Ending March on a Strong Note

Snake River

Still a midge fest on the Snake but Capnias are worth considering and can outperform chironomid imitations in the mid-afternoon hours. Most of the surface action starts around 10:30am and lasts until around 2:30pm. Most of it is also occurring in slower water types, especially riffle tailouts and side channels with moderate depths and minimal currents. Capnias can also work when fished along riffle current margins and the inside turns on riffles. Whether fishing top-water or nymph imitations, eats have been brutally slow. Take this into account when setting the hook.

Streamer fishing continues to improve with the best action occurring from around 11am until 3pm. Smaller patterns are working best in the same water where surface patterns produce (the slow stuff). Moderate sized baitfish imitations are FINALLY coming around and getting fishing in slow to moderate currents running along banks and structure and in side channels with slow to moderate currents. Go with intermediate sinking lines or sinking tips in the 1.5 to 3ips range.

Dry Flies – Furimsky BDEs, Baby Bugmeisters, Brackett’s LBS, Parachute Midges, Rusty Spinners, Mating Midges, CDC Midge Emergers, and Griffith Gnats.

Nymphs – CDC Soft Hackle Jigs, Peach Fuzz Jigs, Lightening Bugs, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymph, Psycho Princes, Lil’ Foams, Zebra Midges, Juju Bee Midges, and Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupas.

Streamers – Beldar Buggers, Booty Call Minnows, Lite Brite Zonkers, J.J. Specials, Sculpzillas, Slump Busters, Fruit Roll-Ups, and Rickard’s Seal Buggers.

South Fork

Flows from Palisades Reservoir are currently at 7,000cfs. Midges continue to be the name of the game on every section of river. It is not happening every day, but certainly most days to some degree. Emergences have been best in slow riffles tailouts and current margins of riffles and seams. Wetter days are producing sporadic emergences of blue-winged olives on the canyon reach and to a lesser degree of sections flowing through Swan Valley. These hatches have been strongest in riffles and seams, although flats and current margins along eddies are producing as well. The best action for both emergences have been from approximately 11am to around 3pm.

Streamers are working from the early morning hours until mid-afternoon. A variety of colors and sizes produce when fished along banks, structure, riffle pools, and seams margins/edges. Go with slow to moderate retrieves and sinking tips in the 1.5 to 6ips range. Full sinking intermediate lines can work just as well. Many strikes are short and slashing with slight commitment. So be at the ready. You may not land double digit numbers, but you can possibly get into 20 or more eats in a day.

Dry flies – Parachute Extended Body BWOs, Parachute Adams, Booty’s BWO Emerger, Parachute Midges, CDC Midge Emergers, and Renegades.

Nymphs – Pat’s Rubber Leg, PR Muskrats, Lightening Bugs, Rainbow Warriors, Redemption BWOs, Copper Johns in red, black, or olive, Booty’s Deep Stinker Nymphs, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, and Booty’s Day-2 Midge Emergers.

Streamers – Galloup’s Boogeyman, Sundell’s Sunfire, Silvey’s Sculpin, Booty Call Minnows, Chicklets, Kreelux, Bow River Buggers, McCune Sculpins, and Galloup’s Stacked Blonder.