Summer in Jackson Hole continues to unfurl as the last of the Balsomroot glows yellow across higher elevations and slopes.

We’ve seen several active Grizzlies along the Snake in the last week, a sign that they have moved from the Elk calving grounds towards grazing, foraging, and scavenging along the riverbanks.

The tailwater section beneath Jackson Lake has again come down to around 2700 CFS after several days of cold rain that has put the lake around 100% capacity. These overcast rainy days have brought the best dry fly fishing of the season thus far. As PMDs continue to emerge in great numbers under darker skies, the trout now realize the difficulty these mayflies have in drying their wings and reaching the safety of the air…. until a swallow darts from the bankside Willows. Larger patterns (size 12) seem to get the attention of smaller Cutthroat that hold along seams and drop-offs with moderate current. The largest fish have tucked up against structure such as logs and undercut banks. These fish will require a more subtle pattern — a hackle wing spinner or small parachute. Concentrate on the slow seams and eddies as the water remains on the colder side.

Whitefish have begun to settle into the eddies and will take small pheasant tails on dark days and bright copper johns on sunny days beneath a motionless indicator.

Pacific Creek has now cleared and remains an option for small natives and the occasional large Brown Trout that moves up from the slow Oxbow downstream.

The Buffalo is again turbid after recent rains but is beginning to gain color.

Deadman’s to Moose has excellent bug activity and is nearing the clarity in order to fish. Maybe in a week that stretch will begin fishing as droves of evening Caddis, PMD spinners, and large Golden Stoneflies scurry atop and above the unsettled banks and troughs lined with Willows and Spruce. It’s time to explore the new logs, channels, and back eddies of an entirely different stretch from the year before.

The Firehole is getting warmer by the day but still fishing well through the morning. PMDs and wet flies have worked well on the swing as well as beneath the surface with dropper nymphs.

Runoff season has come and gone in Jackson Hole.

#RiverRangeAdventures

#wherethewildstillholdsdominion