Henry's Fork Report - June 19, 2025

Henry’s Fork Streamflows

Island Park Dam:  923 cfs

Ashton Dam:  1710 cfs

St. Anthony:  1040 cfs

Fall River:  490 cfs

The Henry’s Fork is, like so many other rivers in the region, running a week early on hatches and conditions.  It is, however, at a tipping point where irrigation demand is running almost two to three weeks early and flows are rising at a time when the glory hatches of the year are occurring.  Water quality and quantity is great, and fishing has been good throughout the river, this may continue for the week to come, but increasing flows over the next few weeks will affect hatches and fishing, so stay tuned!  Colder temps this weekend will change things up and hopefully encourage some more mayfly activity along the way!

Opening day on the Ranch was, by most accounts, a good one and less “social” this year due to good fishing.  Lots of good insects on the water with great trout feeding on them.  In the days since, targets have become more scarce but still available, likely due to increasing flows and sunny days.  Water quality is good and the river is now at a level that is more appropriate for the time of year but will quickly become too high for hatch fishing.  Enjoy it while we have it!

Box Canyon

At the top of the reportable river sections, the Box is now getting to a comfortable flow that is less bumpy, a smoother ride.  With the increase in flows comes an increase in the need for split shot on indicator nymph rigs.  Make sure you’re matching your rig to the water you’re fishing.  Expect trout to settle into a pattern of small flies when flows are stable, larger food when flows are increasing.  Indicator rigs will be the best bet here, but dry/dropper rigs and streamers will work as well.  Generally we are favoring the following nymphs:  Tungsten PTs, R/L Tactical PTs, Split Cases, Hare/Copper, HP Caddis Pupa, Rednecks, red Zebra Midges #14-18, Rubberlegs #8-10.  Perdigons are always useful at these flows:  Olive Hot Spots, red Napoleon Jigs, Duracells, Spanish Bullets, Bullet Quills, Tung PMD Bombs #14-18 are all a good bet.  Be sure to bring both B and BB split shot, change frequently and according to the water you’re fishing!

Railroad Ranch

There are lots of bugs at present, but you’ll need to seek out targets that are feeding on them.  After an opening week, riseforms will likely be sneaky and low profile when spinners are involved and more noticeable when drakes are on the water.  Keep a keen eye out and make your shots count when they present themselves.  Green Drakes, Brown Drakes, Flavs, PMDs, Caddis and beetles are all on the menu.  As flows increase, drakes will be the bug that will keep our trout looking to the surface, a steady stream of smaller insects in various life stages may keep them interested during the day.  Look broadly for more aggressive activities during the late mornings and hone in your areas for early morning and afternoon sessions, focusing on more sparse rises.  This should be a good week on the Ranch, we’re hoping for a couple more weeks!  Some flies that anglers should have in their boxes:  Joe Joe’s Green Drake, Variant Cripple Green Drake, Harrop’s Hackled Green Drake Spinner, Harrop’s Grn Drake Last Chance Cripple, BSA Green Drake SH, Harrop’s CDC Biot Emerger Brown Drake, Hackled Brown Drake Spinner, Barret’s Flav Spinner, Flav LC Cripple, CDC Biot Flav, PMD CDC Thorax, PMD Transitional Dun, HF Caddis, rusty, cream and olive spinners, CDC or Copenhaver’s.

Canyon Country

These sections will still offer good trout fishing for those that are seeking solitude, but anglers should be willing to dig out opportunities with dry/droppers, nymphs and streamers.  Rising flows in these sections makes for more difficult presentations in the absence of large food sources.  “Chubberlegs” rigs, Chubby Chernobyls with Rubberlegs nymphs dropped beneath are the rig of choice.  Modify as needed to drop other fast-sinking nymphs to encourage more successes.

Warm River to Ashton

This section usually provides fishing that is more resilient to the ups and downs of the flows in the upper and lower river, situated right in the middle with the input of the Warm River, this section will stay sporty and cold for the whole season.  We are moving more towards indicator nymphing with rigs similar to those recommended for the Box Canyon, but a close eye should be kept out for feeding trout with Green Drakes, Caddis, and PMDs present.  Good sessions of dry fly fishing can be found at this time of year for those that keep an eye out for opportunities.

Below Ashton Reservoir

The Lower Henry’s Fork is still fishing well while there are bugs on the water, and laying right down after these periods of hatch activity.  Green drakes are the main source of activity but we’re all hoping for the arrival of flavs, at this point they may or may not make it to the stage.  Hope lies in the cooler weather of the weekend and we’ll see what comes of it.  Drakes are driving the bite at the moment, but there are sparse PMDs, Caddis, and Flavs present.  Anglers will need to have emergers, duns, and spent/spinner variants of these insects on hand.  Afternoon trout are sparse and difficult to fool, be prepared!  Higher flows below Ashton dam are putting more cover on the banks, but it is food source that will draw the fish into those lies.  Stay tuned and enjoy the hunt!

At best, we have a couple more weeks of great hatch fishing, due to the imminent increase in demand for irrigation water, get out there and enjoy it as long as it lasts!