Henry's Fork Area Fishing Report
Last updated: August 27, 2010
By Jake Wells
The fishing report in our local area will depend on who you talk to. Here’s what I mean by that…
A young man visiting from Australia has been sleeping in his car and fishing the Ranch for the first time. He came in our shop and shared with us the special experience he had while fishing “Bonefish Flats” and not seeing another angler on the river, the feeling of wading the unique river bottom that was like a carpet of gravel, and the few selective trout that allowed themselves to be successfully caught. All of this equated to the “best fishing he had ever experienced.”
Next, you have the guys come in who have been “coming out here for 20 years” (which is actually only equivalent to about 60 days on the river). They complain that the river “doesn’t fish like it used to” and proceed to tell me stories about “back in the day.”
Two different anglers…two different perspectives…one river. What I’m trying to say is that of course the Henry’s Fork is not fishing like it did back in mid-June. However, rewards are being redeemed on the river by those anglers with the right attitudes and right expectations.
Upper Henry's Fork - Box Canyon:
Flows in the Box Canyon have been a little inconsistent over the past week. There was a dramatic drop to 600 cfs about a week ago, and since then flows are now wavering around 900 cfs. Normally we can give the same report for the Box Canyon from week to week throughout the summer because things don’t change much. One thing most anglers don’t take advantage of is the streamer fishing in the early morning and late evening hours. The fish move into the banks when the sun is off the water. Sculpin patterns in olive or black will do the job. Otherwise use a double nymph rig with an indicator. Flies include Flashback PT, Olive, Red or Brown Zebra Nymph, Copper John, Green Electric Caddis, or Skinny Nelsons in size 14 – 16 with tungsten beads. Be aware though that the fluctuation of flows at this time of the year can also result in grass being dislodged and float down the river which can be quite the nuisance.
Upper Henry's Fork - Harriman State Park & Last Chance:
Reports are coming in that the flying honey ants have made there appearance on the Ranch. I wouldn’t want to be in the Ranch without some size 14 Honey Ants, Henry’s Fork Hoppers, and black beetles. Trico spinners are also present in the early morning hours along with Callibaetis spinners on the slower stretches. Don’t be afraid to try and “dry-drop” these selective trout with your choice of nymph or other subsurface pattern.
Middle Henry's Fork - Riverside Campground to Warm River:
Access to this stretch is limited, but the intrepid angler who is willing to do some hiking and bushwacking very well may be rewarded with good fishing. Attractors, such as the Chubby Chernobyl, PMX, and Rainy's Hopper, and BH nymphs, such as Copper Johns, BH Flashback Pheasant Tails, and Two Bit Hookers, fished in tandem as a dry-dropper will yield the most prodcutive fishing.
Middle Henry's Fork - Warm River to Ashton:
The best fishing on this section of the Henry’s Fork has been between Warm River and Ashton. Two good options are to us a double nymph rig like that described for Box Canyon or try a dry/dropper combo. Best dries are the Chubby Chernobyl, PMX and Rainy’s Hopper. You’ll catch plenty of small trout and whitefish on nymphs with a few larger browns and rainbows as a bonus. If you want to go for larger trout, try fishing a streamer in the early morning hours with a fast sinking tip line.
Lower Henry's Fork - Ashton Dam to Saint Anthony:
This part of the river has really slowed as it normally does during mid-summer. The water temperature gets too warm during the middle part of the day and the trout become less active. If you do not mind getting out early in the morning you can pick up some nice fish on nymphs but we encourage you to stop fishing once the river temperature reaches 70 degrees. Use nymphs or terrestrial imitations.
Lower Henry's Fork - St. Anthony to the Confluence:
The fishing is about the same in this section. There are other places that should provide much better opportunities than this water. It will pick up later in September.
Henry's Fork Tributaries:
Fall River, Warm River, Buffalo River, Robinson Creek and other smaller streams in the area have been producing some good fishing. These streams stay cool during the heat of the summer providing a great opportunity to catch some trout. Use a dry/dropper rig with a hopper, stimulator or Chubby Chernobyl for the dry with a Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or Zebra Nymph for the dropper.
The Madison River:
The flow is about normal for this time of year. Best fishing has been in the evening hours with caddis and mayfly spinners. The wade section has been best between Slide Inn and the West Fork. The float section from Lyons Bridge to Ennis hasn’t been as productive. The best fishing has been with a dry/dropper rig or a double nymph rib. Bead Head Zebra Nymphs and Pheasant Tails have been the most productive nymphs. Terrestrials such as hoppers, ants, and beetles are pretty much the name of the game on the Madison at this time of the year. Another good bet is to drop a black fur ant below a dry as a wet fly.
Area Lakes:
Henry’s Lake has slowed. From day to day, the recent high winds in the area have turned up the sediment and turned portions of the lake off-color. The best fishing has been in the deeper water in the early morning hours. Use a type III or type IV full sink line. Best patterns have been Mitey Mouse, Henry’s Lake Renegade, Purple and California Leech. We haven’t had any good reports from the Island Park Reservoir but things should start picking up out on the west end and near the springs. Hebgen Lake has been the most productive fishing in the region. Gulper fishing has been outstanding around the southeast areas. Best action is from 9 AM until the afternoon breeze comes up when Callibaetis spinners are on the water.
South Fork of the Snake River:
This has continued to be the hottest ticket in town. Flows are above normal at about 9,000 cfs with the demand for water down in the valley. The water temperature has still been cool resulting in good hatches of PMDs and Pink Albert mayflies in the later mornings and early afternoons. There are also plenty of Yellow Sallies and a few caddis to keep the fish focused on the surface. However, these higher flows and cooler water temperatures have postponed the Mutant Stoneflies from making their early morning emergences. Toss foam against the banks in the morning hours…stop on your riffle at noon to catch the PMD hatch…then continue to toss foam against the banks the rest of your day down the river. Also, check with our affiliate South Fork Outfitters for the latest report on the flows and the fishing
Yellowstone National Park:
Try the Gallatin River in the Park of U S Highway 191 towards Big Sky, Montana. Dry-droppers have been very productive in this stretch. Other good bets in Yellowstone Park are the Yellowstone River, the Lamar River, and Slough Creek. The Upper Gibbon has also been producing some good dry fly fishing for smaller trout. Even though the numbers are down there are some quality Cutthroat Trout in the Yellowstone River and the angling pressure has been fairly light. Another good idea this time of the year is to hike into the Bechler River.
For more detailed information, please refer to our Hatch Chart. This is by far the most comprehensive hatch chart in the entire Yellowstone Region. Make sure to check out the hatch chart behind the aquarium in our shop.