Tailwaters often overshadow other sections of blue-ribbon streams, and for very understandable reasons. Upstream reservoirs create ideal conditions for the survival and growth of fish. Water temperatures are cool and forage is plentiful. Dam fed rivers can have several thousand trout per mile and relatively large specimens. This is the case on many storied Rocky Mountain rivers, including the San Juan in New Mexico, the Big Horn in Montana, and the North Platte in Wyoming. They all offer big fish and big numbers. They also offer big crowds during peak season and sometimes even before and after. The sometimes excellent fishing found on other parts of a stream typically goes ignored b
Snake River Pure midge game both above and below the surface at the moment. The most productive top-water period is between around 1pm until 3:30pm, although on warmer days with air temps over 35 degrees in the morning can produce emergences as early as 11am. Target eddies, backwater areas at the edge of seams, and slow current riffle pools. Nymph rigs are producing better than any other approach although, as with dry flies, the best action is squarely from 11am until around 3 or 4pm. Target eddy current margins, seams, and the entire length of riffles from head to tail. Leader lengths should be in the four to five foot range. Streamers are still producing in a decent fashion and can act
Snake River Cooler temps after a pretty warm November. As expected, chironomid imitations are working best on the surface. Top water action has been in the afternoon from roughly 12pm until around 4pm, with the heart of activity from the 1pm to 3pm timeframe. Target slow water pools ate the tail and mid-section of riffles as well as backwater side channels. Nymph rigs are producing from about 10am and through the afternoon in both the slow water targets mentioned above as well as faster currents in riffle pools, seams, and confluences. Midge and BWO imitations are working best with about four to five feet of leader from trailing nymph to live/suspension device. Egg patterns (also produc
