Seasons of the South Fork

Conditional information about the South Fork of the Snake River by season

April through May

Fish and Game opened the entire river to year-round fishing in the fall of 2003.  This has opened new and exciting fishing opportunities for us.  April kicks off the dry fly fishing with, consistent hatches of B.W.O's and midges.  The streamer fishing this time of year is out of sight.  As the water begins to warm up the fish become a lot more active and are looking for an easy meal.  The nymph fishing can also be very exciting.   As May arrives the Skawala Stones make their appearance followed by the Mothers Day Caddis.  There are days when it seems as if every fish in the river is gorging on the surface and you will not see another boat on the river. 

June through July

The first week in June is like the last week in May, risky; as always call the shop for an update on current conditions.  Mid June is Salmon Fly time and you can count on seeing the big bugs from around the 15th on through July.  Once we begin to see the Salmon Flies the P.M.Ds and a plethora of other bugs are soon to follow.  The angler hatch will also start around this time. This is the busiest time of the year on the South Fork. The fishing is great, so book early to ensure you are able to get on the river during this fantastic time of the year.

August through September

Time for terrestrials!  The hoppers have arrived and big lazy Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout are looking for an easy meal.  The may fly hatches will start to slow down as the water temperatures come up.  This is also a good time to start fishing with nymphs in the deeper cooler water.  The Mutant Golden Stone will also make an appearance during this month.  This bug is nocturnal so ask us about writing you into the book with an early morning start.  This is a great way to see some great dry fly action and watch as the sun peaks over the canyon wall for what is sure to be a glorious sun rise.

September through October

Things start to slow down; the hopper fishing remains good until we have a hard freeze. As it begins to cool down plan on seeing Blue Wing Olives and Mahogany Duns for a final appearance.   The Brown Trout spawn later on the South Fork than they do on the surrounding waters.  You will see brown's on the spawning redd's right around Halloween.   The fall colors on the South Fork are absolutely breathtaking so an optional scenic float is always a great option for Jackson Hole and Yellowstone area photographers, just don't forget to bring your fly rod with your camera case.