Flyin' By

I cannot believe that tomorrow is the last day of July. This summer is already going by way too fast for me. I think having had such a cold and wet June has set us up for a shorter summer psychologically. The good news is that fishing has been great, and should get even better as we get into August. The Snake River is now well below 4,000 cfs at Moose, and most of the tributaries are now low and clear. The Green River is below 800 cfs at Warren Bridge...a great level to wade or float fish. The South Fork of the Snake is at 11,700 cfs which is a good level going into August. Fishing the big bugs on the South Fork has been a little tough, but if you're willing to fish a little smaller (PMD's, Sallies and Caddisflies), then you'll likely have great dry fly fishing, particularly in the Canyon section. The Green is still fishing great on top...a variety of dry fly attractors should nail them. Get on early...the lower the river gets, the warmer the water will get and fishing will be tougher in the afternoons. As for the Snake, it is still a little high to wade fish, but if you can drift it, you should do OK. Fish are definitely looking for dries up and down the river. Most Chernobyl Ant patterns and mayfly attractors are working very well. It is still mostly smaller fish that are around right now. I have not seen a fish larger than 16" in my net on the Snake yet. Until the water gets lower in a few more weeks, the bigger fish will be holding tight in deeper water and in the spring creeks. This should make for a great September on the river. Don't miss the Flat Creek opener on Saturday...better be there at dawn. Here is a shot from last summer on Flat Creek on the National Elk Refuge with a big fish on. The second shot is of a pair of eagles, one mature and one juvenile bald eagle south of town this week on the Snake. More soon!