Snake River (Jackson Hole):
Flows on the Snake have been holding steady at 3500 for about a week now. Steady flows combined with cold nighttime temperatures have slowed the low elevation snow melt. This means that, until the daytime temps get warm enough to really start melting snow, the Snake is off color but in good shape to fish. The water is really moving at this level, so search out the slow water and work it thoroughly, that is where you will find the fish. The fishing has been good, nothing spectacular, but well worth the effort. Streamers and nymphing have been the ticket. Look to use a larger Stonefly like a Prince or Pat’s Rubber legs followed by a small midge pattern. Flies that having been working are: Princes, Rubber Legs, Terminators, large Pheasant Tails, Zebra Midges in black or purple. As for streamers, try a slower retrieve and use something with flash to get their attention. Flies that have been working: Coffee’s Sparkle Minnow JJ or Gold, Kreelex in gold. Going forward, as long as the forecast has below freezing nighttime temperatures and mild daytime highs, expect the Snake to stay off-color but still fishable. As soon as we begin to see warm days and above freezing nights, the river will see the chalky valley run-off return and that could be the end of pre-runoff fishing.
