South Fork of Snake

[Don]

I'm heading to float the South fork of the Snake this weekend for the first time. It looks like the flows have been about around 9000 cfs for a couple of days, on their way back down from the high of 18000.

Am I wasting my time at these flows? Any suggestions on which sections to float? Any patterns? As this is my first time floating this river any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks all.

Don

[Grizz]

Check SF outfitters & Jimmy's all season angler. they keep their pages updated.

I'd focus your efforts on big heavy nymphs & streamers, but pending weather, you could see some good baetis & caddis activity.

Brown & black rubber legs, bitch creeks, super X's, yellow yummies, Kaufmann stones (giant), spuddlers duddlers & kiwi muddlers, zoo cougars, & any other heavily weighted & gastly concoction of fur, feathers & rubber legs will take fish.

Take a quick looksy down around Heisi hot springs, you may get lucky this weekend & fall face first into a Salmonfly hatch.

happy fishin' & be safe

peace

[Jonny{UTAH}]

I called Jimmy's the other day becasue I am planning on going here in the next week or so. They told me that it has been fishing very well on the upper strecthes of the snake. They said to stay away from Hesie because the level is up in the 12000s and very off color. Super Xs with a orangish yellowish head is the key color along with black and olive bodies. Nymph'em like a stonefly with the ocassional twitches to move them legs. Work the banks and along the gravel bars

[raposaNegra]

if you put in around Irwin (Irwin North Ramp) and floated down you can get out and work the riffles and gravel bars around Fall Creek. These can be very productive with various dry flies and smaller nymphs. The cuts will stack up deep in the insides seams of the riffles. I would expect to see more and more stone fly nymph action in the next few weeks peaking in early July.

I will be heading up for my annual Salmon Fly pilgramage in a couple of weeks.

[Stoney Clarke]

I'm assuming your floating. Concentrate on the gravel bars, any water in the shade, rock cliffs and back eddies. While you may catch a few drifting and fishing the banks (like you were on the Green) Your best production will be in the areas I mentioned, skip the flat water. Use what Grizz suggested and if you spot any Salmon Flies e-mail me privately.

Have Fun, If you have any questions on the better riverside camp sites let me know.

SC-

[jdubya]

and if you spot any Salmon Flies e-mail me privately.
SC-

i thought the run was over. still on???

[Trouty]

Jdub - The big stones usually hit the SF last week of June/first week of July.


Enjoy the good fishing now. Palisades is expected to be drawn down to nothing which will make that stretch just one long, muddy heat-trapping section. I spoke with several fly shops up there last week and they are concerned about what the higher temps will do for the fish and insect populations during late July and August. Last year the fishing was slower during August and early September but picked up once the weather cooled off. They expect it to be worse this year.

There was an article in the Post Register this past week that was spreading doom if we don't get some rainfall. Palisades, Ririe and American Fork should all be pretty much emptied this year. They expect Henry's to be drawn down to the 50% level and Island Park to be pretty much emptied as well. 50% level at Henry's would have me worrying about fish kill, particularly this coming winter. Maybe they're taking an extreme position but good to keep praying for rain.

[longrod]

The South Fork is fishing very well right now. You need Brown Stonefly Nymphs, maybe even some dry stones of you fish the lower section. The flows are low for this time of year and I can say from fishing it yesterday that the water is in good shape. The upper section is by far the simplest section to float. However I would look at the section From Cottonwood Down. The Suttle is a killer.... Back to Yesterday.. I found a lot of stones along the bank and even a few dry stones below TwinBridges. If the river drops again it will be a tight float to get in at Twinbridges. Plus be very careful if you go below Twinbridges...I would be fishing it right now however the weather is cold, windy (20+) and rain. Longrod.

[jdubya]

Jdub - The big stones usually hit the SF last week of June/first week of July..

Thanks T, I was thinking the first two weeks of June, not the last of the month. maybe next weekend would be a good time for a virgin float in das boot.

Today about 17k is flowing into Pallisades, and a bit over 9k out.

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/burtea.cfm

maybe they can stock pile a bit and get the lake up over 21% full!!!

[Don]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

I'll be sure to let you know how I did on Monday.

[jdubya]

the power of potato's':


at Heise, 11k cfs, from the south fork, at Rexburg, nearly 3k cfs from henry's fork:

combined river at Blackfoot, 1,693 cfs.

where did all of that water go????

[Don]

What a trip!

My first priority was too see the river for future trips and I got that covered. In 3 days I floated over 40 miles of river. We floated from Palisades creek to Conant on the first day, from Conant we made the marathon one day trip through the canyon to Byington (roughly 25 miles) then on Sunday we floated from Heise to Twin Bridges. We were puting in at 8:00 and taking out around 8:30-9:00 pm every night.

We even managed to catch a plenty of fish in the mean time.

Stoney- we stuck your suggestions and it was the ticket. You called it. Thanks for the advice.

Grizz - Thanks also, let's just say we found ourselfs face first.

Thanks for all the other suggestions.

Stoney, you need to email me......

[jdubya]

then on Sunday we floated from Heise to Twin Bridges. ......

what was that float like?? that is part of the river I haven't been on: any diversions to worry about?

sounds like you had a fine time: what a great river! let's hope they can keep some water in it for the summer!

[Stoney Clarke]

JW,

You ask so many questions, just go float it, if you have done the "A" then it will be easy. There are no rapids, it is a giant river that makes the Green look like the Provo in comparison. By the way I have heard the salmon flies are coming early and are on the lower stretches now.

SC

[Grizz]

Anyone from 'round these parts gonna be in the Canyon this weekend?

The Salmonflies will be.

