We’re happy to provide another Henry’s Fork update for our Yellowstone fishing friends - flows are down to a trickle, but BWO hatches in particular have been strong this week.

Sadly a Utah man was killed and his wife injured yesterday when they were involved in a weather related accident on Highway 20 west of West Yellowstone - slow down in the inclement weather on the snowy roadways.

I know we talked about it last week - but this really has been a very active fall for bears this year, atypically so - use the standard precautions and be attentive throughout the Island Park corridor.

Flows were lowered again out of Island Park dam on the 17th, 18th, and 19th - water coming through is still off, but not as bad as it has been.
Today’s flows are 73 cfs, with the average for today 416 cfs.  There’s not a lot of water in the sytem right now, but we agree with the majority opinion that some water needs to be held in reserve for the winter.

The Box Canyon - the Box is still suffering a bit with the junkcoming out of the lake and the low flows; streamers and nymphs are the ticket here, though there’s better water to fish in this system right now.

Last Chance to Harriman - BWOs and Mahoganies (mid to late afternoon) as well as midges most of the day.  Good and bad news with the low flows  - working fish (some of the them big boys) are easier to spot and as their holding water options are decreased, but you’ll need your A game (long, fine leaders and spotless casting and drifts…).  Don’t forget a swinging soft hackle option (small) here. 

Riverside CG to Ashton - This section is fishing well here, with the same BWO, Mahogany, and midge hatch options as above.  We’d probably approach this with a streamer or streamer / nymph set up at this point, though double nymph rigs play well also.  You can choose your approach and do well with a clean, common sense approach. 

Ashton and Points Downstream - Have a buddy from Idaho Falls who spends a fair amount of time down here - his pitch from this last week has been streamers and BH nymphs, and be ready for the somewhat inconsistent / spotty BWO and fewer Mahoganies.  Should be better with this weather system….

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Flies to Have in the Box:

Dries:  baetis - BWO, Blue Dun, Olive Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, Para-adams; Mahoganies;

Nypmhs:  Rubberlegs, brown, black; Beadhead midges, red, olive, brown, black; Copper John, red, copper; Mega Prince; Prince, BH; Lightning Bug, olive, pearl, silver, gold; soft hackles - various

Streamers:  Woolly buggers, assorted colors; Sculpins - Coneheads, Sheilas; Zonkers, olive; Slump Busters, olive; Double Bunnies, white; Leeches, BH peacock

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