Hopper Season on The Snake!

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Well its now well into the summer, and fishing in Jackson Hole has really turned on. Our guide staff has been running lots of trips on The Snake River, and returning to the shop with solid reports. These hot summer days are creating some really great hopper fishing on much of the river, from Grand Teton National Park, down into The Forest Service sections. In the mornings, while temperatures are still cool, our guides have been fishing dry-dropper rigs. For the first fly, medium-large sized, lighter, more natural colored hoppers are working best. From gold chubbies, to tan Morrish Hoppers, the fish seem to be fairly cued to the surface. While temperatures are still cool, tying on a small/medium sized mayfly nymph, such as a Duracell, Rainbow Warrior, or Lightning Bug has produced fish until the surface game turns on. Fish seem to moving to faster banks and riffles, so targeting the right type of trout water is key to having a productive day.

With such warm daytime highs, it’s really important to keep an eye on the water temperatures. A river thermometer is a necessary tool to cary with you this time of year. Trout require cold water with lots of oxygen to stay healthy. Once those water temperatures reach 67 degrees, these fish get stressed and catching them can cause them serious injury or death. It’s important while out fishing to use heavy tippet so that you can get fish in quickly, released, and put back safely to recuperate. Once temps reach 67, rods should be put down and we should wait till the evening when hopefully temperatures drop again. Remember, these cutties are native, wild fish. We need to respect and care for these fish so that we can continue to enjoy fishing for them year after year.

Warming water temperatures doesn’t mean we can’t fish though! We just have to be careful. Many of our guides are reporting catching more big fish than they’ve seen in the past several years. There is nothing better than watching a big ole yellow belly come up for a chubby, and that is what our beloved Snake River is known for! For questions or to book a trip, don’t hesitate to call our shop at 307-734-9684.

 

How We’re Handling Covid

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At Grand Fishing Adventures, we hold our guest and staff safety to the highest standards in the industry. We pride ourselves in putting each of our guides through an intensive, 16-hour Wilderness First Aid course every two years, when basic first aid and CPR are the only required certifications from our permitting agencies. We also require our guides to hold a Swift-water Rescue certification. This year, however, river safety is not the only concern.

In so many ways, COVID-19 has affected the way we all go about our lives, including how we travel and enjoy the outdoors. As businesses open up again, we all need to continue to do our part to stave off the threat of infection spreading. At Grand Fishing, we believe it is possible to safely run fishing trips while doing so. In light of COVID-19, we’ve introduced new protocols to keep our guests, guides and staff safe and healthy.

  • Within 24 hours of the trip date, our staff will reach out to guests and ask several questions about their current health and risk of exposure to COVID-19. If it is determined that a guest is unwell or has had recent exposure to the illness, they will be asked to re-book for a later date. Guides will be held to the same standards.
  • Guides will stagger meet times to avoid more than one group in our shop at a time.
  • Guests will have the option to pre-print their fishing licenses to avoid going into the shop, if that is preferred.
  • If guides meet their guests at a hotel or rental house, we will ask they meet outside in the parking lot.
  • Guides will wipe their vehicles with disinfectant each day, just before guests enter their vehicle. Guests and guides will be asked to wear face masks when traveling in guide vehicles, and if guests prefer to drive their own vehicle, arrangements can be made to have their car shuttled to the takeout.
  • Guides will disinfect all hard surfaces in their boat between each guest.
  • If guests wish to use a guide’s fly rod, the handle will be wrapped in cellophane to make it easier to disinfect.
  • All lunches are prepared by The Aspens Market, which has been open throughout the pandemic, following CDC guidelines for food preparation.  Guides will not handle lunches, except to hand to the guests and all snacks will come pre-wrapped.

At Grand Fishing Adventures, we recognize the COVID-19 situation is ever-changing as new information comes to light. We are committed to staying informed throughout the summer season and will adapt our protocols based on changing conditions. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

 

Skwala on the Snake

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Stoneflies are hatching on The Snake! Adult skwalas are out, and fish are looking up to the surface for food, but still primarily eating nymphs.  If you’re heading out to the river in the next couple days, it’s worth trying a dry/dropper rig.  We’ve found the best combo is a medium sized foam stonefly pattern on top, with a small rubber legs about 18 inches below.  The fish are still hanging in the slower, deep water found in slow runs, tail-outs, and calm riffles.  The sunshine and warm weather paired with above freezing temperatures at night has the river on the rise and turning off color.  Yesterday, there was about 18 inches to 2 feet of visibility above the Wilson bridge.  Get out there and enjoy the fishing before we head into full runoff for 8 weeks!  Please fish responsibly and follow social distancing guidelines.  If your spot is already taken, go find a new one!

