Back-and-Forth with Temps in Early December

Snake River

Warming temps equate to warming water temps (by a couple of degrees at least). We have moved into midge-mode solely on the surface with the best action occurring from 11am until 4pm and the most productive water being in ledge rock pools, banks and submerged structure with slow to moderate currents, and the tail of seams with recirculating currents.

Nymphs are best fished as part of a dry-dropper rig or a rigging with no suspension device with leader tippet length in the three-to-four-foot range. Go with midge and BWO imitations primarily, but there can be action on larger attractor patterns as well.

Streamers have been producing inconsistently but are working best at current transitions along seams and riffle current margins. Go with smaller patterns and slow to moderate retrieves. Floating lines and short INT sinking tips is the best tackle to use at the moment.

Dry flies – Mating Midges, Parachute Adams, Parachute Midges, Ritt’s ARF Midge Adult, CDC Midge Emergers, and Chez’s Krystal Wing Midge Emerger.

Nymph – Duracells, Brillion’s Mellow Yellow, Egan’s Iron Lotus, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Egan’s Green Dart, Frenchies, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, and Perdigons.

South Fork

Flows are lower than the winter minimum at approximately 900cfs. The most consistent action is on the lower reaches from Kelly Campground down to Menan where midges are present throughout the day and dominate from around 1pm until dusk. Surface action is in a tight window from around 1pm until 3:30pm with the best production occurring in riffle pools and seams primarily. Banks with slow currents are also worth targeting. Nymph rigs (either dry droppers or fished with no suspension device) are working in the same water and along submerged structure. These rigging are producing as early as 10:30am.

Small to moderately sized streamers have been doing the trick sporadically throughout the day with the most consistent action coming in the afternoon hours. Floating lines and slow retrieves are the best way to go. Target banks structure, seams, riffle pools, and riffle current margins.

Dry flies – Griffith Gnats, Renegades, Parachute Midges, Mosquitos, Klinkhamers, CDC Midge Emergers, and Chez’s Krystal Wing Midge Emerger.

Nymphs – Cyclops, Brillion’s Lucent Jigs, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Lil’ Amigos, Military Mayflies, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, Zebra Midges, Spanish Bullets, and Perdigons.

Streamers – McCune Sculpins, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, Murphy’s Bling Minnow, Clouser Minnows, Craft Fur Clousers, and Kreelux.