Hello y'all,
Can someone give me a quick condensed version of the basics of the upper and middle Snake's trout fly hatches? Or are they called salmon flies, or stone flies? I don't know too much about them, only that they are quite an event.
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The salmon flies are one type of stone fly. They are Also the largest of the stone flies. They hatch into their adult flying form about this time of year on the south fork. For me the crowds are just to much. You can catch nice fish on big flies all year long on the south fork, so I avoid the crowds. The river is big enough to handle the pressure though. There is no denying the powerful urge to get in on the action when there are 2-3" long dry flies buzzing around the river. I think some of the excitement over the Salmon fly hatch comes from it being one of the first big hatches of the year. Also big fish will be looking up. It is always fun to have 3lb trout smashing a dry fly.
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Here's the latest report on the Southfork from Tim Woodard down at Jimmy's All Season angler in Idaho Falls
South Fork 6/29
Tim_Woodard June 29th, 2010
Flows this morning on the South Fork out of Irwin is at 16,300 cfs. Inflow to Pali
es Reservoir has dropped and we have been informed that flows on the South Fork will decrease to 13,000 cfs. by the weekend. With this drop in flows expect the water to really start to warm up and the bug activity to start increasing. The name of the game is still nymphing, a rubberleg with some sort of dropper. If you read this report often you will already know that I prefer some type bead head nymph dropped 18-24 inches below the rubberleg. The dropper really doesn’t mater but my favorites are Prince Nymph, Red Copper John, and the Redemption nymph. The distance from your indicator to your first fly is critical this time of year. A general rule is about 7-8 feet, but with the high water I have been fishing 9-10 feet. Fish will begin to move into the pour overs and riffles as the water drops. No word on the Stonefly hatch but we will keep you updated as soon as we hear something from a reliable source. Be careful from Byington to Lorenzo, the South Channel is not passable, there is not enough water to float it. Be sure to check out the side channels before you float so you don’t get stuck. Good luck and be safe.
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Some people refer to the "salmon fly" hatch as the the trout fly hatch. Salmon fly is probably the most commonly used term for the big bugs but as was already stated the salmon fly is a type of stone fly, the "giant stone fly". The salmon fly hatch should be getting started on the south fork, but as of today they have not seen any big bugs flying yet. The hatch starts on the lower river and works its way upstream. When the water temperature reaches a certain point, the hatch is triggered. The salmon fly hatch is done on the Henry's fork, it is usually over by the beginning of June.
The salmon fly hatch can be really fun if you hit it just right, but like was said before, you won't be alone on the river. Hope this helps.
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sounds like a nize place fer a weightless nitecraller to drift down throw them holes. works great due give er a try down der. ya can thank me later alligator.
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Quote:The hatch starts on the lower river and works its way upstream.
Is the lower part of the river considered the confluence, or is there a hatch like this farther downstream, say between Gem Lake and American Falls Reservoir?
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By lower river I meant near the confluence. I suppose you could see some downstream on the main stem of the snake but I've never heard of a hatch with any significant numbers on that stretch of water.
Cole
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Yeah, I haven't heard of big time hatches on the main stem either. However, one time I was bank fishing downstream a way from Blackfoot. I had caught a few small rainbows on a pt nymph when I sensed some movement across the underside bill of my hat. I was somewhat startled and I peeled my hat off and saw that it was a salmon fly, or some other kind of plecoptera. My first thought was to catch it for my insect collection (I'm a science teacher), but before I could take action it laboriously fluttered way. It slowly flew straight up in the air, it's big wings glittering, then dropped at a steep angle and landed on the water. Almost immediately the fish moved in and after about three or four boiling rolls the insect was taken. Right away I searched the flybox and came up with something kind of like it, and tied on a big foam version of what I thought it might be. No go though. It just didn't have whatever they were looking for (or I'm sure I wasn't presenting it well enough), anyhow I've wondered about it and thought that it might be something I ought to research.
Anyone else use them on the main stem of the Snake?
Just to let everyone know... the hatch has started up in between twin and heise. I was up there and there are bugs in the willows and grass along the banks with helgramites in the rocks next to the bank. I would say any day the hatch will really start to go. The water has dropped close to a foot over the last few days also.[fishin]
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