey’s, Hoback, Gros Ventre, and Pacific Creek are running high they have been improving daily. June was a god-send with many days of afternoon rain showers. More in the way we remember our Junes use to being. Even with all this moisture, having the valley fish the first week of July, is two to three weeks earlier than normal. A big bonus of all this moisture is it should help the tributaries to fish later into September. Anyway, if the Bureau of Rec can hold the flows at around 2500 cfs and with the added rainfall for the tributaries, we are anticipating a very good fishing year for the Jackson Hole valley.

Dry-fly fishing on the Snake has started but is still a little spotty. Standard dry patterns like Royal Wulffs, Parachute Hares Ear, and H&L Variants have still proven their worth. The ticket for our guides has been the Dry with a Nymph Dropper System. Try a Green Bean, Billard Prince Nymph, Green Copper John, or a Morrish Dirty Bird as droppers from a Bugmeister, Turck’s Tarantula, or Parachute Madam X. The dry-fly fishing on the Tributaries has been more consistent, but if the dries are not producing don’t overlook the Dry-Dropper System. Royal Stimulator, Stevie Wonders, and Power Ants have been consistent dry patterns for the tribs. For standard nymphs fishing, Golden Stone nymphs like the Beadhead Epoxyback, Anderson Rubberlegs, and old reliable Matt’s Fur should be dependable producer on both the tributaries and the Snake.

We have moved into the summer mode here in Jackson and the end of the day fishing can be quite good. On many warm evenings you can find rising fish until Zero-Dark-Thirty. Most of the time Caddis will be the prevalent insect. Of the few times we have to match hatches on the Snake, this is one of them. But generally you shouldn’t have to do much more than an Elk Hair Caddis in the appropriate size.

With all the rain we've been having the valley is as green as we have seen for along time. And as we mentioned earlier, with this added moisture and with a little help from the Bureau of Reclamation we are anticipating good things for the Jackson area. So if you get a chance, this should be a good year to come fish the valley.

Until next time,

Howard Cole
High Country Flies