Hi all
When word came this Spring from my sister that she was moving to Boulder
Colorado and she needed me to transport boxes of her stuff from Seattle, I
jumped for my map and planned a route that would plant me in Henry's Fork
and the South Fork rivers. I had never fished them, only dreamed and read
about them. I set out on my own on the 4th of July to spend as much of 3
days on the water as possible before I had to meet her in Buena Vista, CO
for some river rafting and camping before the move-in.
The trip down was long and I was solo. I struggled keeping my rig going the
direction of the South Fork as I drove by some incredible water. Here I was
blazing by the Clark Fork, Madison, and Bitterroot in Montana, I felt like I
was crazy to not stop to fish! But I had a goal to get to Idaho, and knew I
could not fish all the water I passed, so I kept my eye on the prize.
I arrived in Idaho Falls Friday night after a full day of driving only to
find that the better majority of the residents of Southern Idaho where there
on the banks of the Henry's Fork to see the only 4th of July fireworks show
in the area. Wow, talk about no room at the Inn! I managed to find a spot
and stayed in Idaho Falls that night to finish up some remote real-world
work I left behind incomplete in Seattle. Saturday I headed out for my
first day, for the South Fork.
I was without pram, drift boat, or pontoon, so I stopped in the compound
that was South Fork Outfitters in Irwin to pick up a couple Chernobyl Ants
and inquire about decent wading possibilities. I followed their friendly
advice, did some exploring on my own only to quickly realize that what I
knew going down there was true: the South Fork in mid-summer is much too
high to wade. I fished the tributaries a little bit, but after limited
success in accessing very crowded water in very high conditions, quickly
decided that I could not hit this river very hard wading, so packed up and
drove north through Victor and Driggs en route to Henry's Fork.
I set up Camp at the Warm River campground which in my first-timer opinion
had the most central access to the Henry's Fork. It is right at the
confluence where the Warm River and Robinson River enter Henry's Fork. I
fished Saturday night and all day Sunday and Monday on the Henry's Fork. It
was incredible dry fly fishing. Green was the magic color whether it be
PMD, Humpies, Green Drakes, or (not green) March Browns. In the evenings
and mornings the fish were rising like crazy and I had some of the best dry
fly fishing for the resident Bows and Browns I have had all year. Most fish
I got were in the 8-14 inch range. During the day I fished big Stoneflies
dragging a smaller red brassy nymph pattern. I had my biggest hookup with
this presentation in the heat of the day, only to lose it Montana style as a
6-foot LDR. This lunker bow was a good 18-20 inches, sadly I did not get it
close enough to thank it properly.
Caddis were everywhere, but interestingly enough fish were not keying on
them at all. I saw a tiny Green Drake hatch but word was they were very
sporadic and few in number, and I noticed this to be the case. Still, all
my dry fly fishing was the best kind: casting to rising fish.
I didn't get into the big ones in the Henry's Fork, but I got into plenty of
fish that fought like crazy, and was in awe the entire time casting into
this incredibly beautiful fishery. For those who have never been,
everything they say about it is true. The Henry's Fork is paradise for a
fly fisherman. It apparently was also paradise for gear folks and
recreational intertube floaters this holiday weekend, but there was plenty
of room for everyone. Every fisherman on that river was happy to be there
and all that I talked to seemed equally giddy for the opportunity to be
wetting the line in the Henry's Fork.
If you make the trip, stop by Idaho Irresistables in Ashton, ID in the
middle of Henry's Fork territory. It is a small shop, family run, and I had
a good visit with the proprietor.
I could also recommend the Wal-Mart in Rexburg. :) Sad day of the trip was
when I broke the tip of my 5wt Sage (whoo-hoo for lifetime guarantees!)
after stupidly leaving my backup at home so found myself with no rod. So in
desperation I drove 30 miles to the Wal-Mart to purchase a cheapo 8ft 5wt
Cahill rod for $34.99 and used that for half my trip. It served my purpose
fine as once back on the water I was back to delicate presentations and
fooling trout with the best of them.
Good times in Idaho. Next time I bring a boat and a partner.
Brian
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