Fall on the Snake



KB on the Snake



Location / Directions:      South Fork of Snake , floated from Irwin slide N to Spring Creek Bridge approx. 5.5 miles.  Was on water between 11:30 and 7p.m.

 

Trip Objective:   Learn the South Fork of the Snake…upper end

 

Weather:   High 60’s to mid 70’s cold front had just moved through, which slowed fishing considerably.  Water was running at 9000 CFS…which is relatively low for that time of year.

 

General  Observations:    This was a nice late summer /early fall weekend….tons of people.  Also the Erwin slide is not a good place to launch a nice boat.  Need to slide it over the rocks which is unpleasant at best.

 

Mark's nice Rainbow

Trip Detail:  A beautiful float but the fishing was impacted by the number of people on the river, hard to find unfished water, and the cold front.  Fish were not very active.  We did have some action on a large yellow streamer…size 4 .  We also picked up some white fish on a bead head nymph dropper.   “Big Deal of the Day” came at one of the braids at the head of the water fall.  We got into a great #16 PMD hatch. In mid afternoon.  Kurt knocked them dead and Mark stuck a lot of fish but decided to let them jump of the hook (to remain untarnished).   All and all we landed 12 nice fish during the hatch. 

 

Logistics:   Had breakfast at the Cowboy Boutique in Driggs.  It opens at 7 and is quite good.  Dinner was at the Victor Brew Pub.  Used South Fork Shuttle Service 208-538-5038…cost $17.00 . 

 

Key Learning’s:  The boat ramp was not good, and the crowds were massive.  Would recommend starting above Irwin and drifting into the river.  Also, no real reason to start in the early morning…may be better to let the flotilla  go down in front and fish hard late afternoon and into the evening.  Spring creek worked well as a take out….Need to come armed with good streamer selection…never used yellow before but it seemed to work.  The lowest take out point on the other end of the Canyon  (Lorenzo Park  s only about 20 minutes from the lot.  The next float needs to be Byington to Lorenzo  ~ 15 miles ( comes out right at highway 20)


Good Luck and Good Hunting!