Warm River

Saturday fishing found me at the Warm River. Fishing was pretty typical for Warm River. I caught around 10 fish, nothing bigger than 12". I caught a few rainbows, a few browns, and a few whitefish. It was a beautiful day and the nice cool temperatures by and in the river were a needed break from the summer heat. Most of the fish were caught on bead head prince and hare's ear nymphs. I caught one fish on a muddler minnow. Warm River is a beautiful, clear, cold river but for some reason trout populations aren't the best and, for the most part, the fish are all small.

Here are a few pictures:

Warm River (Canyon - looking downstream)

12" Rainbow

12" Whitefish

Warm River (Canyon - upstream)

10" Brown

USGS graph - Blackfoot River

The water levels on the Blackfoot are now below 25% of average. All the bigger fish will have left the river for the cooler waters of the reservoir. Fishing will be limited on the Blackfoot with these low flows. This is the least amount of water flow since 2001. Hopefully fall and winter will bring back some good snow.

USGS graph

Blackfoot River Report

The water in the Blackfoot has fallen another 3-4 inches and is flowing significantly lower than usual. Last year's abundance has not carried over into this year. The water temperature is also increasing. As a result I caught around 10 fish all in the 8-12" range. The big fish seem to have vacated the river heading back to the deep cool waters of the reservoir. I only saw one bigger fish that rose lazily at a hopper but really made no effort to take the bug.

Regretfully the Blackfoot may have to be scratched for the rest of the summer as high temps and low water are dominating Eastern Idaho. There are still a lot of smaller fish in the system which will provide some entertainment but odds of catching a larger fish diminish each day.

Fly of the day: A blue damsel fly was again the most productive but I also caught some on a bead head prince nymph and a bead head wooly worm (orange and black).

Here are a few pictures of the Blackfoot:

Looking Downstream

Upstream

Blue Damsel Fly Pattern

Blackfoot River Cutthroat

Here is the 22" cutthroat caught on the Blackfoot River on a size 12 blue damsel fly.

Blackfoot River - July 3 and 4

The Blackfoot River opened up this week and I was able to go fishing on July 3 and 4. Water levels are about 6-8 inches low from normal flow which means that, if the summer heat continues, it may be a short fishing season on the Blackfoot. Overall fishing was pretty decent. I caught around 30 fish the two days. Most were in the 8-12 inch range but I did land two really nice cutthroats, a 24 inch and 22 inch. Below is the picture of the 24 inch cutthroat.

The flies of the trip were black and red (orange) wooly buggers with a bead head (size 4), a size 14 bead head prince nymph, and a blue damsel fly (size 12/14).

 The grasshoppers were just starting to come out. In a few weeks grasshoppers should provide some good dry fly fishing.

Stump Creek

For the first time in a few years I wandered over to Stump Creek to try some early fishing on this small tributary to the Salt River. As a result of heavy rains and snowfall over Memorial day weekend, Stump Creek was fairly high and off color. Not too bad but enough to throw off the fishing. I caught a few cutthroats but nothing of note. It seemed that no one fly had any stimulating effect on the trout. The fish seemed non-existent although this stream contains excellent habitat. Some free range cattle may have contributed to the water's lack of clarity. Give Stump Creek a few weeks and the fishing should pick up considerably. From flipping over rocks, there appears to be a nice mayfly hatching not too far off in the future. Given its remote access Stump Creek may not be a bad place over the next month especially if you have beginner fly fishermen.

One final trip to the Blackfoot River

On Friday, I made one last trip to the Blackfoot River before winter sets in. If was a pretty slow day for the most part and the bigger fish were absent from my line. I did catch one 19" cutthroat and 5 more in the 12" range. My dad caught 10 - one bigger than 14". The water was icy cold which may have made the fish a little lethargic but it was an average day according to the moon phase calendar so 16 fish wasn't too bad.

Fly of the day: Size 12 bead head prince nymph. Nothing else worked.

Mid September Excellence

My father and I spent Monday fishing the Upper Blackfoot River for probably the last time this year as temperatures begin to dip and my annual elk hunting excursions begin. We fished for 3 hours and caught over 40 fish between the two of us. The majority of the fish were in the 10-14" range but we did catch 10 fish over 17". In one hole my dad landed 10 fish.

But the monster of the day was a 22" 5 pound cutthroat that obliterated a size 8 foam hopper. After a 10 minute fight we landed this beautiful fish but regretfully the camera was having a technical difficulty.

It was a great day and it is amazing to see the Blackfoot returning to its prior glory. Just 10 years ago there was almost no water and the river was full of carp. An outstanding turnaround for one of Eastern Idaho's best fisheries.

The flies of the day were a size 8 gray foam hopper and a size 14 bead head prince nymph. No other fly was necessary.

Three Days of Fishing

This last weekend I spent three days fishing three different locations:

1. Blackfoot River. On Monday I fished on the upper Blackfoot River and had an ok day. I caught 12 fish, three over 17 inches. I lost one big cutthroat that was probably a 24" fish. The fish were a little sluggish because the night before a heavy thunderstorm messed up the water quality. I caught the fish on a medium sized foam hopper (size 8) and a hairs ear nymph (size 16). The 21" trout is in the picture:

2. East Fork Teton River (Bitch Creek - sorry for the name). On Saturday I fished on Bitch Creek which flows into the Teton River. It is a beautiful mountain stream with big boulders and slippery footing. You'll need good shoes and be in good shape to fish this stream. I caught 10-12 fish, one 16 and one 14 incher. All fish were cutthroats. Most of the fish were caught on a size 16 prince nymph and a couple on foam hoppers. Here are some pictures of the creek:

3. McTucker Ponds. On Friday I went with my kids to McTucker Ponds and they caught 20+ bluegill and smallmouth bass each. It was a fun day for them. The fish were caught on prince nymphs and hare's ears. They really like shiny gold colored objects. It is a great place to go to get kids hooked on fishing.