A nice cutthroat caught on a skwala.

 

April Fishing

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During these uncertain times, it is important to not only take care of our physical health, but
our mental health as well. Fly fishing can be a great way to get outside and spend time on the water, while following social distancing guidelines. The Snake River is fishing very well, as it
often does in early April. Warmer temperatures has bug life coming alive, and we’ve been
seeing a variety of hatches that the fish have been keying in on.  Mayflies have been spotted, both blue wings and grey drakes. Small black stoneflies and the occasional skwala nymph are also out.  Weather is a big factor this time of year…on warm days look for dries to hatch in the afternoon. Warmer weather will also bump river flows, so keep an eye on the gauges.

A beautiful cutthroat caught on the Snake river in April.

Keep in mind, certain sections of river are closed due to COVID-19. Access to the river in Grand
Teton National Park is not permitted. The other sections of river that remain open are seeing
increased traffic, and we want to remind people to try and space out as to not overwhelm the
river with too much pressure and protect our wonderful resource.

The Snake is on fire!

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Big fish are hungry and the fishing on the Snake is awesome. Caddis have been doing well in the mornings and PMDs are working through out the day. As temps warm up you can look to terrestrials to attract nice fish.  Hoppers, beetles, ants and crane flies will all bring trout to the surface.  Riffles, banks and drop-offs are all fishing well, with the fast banks really firing in the afternoon.  There seems to be a bit of an afternoon lull but your arm may need a break!

Snake river fine-spotted cutthroat.

 

August fishing is coming in hot!

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The Snake just keeps getting better…bigger fish are eating on the surface and the terrestrial bite is hot.  In the mornings we have been seeing caddis and PMD hatches.  There have been a variety of caddis coming off, so keep your eyes open for bugs and choose the fly accordingly.  We are also seeing flying ants early, and the trout are tuned-in to the ant patterns. Starting in the late morning-early afternoon the grasshoppers have been active.  Grasshoppers drifted along the banks and in riffles have seen great fish bites throughout the afternoon.  Have fun, get out there!

 

Fishermen on the Snake, in the shadow of the Tetons.

The hoppers are out and the fish are biting!

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A beautiful catch on Fish Creek.

The Snake continues to fish well as we enter the toasty days of summer. In the early part of the day fish have been rising to PMD and yellow sally hatches.  Soft riffles have been the most consistent spots to catch the fish, and we have been seeing some bigger trout eating in faster water.  Banks and drop-offs have been producing fish as well. The afternoons have been all about the grasshoppers, and a variety of foam patterns have been working. There has been a bit of a lull in the late afternoons, but that may change as more clouds roll in this week.

The spring creeks continue to fish really well…give us a call and we will get you out there!

 

It’s time! Summer fishing on the Snake.

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GFA guide with a nice cutthroat.

Summer is here, and the Snake is almost clear.  The water is dropping quickly and we should be fishing prime conditions soon.  But there are fish to be had!  We are seeing fish eat on the top and on nymphs, so a dry-dropper rig is a way to cover your bases.  Hatches of caddis, yellow sallies, golden stones, and pmds are enticing fish to the surface.  We are seeing action sub-surface with rubber-legs, peach fuzz, prince nymphs, lightning bugs. The water is still moving, so stick to soft riffles, eddy lines, and any slower water you can find.  Happy fishing!

Fall on the Snake

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Snake river cutthroat trout.

We are having some gorgeous Fall days in Jackson Hole lately, and the fishing is great.  It has been warming up nicely mid-day and we’ve seen some bugs hatching.  Blue wings are out in force and the fish are looking for them.  Mahoganies and October caddis are also flying around and can get a look from eating fish.  Cooler mornings mean its a good plan to fish a dry dropper set up.  Smaller nymphs have been working well.  Try out the dry fly as bugs pop out and the day heats up!

Fly Fishing in Jackson Hole

July on the Fly

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A 22 inch brown trout caught on the Green river.

The tributaries to the Snake are clearing well, and it is improving the fishing every day.  With increased clarity we are seeing more fish come to the surface.  Chubby chernobyl’s are getting some good looks, and are a great option with a dropper below it.  We have had success below the surface on Pat’s rubber legs, prince nymphs and worms.

Catching rainbows on the Green.

The Green is still seeing good drake hatches.  Water temps are warming a bit in the afternoon, so your best bet for big fish is earlier or later in the day.  If the fish aren’t rising to the drake try nymphing with a prince or hare’s ear, or swing a sparkle minnow.

A beautiful cutty on our private water

It’s been a mixed bag on the spring creeks this week.  Fish have been caught on a variety of mayflies, foam flies, mayfly nymphs and streamers.  The creek water is cold and the fish are happy!