Closing December with Variable Temps

Snake River

Warm weather has created more opportunities for increased production, but the sweet spot remains no earlier than 11am and ending around 3pm most days.  The most active water is ledge rock pools, eddies, and riffle pools/current margins.  Midges dominate, and decent surface feeding can occur from time to time, although rarely is it lasting for more than two hours.  Have a tandem dry rig at the ready, but focus primarily on dry-dropper rigs.

Streamer fishing has been OK, yet inconsistent from day-to-day.  Ledge rock pools, banks with slow currents, and slow current riffle pools are key targets.  Go with small baitfish imitations fished on floating lines or short INT tips and slow to slightly moderate retrieval speeds.

Dry flies – Furimsky BDEs, Parachute Adams, Parachute Midges, Ritt’s ARF Midge Adult, Bubbleheads, and CDC Midge Emergers.

Nymphs – Duracells, Rabid Squirrels, Egan’s Iron Lotus, Frenchies, Perdigons, Spanish Bullets, Booty’s Day-2 Midge Pupa, and Zebra Midges.

Streamers – Craven’s Swim Coach, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow, Beldar Buggers, Wolley Buggers, and Slump Busters, and Pine Squirrel Zonkers.

South Fork

Despite warmer than usual temps, fish still podded up in typical winter water like eddies, riffle pools, and backwater channels.  Midges are the name of the game. Nonetheless, you may see a BWO around from time-to-time.  Surface action is there in places but nothing consistent.  Dry-dropper rigs and double/triple rigs with no suspension device is the name of the game.  The sweet spot can start as early as 11am but the has more consistently been after 1pm.

Streamer fishing is hit-or-miss but can be respectable from around 11pm until 2pm.  Target slower water types with slow retrieves on floating lines.  Smaller patterns are outperforming moderately sized streamers.

Dry flies – Renegades, Mating Midges, Parachute Adams, Minimal Mayflies, CDC Midge Emergers, and Chez’s Krystal Wing Midge Emerger.

Nymphs – Duracells, Cyclops, Brillion’s Lucent Jig, Military Mayflies, Egan’s Dart, Zebra Midges, Ice Cream Cone Midges, Perdigons, and Brassies.

Streamers – Booty Call Minnows, Arum’s Lil’ Kim, Craft Fur Clousers, Kreelux, Lawson’s Woolhead Sculpins, and Lite Brite Zonkers.