Henry's Fork Salmonfly |
The Henry's Fork proves to shine in it's traditional spring fashion. Caddis and Baetis hatches are diminishing as well as the March Browns; however, Salmonflies are all over the Warm River to Ashton stretch as well as Vernon to Chester. Golden stones will soon follow. The Fall River is off color and causing muddy flows below the Chester backwater. Salmonflies should continue to creep up the river towards Lower Mesa and the Box as warmer weather progresses this week. The Teton, Snake, Green and Salt are all high and muddy. The South Fork flow are being dropped as we speak and should be around 13,000 cfs by this weekend. Nymphing by the dam proves to be productive; however, expect some crowds. Mud flow from Palisades Creek, Rainey Creek, Fall Creek and Pine Creek make fishing below Spring Creek bridge not the best option.
A Big Brown below Ora Bridge in 2012 |
Now to gaze into the crystal ball of the summer flows:
The Bureau of Land Reclamation managers have decided to implement the following flow schedule for our local rivers this summer:
-South Fork was raised to 18,000 cfs last week and will be dropping in flow this week to a projected 13,000 cfs by Memorial Day weekend. While large natural spikes in the hydro-graph are needed and wanted, this is a good compromise and will allow us to get on the South Fork soon than later. Also, this is prime conditions for the Salmonflies this summer. Consistent flows from Palisades provide the best opportunities for consistent dry fly fishing opportunities.
-The Snake rivers flows will stay at 4,000 cfs discharge from Jackson Lake Dam all summer. Cutthroats like water and need plenty of it and they will enjoy the larger than average flows coming out of Jackson Lake Dam all summer.
The Bad News:
"The agency projects to draw down Jackson Lake reservoir to about 18 percent of capacity. At best, the bureau will fill Palisades Reservoir to about 50 percent of capacity before draining it nearly dry to meet irrigation needs in Idaho." - Full Story Here
We have all seen what happens to flows coming out of Palisades Reservoir when it is drained into the single digits capacity level. Mud and silt are pulled off the lake and river bottom and clarity diminishes.
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