Snake River
Since June we have been waiting for low flows and I'm
happy to report they are finally here. This is making for the best
match-the-hatch fishing of the season. Due to low the low flows (280 cfs at
Jackson Lake Dam), trout are congregated in large pods. Finding one of these
pods will greatly aid your catch rate. Look for slower deep water with
converging currents and scum lines.
Large cutthroats are taking relatively small insects,
usually during the warmer afternoon hours. The two predominant hatches are Blue
Wing Olives (aka Baetis) and midges. The baetis naturals are sized from #20 to
#18 but you can often get away with a #16, especially while drifting along in a
boat. If you stop to work a pod of risers you will almost always have to switch
to the smaller patterns after hooking a fish or two.
While the rising trout you find will likely be feeding
primarily on the Blue Wings, midge patterns can also be very, maybe even more,
effective. Use the same sizes for the midges as recommended for the baetis.
Whether fishing mayflies or midges, consider using smaller tippets than you
have all season, 5x at the least.
A Griffith's Gnat is about all you'll need to imitate the
midges. For the Blue Wings you have many more options and may even need to go
to an emerger, especially if you are working a pod for a while. Try Parachute
Hare's Ear (or Adams), Parachute BWO's as well as Thorax-style BWO's. Most any
good emerger will work as well, the Brook's BWO Emerger being one of my
personal favorites.
Remember that the Snake River will be open year round in
2004. As I understand it, this means the river will close to trout fishing (you
can still fish for whitefish) on November 1, 2003 and will reopen on January 1,
2004. Warm (upper 30's) sunny winter days can be surprisingly productive. Make
sure you bring along a selection of Griffith's Gnats.
Until next time...
Guy Turck
High Country Flies
Jackson
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