Below Jackson Dam: 289 cfs.

At Moose:  942 cfs.

At Flat Creek Confluence: 1,460 cfs.

At Alpine: 1,870 cfs.

Dries: Burk’s Silhouette BWO (#18-20), Quigley’s Cripple BWO (#18), Parachute Adams (#18-20)

Nymphs:  Brassie (#18-20), Peterson’s Skinny Nelson (#16-18), Purple Jackhole (#20)

Streamers: Mini Zonker (#10), Ch Matuka (#6), Shiela’s Sculpin (#6)

Despite a cold snap and some snow accumulation in late October, daytime temperatures are back up into the mid-40′s to mid-50′s right now, the snow is gone from the valley floor, and it’s making for some very good late season fishing. The Snake is also currently at a great level to allow lots of wading access.

We ran our last guided trip of the season on October 31st with Steve Bywater on the sticks, and it was a fine, warm fall day, with great fishing and hardly another soul in sight. Thanks to all of our clients, old and new, and our talented guides for such a phenomenal season in 2012.

Get out an enjoy the late season while it’s still here!!

Gibbon River at Madison Jct: 101 cfs

Lamar River near Tower Ranger Station: 119 cfs

Firehole River at Old Faithful: 48 cfs

Madison River near West Yellowstone: 414 cfs

Yellowstone River at the outlet of Yellowstone Lake: 689 cfs

Dries: Brooks Sprout BWO (#18), Hatchback Emerger BWO (#18), Grey Drake Hairwing (#10 – 12), Parachute Adams (#10 – 12), Parachute Emerger caddis, tan (#16), Corn-fed Caddis, tan (#16)

Nymphs: Glass House caddis (#12-14), Two-bit Hooker (#14), Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear (#14-16)

Streamers: Trina’s Bugger, brn/yellow (#6), Big Gulp Sculpin (#4), Garrett’s Bellydancer (#4), Super Bugger (#4), Galloup’s Dungeon

Cooler fall weather is really turning the fishing on again in Yellowstone NP. The Firehole, Gibbon, Madison, Slough Creek, Lamar, etc. are all worth spending time on right now. Miller caddis are plentiful, and some Blue Wing Olives are starting to make an appearance, particularly on the Firehole – we expect the BWO presence to increase as the week proceeds and the temps drop. Grey Drakes are still part of the menu in the northeast corner of the Park.

Migratory fish are moving into the upper Madison in the Park, taking big nymphs, soft hackles and streamers, dead-drifted or on the swing. Please be mindful of streamside etiquette and give other anglers plenty of room.

This is a fine time to experience Yellowstone in fall colors, and without the summer crowds. If you’d like to fish Yellowstone with one of our experienced guides, please give us a ring at 307.733.7210

Below Jackson Dam: 1,920 cfs

At Moose: 2,920 cfs

Below the confluence with Flat Creek: 3,080 cfs

At Alpine: 3,620 cfs

Dries: Parachute Hare’s Ear (#14), Sparkle Dun Mahogany (#14-16), Rusty Spinner (#16), March Brown Water Walker (#16), Black Turck’s Tarantula (#14), Parachute Hopper (#8-10), Brooks Sprout BWO (#16-18), Para-Wulff BWO (#18)

Nymphs: Pheasant Tail (#16-18), Skinny Nelson (#16-18), Glass House Caddis (#14)

Streamers: Double Screamer (#6), Rusty Butt Monkey (#6), Magnum Super Bugger (#4), Big Gulp Sculpin (#4)

We’ve been having excellent late September fishing on the Snake this year, with cool nights and daytime temps in the 70′s making for perfect conditions. Mahogany, Blue Wing Olive and Hecuba mayflies continue to be a good part of the table fare, and the streamer fishing has been really good as well. Cloudy days this week are only making a good thing even better.

Please note that the Bureau of Rec will be reducing the flow out of Jackson Dam this week, starting today, (which is a couple weeks earlier than normal). This gradual drawdown will continue through Friday, when the winter flow will be reached. As of now, the plan is to maintain this flow through the winter.

We don’t expect this drawdown to affect fishing all that much on the lower river south of town. And once the flow stabilizes at the winter flow level, we are looking forward to some potentially excellent early October fishing.

Please give us a call at 307.733.7210 to learn about our reduced-rate “October Special” guided trips.

Below Jackson Dam: 2,220 cfs

At Moose: 3,220 cfs

At Flat Creek Confluence: 3, 320 cfs

At Alpine: 4,000 cfs

Dries: Parachute Hare’s Ear (#12), Ausable Wulff (#10-14), March Brown Water Walker (#16), Mahogany Brooks Sprout (#16), Mr. Rapidan (#10-14), 

Nymphs: Peterson’s Skinny Nelson (#16-18), Serengold (#12), Red Copper John (#14-18), Black Lightning Bug (#16-18)

Streamers: Brn/Yellow Screamer (#6), Beck’s Super Bugger (#4), Heavy Metal Sculpin (#4), Blk/Yellow Trina’s Bugger (#6)

Cooler weather has come to the valley, and it’s already feeling like the beginning of fall, with day time temps in the 70′s and nights in the 40′s. As is normal this time of year, cooler weather means we start transitioning to smaller flies (well, “smaller” for us, anyway…). Mahogany mayflies, along with our fall Hecuba drake, are being seen in decent numbers on the river now. “Mutant” stoneflies are also producing fish, particularly in the mornings following an emergence.

