THEY’RE HERE!!! The most colossal of all stoneflies, pteronarcys, have begun their yearly migration to take flight. If there’s one hatch that produces copious amounts of high energy fly fishing, it’s this one. These monster bugs drive the trout, and the trout angler, absolutely bananas. The next few weeks will offer the “chase the hatch” types plenty of opportunity to hook robust trout on enormous imitations. Warm sunny days are best for these bugs to take flight and hit the water, with cooler wet days suppressing the hatch and keeping the adults hunkered down in streamside foliage. Dry, double dry or dry dropper with a rubber legs will all get it done so get here to the Henry’s Fork to experience what Salmonfly madness is all about! In addition to all that craziness, we’re seeing strong daily baetis, caddis and March brown activity and ants and beetles are already starting to play a prominent role in day to day fishing. Spring has sprung, the snow’s gone and the river, and trout are in fabulous shape. Get here soon to see for yourself why the Henry’s Fork in May is the place to be!
BOX CANYON: Flows rolling down the Box have been around 720cfs for the past seven days. The big stonefly nymphs are migrating towards the water’s edge in preparation for their yearly emergence. A rubber-leg fished deep will bring steady results. Mix up the dropper attachment with a flashy bead-head, San Juan Worm or caddis pupa to bring more fish to the net. On the upper and lower end of the canyon, in the softer water, watch for good trout to be feeding on caddis, baetis and March Brown mayflies. Deliver streamer patterns early, late or when the skies go dark.
LAST CHANCE: The current menu here consists of baetis, caddis and March Browns. Action can slow a bit on days when that dastardly north wind blows, but good trout can still be found and hooked. Smaller land dwelling insects such as ants and beetles will turn the trick during non-hatch hours. Watch for tis stretch of river to really pop over the next couple of weeks.
WARM RIVER TO ASHTON: Those big bugs are out and the trout are taking notice. Throw big fuzzy foam stuff at the banks and hold on. Add a stonefly nymph dropper to really clean up. We’re still seeing good caddis, March brown and baetis activity as well. Nymph the deeper water with a BH zebra, PT or caddis pupa. This is also a great time of year to target larger predatory trout with big articulated streamer patterns, present them tight to the bank with an evasive retrieve.
LOWER RIVER: See the introductory paragraph up top. It’s really all you need to know. The salmon flies are out and those fat lower river trout are packing on extra pounds by the day. Other than that, have some baetis, caddis and March browns along for the ride. Oh, and a few streamers too. Those gluttonous lower river browns rarely pass up a big meal.
THE LAKES: IP, Hebgen, Quake and Henry’s lake are all free of ice. Hebgen is fishing well with single midge dries or dropping small bead-head midge patterns under an indicator or fluffy dry fly. Strip leeches and buggers slow and deep. Henry’s looks to be in fine shape for the opener…..more to come on that as the opener approaches.
Stop by the TroutHunter fly shop and let us point you in the right direction, offer up the finest flies available or outfit you in this year’s best gear and clothing. See you soon!
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