If anyone's planning on being up there, let me know. We'll be dumpin' the boats Friday early a.m. above Fall crik.

peace

[raposaNegra]

How for up are the Salmon flies.... we usually fish salmon flies 4th of July weekend between Irwin North and the Conant ramps.... working the shoals and gravel bars around Fall Creek. They seem to be a little early!

[Stoney Clarke]

SF Outfitters has been reporting that they are 2-3 weeks early and have been seen on the lower river and are moving up. Normally I would not hot spot like this but because the access to this river is limited to virtually boats only I thought I would pass it on. Sorry I can't make it.

SC

[Don]

jdubya,

The float from Heise to Twin is fun but hard on your boat. If the water gets much lower I wouldn't attempt it. Unless you don't mind dragging your boat over gravel bars.

At Heise you slide your boat down the bank into a back eddy then row into the main current. The float is great with some great water and it's where we did the best with stoneflies this last weekend.

Where it gets rough though is about 1/2 mile after you go under the railroad trustle you have to take a side channel on the left to get out at Twin. If you miss it your next takeout is in Lorenzo. The side chanel is tight and 3-4 times we had to get out of the boat and slide it over gravel bars that had just inches of water flowing over it.

Rowing the Southfork is cake compared to other western rivers plus it's easier on your boat no rock gardens to row through. (other than Heise to Twin) Like stoney said if you've rowed the A section you could easily row the Snake. The only thing to worry about is that you keep looking down steam, most people get in touble because they quit paying attention and get to close to a log sticking into the river.

As of Sunday the Stoneflies were between Byington and Heise. We didn't see any above Byington or in the Canyon. I think had it not rained so hard last thursday (they got over 1" in one day) the stones would have already been in the canyon by now. With this warm weather they will be ther by this weekend I would guess.

[Trouty]

Green, green :>((

envy, envy, ENVY :>(((

Jealous, JEALOUS, VERY JEALOUSSSSS!!!!!! :>(((((

MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD

GRRRRRRRRRR........GH!!!!! (Screaming out of control)

Melancholy, melancholy

Subdued, subdued

Recovering composure ....... ?



Good Luck!!!! 8) 8)

[Grizz]

Has some buddies that did well on the upper river sinking big rubber legs this past weekend. They stayed @ Heise & did not report any real adult movement, but as Don mentioned, the warmer weather this week will most likely put the hatch near or in the lower reaches of the canyon. Last weeks rain & cool temps put the damper on the hatch, but once they've seen 'em, WATCH OUT!!!! I'd be willing to bet that they're strong through Cottonwood by mid-week. The extended forcast looks "bug freindly"!!!

Don, glad to hear you had a great time. We missed the twin channel a few years back & barely made it to Lorenzo with daylight. ooops!

Peace

[jdubya]

Where it gets rough though is about 1/2 mile after you go under the railroad trustle you have to take a side channel on the left to get out at Twin. If you miss it your next takeout is in Lorenzo. .

Thanks Don, that is very good to know!

[MPHarper]

the power of potato's':


at Heise, 11k cfs, from the south fork, at Rexburg, nearly 3k cfs from henry's fork:

combined river at Blackfoot, 1,693 cfs.

where did all of that water go????

What do you think all them spuds grow on? Irrigation water my friend, irrigation water.

[raposaNegra]

anyone have the word on how far up the river the salmon flies are?


I may be making a run up there on monday.....

[Grizz]

From what we encountered Sunday, I'll bet they're fluttering thru gormer as I type. Lots a nymphs crawling between there & Lufkin. The lower river is hot-hot-hot. & there's enough fiberglass to confirm it!

Monday? I'll be back up next Wednesday.

peace

[Stoney Clarke]

I thought it sucked? I'll be there Friday-Sunday for a scenic float of bird watching and photography. Maybe I'll bring a rod just in case.

SC

[Grizz]

I thought it sucked? I'll be there Friday-Sunday for a scenic float of bird watching and photography. Maybe I'll bring a rod just in case.

SC

The scenery oughta be exeptional! ecspeacially in the chop chop.

pea's

[raposaNegra]

how fast are they moving up? I want to fish the stretch between Irwin and Conant and hope to catch them dead on... maybe I should wait til Wed....

[Stoney Clarke]

Check your e-mail. I sent it to wasatchRiver@comcast.net

SC

[Juke]

Definately watch the weather, I think Wed, next week they should be in the Spring Creek-Irwin area. Only saw one adult as high as PC 4 on Saturday. The Salmonflies lower were some of the largest I have ever seen, 4" females spewng black caviar were not uncommon. Fish were consistently looking up after about 11am.

Be sure to tie plenty of Yellow and Olive colored sallies. Sallies outfished the salmonflies on top 3 to 1. Grizz picked up many dandy fish on big black rubberlegs in the riffles.

Take home some rainbows.

[Grizz]

how fast are they moving up? I want to fish the stretch between Irwin and Conant and hope to catch them dead on... maybe I should wait til Wed....


Have you settled on any days for next week? If your going to be up Wednesday, let me know, perhaps we can shuttle? We're thinkin' Irwin ~ Conant then off to Montana.

Copy that good buddy..........

p's

[Stoney Clarke]

Tuesday The DEAD, Weds. the South Fork, Thursday-? Montana Quite the life Grizz. Lawn seats or reserve?

SC

[Grizz]

Lawn seats or reserve?

SC

Parking lot......

8))))))))))))))))))))

ya, it'll be a whirlwind tour fer sure, but what a way to get the wheels a rollin'

pea's

ps: have a great trip this weekend. please mail me any information on location of the salmonfly sensation upon your triumphant return.

[raposaNegra]

we are going up Sunday night and floating on Monday. I am planning on launching at Irwin North and floating down to Conant.