Montana's Yellowstone River: From the Teton Wilderness to the Missouri
Flyfisher's Guide to Idaho (Flyfisher's Guides)
Fly Fishing Idaho: A Quick, Clear Understanding of Where to Fly Fish in Idaho (No Nonsense Fly Fishing Guides)
Fly Fishing Adventure: Idaho's Silver Creek

Finally...Some Fishing

The high water is finally starting to recede from Idaho's non tailwater streams and rivers. I have gone twice to the Blackfoot River and although the water has been exceptionally high and fishing slow, I did catch a few beautiful cutthroat trout. On opening day a caught a total of 2 fish but one was a beautiful 21 incher. Last week I caught 8-10, with four over 17 inches. My dad caught two over 18 inches. So even though fish have been few and far between the overall size of the fish has been excellent.

Oh...the hoppers are starting to come out. Can't wait for a glorious August and September of flyfishing!

All the big fish hit black or brown wooly buggers with bead heads.

The L.L. Bean Ultimate Book of Fly Fishing
Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die
Flyfisher's Guide to Idaho (Flyfisher's Guides)

Water Flow

Pretty much all Eastern Idaho streams and rivers are flowing high and are essentially unfishable. The silver lining...hopper fishing in August will be spectacular as bigger fish hold in the deeper water.

Check out the water flow here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/id/nwis/current/?type=flow

Wright & McGill Co. Madison Pod Pack Grey/Black/Orange, One Size
Simms G3 Guide Fly Fishing Vest Medium - Gun Metal

Sage Quality Big Game Fly Fishing Package ( 8wt, 4 pc Fly Rod, with Reel & Line)
New Sage Z-axis 590-4 fly fishing rod 5 weight

Fishing Outlook 2011

Southeast Idaho drainages all have at least 100% in snow water equivalency this winter which means good runoff and good fishing late in the summer and fall. The Blackfoot River drainage is over 100% and the Bear River is over 125%. This may delay early fishing in streams until the runoff is done but late June through September should be fabulous.


The Snow Survey information can be found here: http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/data/current.html

 Wild Water Fly Fishing Complete 5/6 Starter Package
Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die
Flywater: Fly-Fishing Rivers of the West
Dr. Slick Lanyard - LOADED

Best Grasshopper Fly Fishing Patterns

I know that I am jumping the gun by about 6-7 months but this last summer I finally discovered a grasshopper pattern that was exceptionally productive for Idaho Fly Fishing. Like many of you I have tried numerous different grasshopper patterns with varied success.

The Joe's Hopper has been all but worthless, including all the subtle variations.

The parahopper (grey and tan bodies) has been a good fly and has caught a lot of fish. It's always good to have some of these in sizes 8-14. One big problem with the parahopper: floatation! Once this fly is taken a few times you can't keep it on the surface. Add a dropper? It will sink the fly every time, which is frustrating at best!

I tried various foam hoppers with varying success.

Finally this year, thanks to Portneuf River Outfitters in Pocatello, I discovered a foam hopper pattern that the fish consumed with eagerness. One day on the Blackfoot, I caught around 50 fish (mostly 6-10 inchers) on this pattern. They were attacking it with abandon. I even hooked and landed 3 20+ inchers in this fly while losing 5-6 more.

So what is the pattern? Alas, I don't have a picture at the moment but I will post a picture with the additional info on my next post. Stay tuned!

Plastic Waterproof Fly Box - White
Terrestrial Trout Fly Fishing Flies Collection
Handbook Of Hatches: Introductory Guide to the Foods Trout Eat & the Most Effective Flies to Match Them
Okuma S-903-5 Cascade Fly Combo (5wt, 9-Feet)

Spring Runoff Outlook Looks Very Positive

So far this year the snow pack and snow water equivalent is well above average, which means that spring runoff should be good and late season fishing even better. The Bear River drainage is at 160% of normal while the Blackfoot River drainage is at 150%. Snow water equivalency is almost 10 inches more than last year.

If the weather pattern holds as predicted, Idaho Fly Fishing should be exceptional next year!

Flywater: Fly-Fishing Rivers of the West
Fly Box + 100 Assorted Fly Fishing Fly Package
Silver Lake Fishing Flies Assortment
Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die

An Amazing Day fishing on the Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot River was HOT today!! Idaho fly fishing for cutthroat trout could never be better than today. After landing more than 50 fish, I amazingly was worn out (and so was my knee after a few unceremonious falls into the river). The majority of the fish were in the 8-10" range. I did land 3 over 20", 2 in the 16-18" range, and after both long and short battles, lost 3 other fish that were over 20". One was probably a 24" that rivaled the biggest cutthroat I have ever caught on the Blackfoot River. It was an amazing, excellent, superb, wild, etc. day to be fly fishing.

Here are some photos from the trip. Note my excellent photography skills hastened by the need to release the trout :)

HOT FLIES FOR THE DAY:

Size 16 Bead Head Prince Nymoh
Size 8-10 Gray Colored Foam Hopper (with green strike indicator)

Cutthroats caught in No Name Lake

Here a couple pictures with me and some cutthroats caught in No Name Lake.

16" Cutthroat caught on a size 16 parachute adams

14" Cutthroat caught on a size 16 parachute adams

No Name and Yellow Lake Pictures

No Name Lake - taken from the ridge to the north

Yellow Lake - from the shore looking North