The Summer Solstice report for June 22 is lined with bittersweet realities, we have tons of water but it is ruining the early season fishing. For the most part fishing is a real challenge on most drainages in several states in the Northern Rockies. Here in Wyoming we have high water on almost every river, even the tailwaters are flowing hard to make space for the up stream flow coming down. These high flows have been going strong since March now and the good news is we are finally seeing some light at the end of the "high water tunnel".
Locally on the Snake River flows have been extreme for sometime but the mountains are showing significant snow break up in the high country and the old indicators show about 2 more weeks of strong flow but a long gradual drop should begin soon. Peak occured on June 5th with the canyon reporting nearly 31,000cfs! Currently the same canyon is showing about 25,000cfs but flows from Jackson Lake dam are on the rise due to the expected 100% capacity on the lake by Sunday, then matching inflows for several weeks. We expect the upper section to fish well by early July but flows will be high. As the bugs hatch the fish will get on them and life will be good again. We do not expect the other sections to be fishable until late in July unless conditions improve quickly.
The Green River drainage is actually worse but that region does not runs so muddy as the upper Snake. Here flows are at flood stage but seem to be flattening out, a sure sign the major snowpack is thinning. Once this area gets below 2500cfs it should fish very well, currently 4700cfs at Warren Bridge.
For now we have been enjoying some fine lake fishing in Yellowstone N.P. on Lewis and Yellowstone Lakes. We are also fishing the Firehole River and the Upper Snake below Jackson lake Dam. Here we are seeing some PMD's and caddis, with the best dry fly fishing occurring after 2pm.
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| Good one to snap a quick photo |
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| Lake doubles are rare and double 23"er's even more so |
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| Josh Gallivan on Yellowstone Lake |
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| Kiwi Jack, with his first HF rainbow on the Ranch Marathon |
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| Still hunting after 13 miles and 13 hours, Ranch Marathon 2017 |
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| Late evening success on the HF, Josh Gallivan and Tim Brune |
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| Solstice Sunset |
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