Small Streams
Fourth of July is only two days away, and that event features family picnics, barbeques and fish fries. Brook trout are ideal fare for fish fries, and IDF&G allows a daily bag limit of 25 per angler. That means two or three family members harvesting this many brookies will provide an ample supply for a fish fry. Add such as coleslaw and hush puppies and the result is a banquet fit for a king.
Where are the best places to go in order to harvest such a number of brookies? Little Warm River and Partridge Creek in Island Park are great locations. Both are close to the Pole Bridge campground that can be a great base of operations. Robinson Creek tribs such as Rock and Porcupine Creeks have good brookie populations. Antelope Creek, a major trib to Big Lost River, has a good population of brookies as does the upper end of Birch Creek. Beaver Creek in its canyon above Spencer, ID is another candidate, although care must be taken to watch for Union Pacific trains that use the mainline paralleling the creek. Sawmill Creek, at the head of Little Lost River, is another stream hosting numerous brookies.
Brookies in all these stream are aggressive and readily take any small fly offered. Wet flies seem best, and something like a peacock woolly worm, size 10-12, is very effective. IDF&G is glad to see our brookie population diminish because they compete with native cutthroat trout.
All cutthroat trout spawning tribs to the South Fork below Palisades Dam are now open for fishing. The same is true for Willow Creek tribs and the Blackfoot River drainage above the reservoir. Cranes and Mill Creeks have good brookie populations. Stoneflies are out in Teton Canyon (be on guard for rattle snakes) and Warm River features good PMD, caddis and sally adults for excellent top water fishing. The Ashton-Flagg Road is open for travel and gives access to Fall River, Mountain Ash Creek, Beula and Hering Lakes. As well as Wyoming waters including Grassy Lake, Lake of the Woods and the Snake River.
Flies to fish:
