Smile because this place exists! This is dry fly fishing for the Snake River Fine Spotted Cutthroat trout in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The Snake River
The Snake River begins its journey to the Pacific Ocean high in the mountains of southern Yellowstone Park from a small lake called Mariposa Lake. It gains the Heart River and the Lewis River in Yellowstone and exits the park at the south entrance as a medium sized freestone river. Shortly after this it is impounded to form Jackson Lake at the base of the northern Tetons in Grand Teton National Park. From here down to Alpine, WY is the Snake River in Jackson Hole. Inside Grand Teton National Park, the Snake gains the Buffalo River, and a number of creeks, many of which are springs that surface in the valley. The river in the park is braided, sometimes into many channels. Below the park the Snake gains the Gros Ventre and Hoback Rivers and becomes a larger river that flows mainly in one stem. Just before Alpine, the river tumbles through famous rapids like Big Kahuna and Lunch Counter.Flows on the Snake average 300-500 cfs from October to April. Sometime in May, the spring runoff hits and the river surges up to 15-20,000 cfs depending on the snow pack. Through the months of July and August the Snake settles to about 2500-3000 cfs and remains there until flows are reduced from the dam in the beginning of October. Even though it is technically a tail water, the Snake is susceptible to wash out after heavy rainstorms in the summer.
Fishing
The Snake River is a freestone river with many hatches of stoneflies, mayflies, caddis, and many terrestrials for the cutthroat to feast on. Typically these hatches aren't as prolific as on some other Western rivers, so matching the hatch is often not critical. Mayflies provide the best match the hatch action.Midges and also streamers can be excellent in March, April, and May as these fish are hungry after a long winter. Runoff in late May and June typically coincides with a tremendous caddis emergence, but can be great angling in low water years. The river clears around the 4th of July and the fishing is good and only gets better as the summer wears on. August, September, and October are considered the best months to fish the Snake. This is big bug fishing at its finest! Stoneflies and terrestrials have the fish looking for large snacks on the surface. Timpanoga Hecuba mayflies show during cloudy days in September and early October to keep the big bugs going. October caddis fly as well through their month, along with a fantastic Baetis hatch that the fish gorge themselves on knowing winter's around the corner.
Rates For Summer 2009
$450 per day for two anglers, includes lunch, beverages, snacks, and equipment (except for terminal tackle). Also includes lodge pickup, if necessary. Does not include Wyoming fishing license.Jackson Hole Region River Flows
Snake River Information
- Snowpack Data for the Snake River Basin
- Regional Reservoirs Report (teacup diagram)
- Current Jackson Hole Weather
