Fishing Forum

I got a chance to fish for two hours on the Snake R earlier this last week. I was below Blackfoot. I got skunked, or as I like to think of it semi-skunked. I did have three fish on, but didn't get any of them all the way in.

I was using a brown rabbit strip leech and a zebra midge follower. The fish I enticed were mostly on the bunny leech.( .... I think) I need to put a stinger hook on it!

It was a beautiful day and the water was clear and cold.

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Two hours was about right because that was when my feet went totally numb and my nose was running faster than the river.

I've never fished this area before and I am curious to know if there is anyone that can give me some help in the area from Tilden Bridge up to Idaho Falls. What I am looking for are some ideas on areas that I can wade fish a little. I don't fish large rivers very much so I am pretty new to fishing the Snake and can use any help I can get.

When I have to head out to Pocatello or further north to do a little shopping etc I would like to combine a little fishing up that way with it. So any suggestions of other places are also welcome. I'm not looking for someone's secret spot, just some ideas on areas to explore, or even where it is possible to get access!

I didn't see any midges or much of other bugs where I was at, so what works? Does anyone fish the river in the winter?

Private message would be great if you prefer.
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Grew up in Rockford. Have spent Countless Hours fishing the Main Snake from Firth all the way to American Falls Reservoir.

A few tips

You need a boat to fish this area most effectively. Short floats from the Porterville Bridge down to Blackfoot or from Blackfoot down to the Cherry Plant Access on Thomas rd are great. The diversion below the Porterville Bridge can usually be navigated but scout it from the road first. Its not as tough as it looks.

If wading try the area below the Porterville Bridge Just upstream from I15 Sometimes you can wade all the way across the diversion between the two bridges. The holes on the other side are best because they don't see to many angles Don't get crazy and try to get over there if it doesn't look good or anytime in the winter. The main hole below the diversion has been good from time to time. Have attached a pic of a fish I caught several years ago in this stretch.

Try swinging a big black wooly bugger with a Cone head and a Marabou tail with a little flash on a full sink line. When i fly fish the Main Snake in that area I usually throw Big Ugly Streamers from a boat with a 7wt and the deepest sinking line I can find. Nymphing with a smaller black wooly like the one described and a very small size 20 anything should be productive too.

The River from Tilden Down is the most productive stretch of the Main Snake. Gotta have a Jet Boat to fish it though. Takes more than a full day to float it and fish. Numerous springs keep the water ice free all winter and the fishing in late February is Awesome. South Fork outtfitters guides that section. Should tell ya something.

Good luck.

Good luck
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Forgot the pic. [mad] This brown swallowed a huge black Wooly Bug on a Full Sink Line in the main hole below the diversion
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Wow! Thanks!!
I really appreciate the information.

A boat would be ideal, but wading is what it will have to be this fall. The more I look at the river the more excited I am getting to try a bunch of new places.

It looks like you have a good relationship with the browns on the Snake... Beautiful fish!

Thanks again!
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[quote cpierce]Wow! Thanks!!
I really appreciate the information.

A boat would be ideal, but wading is what it will have to be this fall. The more I look at the river the more excited I am getting to try a bunch of new places.

It looks like you have a good relationship with the browns on the Snake... Beautiful fish!

Thanks again![/quote]
You have the Renegade, what more ya want?[]
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mojorizing wrote "You have the Renegade, what more ya want?Smile "

A shuttle, or a Jet Boat to go back up river!! [laugh][]

Actually I do plan on floating some of it, but I want to get a little familiar with the river first. That way I know what it looks like at various flows, and what the challenges are.

Fishing the Snake is new to me, but the more I look, the more I am seeing lots of opportunities to get out this fall and freeze my toes off!

Right now I am mostly looking at excursions that are a couple of hours long and as much to explore and learn the fish before I try and get too complicated. Between Google Earth and wade fishing some of it I hope to figure out what I am doing before I get in deeper!
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