Of course, afternoons are warm, and hoppers and larger attractors are still working at these times as well. Streamers are pulling the big boys out from undercuts and log jams.

Any angler who has spent much time in our area will tell you that late summer/early fall is the best time to fish the Snake in the Jackson Valley, and the river is really in its prime right now, with nice fish being seen on a daily basis. We still have some availability in September, but are filling quickly. Please give us a call if you would like to schedule a trip with one of our excellent guides, or if you just need advice on taking advantage of our great fall fishing – 307.733.7210.

- B. Smithhammer

@ Jackson Dam: 2,290 cfs

@ Moose: 3,260 cfs

@ Flat Creek: 3,420 cfs

@ Alpine:  4,040 cfs

Dries: Para-Hopper (#8-10), Olive Parachute Hare’s Ear (#12), Parachute PMD (#14-16), Brennan’s Stone (#8-10), Adam’s Para-Wulff (#10-16), Gould’s Western Lady (#8-10), Hippie Stomper (#10),

Nymphs: Glass House Caddis (#14), Peterson’s Skinny Nelson (#16-18), Cadillac Pheasant Tail (#14)

Streamers: Galloup’s Dungeon, white (#4), Screamer (#6), Candy Cane JJ Special (#6), Red Krystal Killer (#6)

Fishing on the Snake in Jackson Hole just keeps getting better and better as the river levels continue to drop. And with Jackson Lake still at 85% of capacity, our water supply is looking pretty darn good, considering the overall water situation throughout the greater region right now.

Hot afternoons have slowed the fishing down somewhat, but fish are still being caught consistently throughout the day, with mid/late morning and early evening being the most productive times right now.

PMDs are on the Snake in decent numbers, and a few Hecuba mayflies are starting to make an appearance. “Mutant” stones are being seen as well, and this should continue for at least several more weeks. A most Golden Stone patterns will do a good job of imitating this large, light brown stonefly, though we’re particularly fond of  a local pattern, tied just for our shop, called “Brennan’s Stone.”

The forecast for the next week is calling for slightly cooler temps, and the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms. If this turns out to be accurate, it should only help make good fishing even better.

Our schedule for the rest of Aug. and September is filling up quickly – if you’d like to schedule a trip with our excellent guides, please give us a call at 307.733.7210 or 307.733.3270.

- Smithhammer

Snake River Flows

Below Jackson Dam: 2,380 cfs

At Moose: 3,580 cfs

At Flat Creek: 3,800 cfs

At Alpine: 4,620 cfs

Dries: Red PMX, Swisher’s LSS Chernobyl, Yeager’s Red Tantrum, Parachute PMD, Red Humpy, Trude

Nymphs: Barr’s Wine Copper John, Two-Bit Hooker, Cadillac Pheasant Tail

Streamers: Rusty Butt Monkey, Black Chain Reaction, Conehead Yummy

With the flow at Moose down to 3,500 cfs, the Snake is just coming into it’s prime right now. Nicer fish are coming up for dry flies and the dry/dropper combo is deadly. Large attractor/hopper patterns are working really well – don’t forget to give them a little movement to trigger those aggressive strikes. PMD’s are also being seen, and fish are definitely keying in on them when they are feeling picky and refusing the bigger attractors. As flows continue to gradually drop, we expect the Snake to only get better and better.

With Jackson Lake still at 91% of capacity, and Palisades Reservoir at over 60%, we’re looking pretty good for a stable water supply into the foreseeable future. Compared to a number of other places in the West, we should count our blessings – we have lots of great fishing options again this year!

To book a trip with us on the Snake, or any of our other destinations, please give us a ring at: 307.733.7210

- Smithhammer

Below Jackson Dam: 2,470 cfs.

At Moose: 4,780 cfs.

Below Confluence with Flat Creek: 5,490 cfs.

At Alpine: 6,290 cfs.

Dries: Red or Gold Chubby Chernobyl (#6-10), Amy’s Ant (#10), Parachute PMD (#14-16), Parachute Adams (#12), Clown Shoe Yellow Sally (#16), Elk Hair Caddis (#14-16)

Nymphs: Hare’s Ear Nymph (#12-16), Psycho Prince Nymph (#12-16)

Streamers: Olive Zonker (#6), JJ Special (#4-8)

With the flows around 5400 CFS below Flat Creek, the Snake has been fishing well both subsurface and with dry flies.  Fishing the banks with a dry-dropper has been a successful rig as well as trailing a PMD, Sally, or Caddis behind a bigger foam pattern.  In the mornings, nymphing and streamer fishing have led to some bigger fish eating, but once the day warms up, the dry fly bite has been extremely active.  We have seen some good PMD and Caddis hatches throughout the day, all the way till dusk.  If you haven’t fished the Snake yet, now is the time to get out there!

Come stop by either of our HCF locations (Jack Dennis Outdoor shop in town, or Lowrider Boardshop location in Teton Village) for some bugs, advice, or other equipment and go fishing!

- Hunter Heumann