South Fork of the Snake

[Blue Dun]

I have never fished South Fork of the Snake. I would like to try it possibly this month. If you don't mind, I would appreciate advice on what to expect.

1)I will be wading since I don't have a drift boat. Is this a wadable river? Or will I be "screwed" without a drift boat? If so, where are good places to wade?
2)Generally, what hatches/patterns should I use? Probably mid-September time frame.
3)Good overnight places to stay? (Motels, lodging, etc.)
4)Good fly shops to help me with my fishing. Fly shops that will have good patterns to sell, and can point me to the good places to wade/fish.

Feel free to reply here, even if you don't have answers to all of my questions. I am not seeking secrets, just advice for a first time visit. Or, if you would rather, feel free to email me.

abc123jtm@yahoo.com

[Stoney Clarke]

Wading the South Fork can be done, but you will be limited. During the summer months the SF will flow at a mean if 13,000 cfs. It is a BIG river. Imagine the Green river twice as wide. Fortunately for you they are lowering the flows as we speak. I think they are at 6,500 cfs and should go down more over the next few weeks. I have only drifted it, so I'm not an expert on where to wade, but I would say the upper section below the dam would be your best bet. SF Outfitters, www.southforkoutfitters.com has some great info on the SF, hatches, maps ect....but they are a little lax on updating their report. But it does have an up to the minute flow link. September can offer some great fishing, hoppers, ant, streamer maybe BWO's, and Mahogany Duns. If you can get out to some of the gravel bars you will have success, like I said if.

If it were me and I could only wade I would drive the extra 45 minutes and hit the Henry's. More options if your only wading.

[raposaNegra]

on the SouthFork is still above 8000 cfs at the Heise guaging station.....( http://mac1.pn.usbr.gov/hydromet/burtea.html ) and 7460 cfs at Palisades.... not very wadeable in most spots. There are some side channels and small islands you can get into above the falls at Fall creek but be very careful as this is fast moving big water. I would recomend a boat of some kind. The South Fork can be waded at times.... I wade fished it last fall but the flows were somewhere below 2000 cfs if I am remembering correctly.

As for patterns.... hoppers, streamers, pmds (sulfur, yellow, and pink) in various sizes and colors, caddis.... lots of bugs to choose from. The big famous hatches are over but the fishing can still be quite good and the browns should be staging for the spawn shortly.

There are numerous places to stay in the form of small lodges and hotels, bigger fancier hotels in Idaho Falls and the hot pools at Heise can be fun for the family.

[TroutScout]

I was up at Heise about 3 weeks ago for a family runion. Was able to slip away for a bit and had to wade too. It's a very big river and much higher than I thought it would be. A couple feet out was all I could go. Finding a decent place was hard and took a lot of hunting around. Around evening however there was a little caddis action and I managed tons of little guy and a few decent sized fish. This was awhile ago so I'm not how it is now. But be prepared to walk around and get jeers from the boats.

^^ike

[Dustin]

I too will be in the area in October, assuming I am all healed up, and was wondering if it is to big to float in an 8' pontoon boat?

Thanks
Dustin

[Blue Dun]

Thanks for the excellent replies. I will probably head up there and check it out first. If it is not wadeable, I will do what Stoney suggested and probably hit Henry's somewhere.

[Teewinot]

Dustin -- A group of us floated it the 1st of August in pontoon boats ranging from 8' to 10' we all did fine for the most part. (one bent oar) What pontoon boat are you using? If it's a bucks bag, scadden, or outcast I wouldn't worry.

Blue Dun -- I wouldn't even plan on wasting your time wading the SouthFork. I grew up by the SouthFork and never really fished it until I got a pontoon boat because it was so difficult to find a place to wade, and even if you had a place you could stand in the river you were pretty much stuck in that spot because you can't wade too far before it's too powerful for you.

I would take the extra time and fish the Henry's, there are some great spots on the Lower Henry's that's great for wading, and it's still fairly close.

[ROOSTER]

I have floated the South Fork for years, and have seen a few guys go down in Pontoons and Kayaks. It seems to be workable in most spots. There may be a couple hairy places, but you most likely would be alright in a pontoon. Your best bet in my opinion would be to pound the banks as you float, and then stop and wade fish any riffles you can find. You will pick up a ton of fish there. Good luck.

[Crosby]

Toons are totally workable- heavy though on the work part- as Rooster states= you pound the banks on the way and get out on the riffles to actually fish. The water level is dropping like a rock right now- I will be up very soon- vacations days to burn. Just watch out for any tress sticking out into the river- seems like that is the only way you can get into any trouble- And that is usally from dreaming and watching the wildlife- I think 7 boats have gone down this year on the South Fork and one F&G jet boat.

[raposaNegra]

If I was using a pontoon boat I would put in at Irwin NOrth float down to the riffles (about a mile down) and pound the riffles for a number of hours before getting out at Spring Creek. This would minimize rowing and maximize fishing.

[Dustin]

Sounds like I will be taking the pontoon boat along!! Thanks for all of the responses.

Dustin

[raposaNegra]

it may be low enough to wade fish. I wade fished the south fork several times late last October and in early November. Flows were down to near record or record lows and may be that low again this fall as there is no water left in Palisades. Water levels have dropped almost 1000 cfs in just the last day and dropped to around 2000 cfs by the 20th of October last year. It is wade fishable at that level.