Upper Snake Region Fishing Information
Weekly Fishing Report
Updated: July 31, 2008
This report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers.Other general regional information is available below.
South Fork Snake River: The river is staying consistently cold due to the fact that Palisades Reservoir is full. This is great news for anglers who are having good luck fishing riffles using Pale morning duns in the morning and then switching to Mayflies around noon. Flows are running about a 1000 cfs higher than usual but should begin to drop in the coming weeks.
Henry's Fork Snake River: Box Canyon is fishing very well. Try small flies like bead-headed midges. The lower river from Chester downstream is also fishing fairly well too, especially in the early morning hours before the water heats up. The Warm River to Ashton stretch has also been fairly consistent and grasshoppers are a pretty good bet.
Henry's Lake: The action has slowed down a bit in the last week, but anglers are still doing catching fish in a few locations. The tributary mouths are the best areas for fly anglers and bait anglers are doing okay in the deeper water locations in the lake's center and near the cliff area. Concentrate fishing in the early and late hours for the best catch rate. Reports of fish larger than 10 pounds are fairly frequent. The water temperatures are in the mid to high 60's currently. Normally, the lake water temperatures start cooling down a bit by mid August as the high elevation nighttime temperatures start to decline. Improved angling soon follows.
Island Park: Fish are starting to show up in the Trude Bay area and Grizzly Springs. The next couple of weeks should improve as the trout congregate in those areas.
Small Tributaries: One of the nice things about having a normal water year is that the smaller creeks continue to produce well into summer. We're hearing that Big Elk Creek, Palisades Creek, and Bear Creek are all fishing well.
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General Regional Information - Spring 2008
Spring time weather has finally hit the Upper Snake Region, and after a long, long, winter anglers can finally get outside and enjoy some nice weather and great fishing. General stream season and Henrys Lake don't open until May 24th. As of April 1, those streams with a "winter stream season" (Fall, Big Lost, Teton, Warm rivers) are closed until Memorial weekend.
There is still a lot of great fishing opportunity available in April and May. Ice-out tends to be the best time of the year to fish ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, and there's plenty of stream fishing opportunity as well. The South Fork, several sections of the Henrys Fork, and the main Snake River are open year-round and offer excellent fishing before the runoff.
The above average snowpack means that rivers and streams are going to be running high well into June, so plan those Memorial weekend outings accordingly.
South Fork of the Snake:
Even though snowpack is above average, the reservoirs had plenty of empty space going into the winter, so water managers have not had to go into flood control mode this spring. That's good news for anglers, as it means the South Fork, has been low and very fishable this spring. The trout population is more good news. Cutthroat and brown trout densities in the Conant reach are at their highest recorded number since 1999. Unfortunately, the rainbow population is also up and has increased for two successive years. The past four years demonstrate the management efforts on the South Fork can restore healthy cutthroat populations, but they also show the rainbow population is very resilient. Anglers who understand what's at stake need to continue to do their part and, more importantly, encourage other anglers to join in the effort and help harvest rainbow trout.
Please remember:
- The limit on rainbow trout has been removed, and we encourage anglers to harvest all rainbow trout they catch. No cutthroat may be harvested!
- The South Fork tributaries (Burns, Pine, Rainey, and Palisades creeks) are now all closed to cutthroat trout harvest and do not open until July 1.
Henrys Fork:
Overall, trout populations are doing very well in the Henrys Fork. Good snowpacks, cooperative flow management, and successful reproduction have resulted in fish populations being at their highest number since 2002.
The Box Canyon reach of the Henrys Fork and the reach from Ashton Dam to Vernon Bridge opens the Saturday of Memorial weekend and should be very good early in the season. The Harriman section of the Henrys Fork of the Snake opens June 15. This fly-fishing only section provides an opportunity to test your fly-fishing skills.
The lower Henrys Fork should fish very well in April and early May. When we start to get high mountain snow melt, it will run high and a bit dirty through late May. A good runoff generally brings impressive hatches, and it should be an excellent season for dry fly fishing. Please recognize that access on the lower river is dependent on willing landowners, so be courteous and respectful of private property.
Henrys Lake:
The lake opens the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Gillnetting samples in 2007 showed a record number of age-2 (12-14 inches) fish, which will mean anglers should see a lot of age-3 fish (16-20 inches) this season. The above average snowpack means Henrys Lake will be full this season, which not only improves the fishing, but keeps boat launches fully operational. The cool spring and extended period of ice cover also bode well for anglers. The ice comes off some time between April 23rd and May 15th most years. Generally, the later it happens, the better the early season fishing. Though we can't be sure what the weather will bring in the next few weeks, it seems likely that the ice will be hanging on in 2008 until well into May.
Bait, flies, and lures all can be vary productive. Large Yellowstone cutthroat, brook trout, and cutthroat/rainbow hybrids can all be taken in the lake. A two fish daily limit and two fish possession limit apply to Henrys Lake. Try leech and wooly bugger patterns or a worm and marshmallow.
Palisades Reservoir:
Palisades Reservoir can be incredible fishing in the weeks immediately following ice-out. Palisades provides a chance at a variety of fish including cutthroat trout, lake trout, and brown trout. Anglers can do well trolling or fishing from the shore. Slow trolling spoons and spinners can be effective. Focus on areas surrounding creek mouths for spring success on cutthroat trout.
Take the Kids Fishing:
We have several water bodies that are great for kids early in the spring. For fast action close to Idaho Falls, try Roberts Gravel Pond. The lake is heavily stocked with rainbow trout and fishing has been good. Trail Creek Pond, near Victor, is also stocked regularly, and is usually a sure bet. Rexburg City Ponds, adjacent to the fairgrounds, are also regularly stocked and a great place for a family outing. Ashton Reservoir is a great place to fish for rainbow trout, either from a boat or off the bank.