Snake River

A major warm up over the past week has led to some very comfortable fishing and water temperatures that have broken the 40 degree mark on some days.  The 10 day forecast (for whatever that is worth) calls for several more days of these temps.  Still mostly chironomids on the surface.  We are also starting to see our first winter black and brown stone flies of year.  Nothing off the charts in terms of numbers, but it is a sure sign that late winter fishing is starting to come into play.

The best action has been widening into about a six hour period during the day from about 11am to 5pm with 12pm to 3pm being the sweet spot.  Double nymph rigs of six feet in length or dry-dropper rigs are producing in riffle pools and seams.  The dry fly window has widened to about three hours a day with the best action being at the top edge or riffles and along current margins on seams and riffles.  Shallow water on the inside turn at the head of riffles is probably fishing best with dry flies.

Dry flies – Renegades, Parachute Mosquitos, Parachute Sparkle Tricos, Serendipities, and Air-Flo Tricos.

Nymphs – Biot Bugs, Little Black Sloans, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Rainbow Warriors, Lightening Bugs, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Zebra Midges, and Jujubee Midges.

South Fork

A noticeable uptick in activity on the South Fork over this past week, no doubt because of the warming temperatures.  There has been some days in mid-40s.  The surface fishing is squeezed into a three to four hour period in the afternoon with feeding being almost exclusively on chironomid imitations.  And it has been pretty decent.  This action has been best in the tail-out of riffles and seams – slower water that requires a solid and undisturbed drift.  Flats are also producing really well for about two hours each afternoon.

Double nymph rigs and nymphs fished as a dropper are producing from late morning until about an hour before sunset.  This tactic has been effective when fished along the entire length of riffles and seams and at the current margin of eddies.

Dry flies – Renegades, Parachute Mosquitos, Parachute Sparkle Tricos, Krystal Wing Midge Emergers, Serendipities, Air-Flo Tricos, And Pheasant Tail Emergers.

Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, Biot Bugs, Little Black Sloans, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Rainbow Warriors, Lightening Bugs, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Rojo Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Zebra Midges, and Idyl’s Tailwater Tiny.