South Fork
SOUTH FORK
ReportThe South Fork Road from Heise upstream is open for travel. The surroundings are closed in places because of mud slides coming from burn areas resulting from rainfall. Mop-up work on the Big Rock fire area is ongoing and uses the road. The road is closed downstream from the Heise bridge.
Look for continued increased boating use of the river from Palisades Dam downstream to Spring Creek and on the lower river. Flow is strong enough in the main river to push fish toward banks and soft water. Here terrestrial insects become their main top-water food source. Dry-dropper rigs and streamer patterns presented close by also interest trout.
Early in the day, mutant golden stone patterns are very effective, especially when skittered or twitched on the surface. Flow varies around 10,500 cfs at Irwin, about 11,500 cfs at Heise, and about 7,000 cfs at Lorenzo.
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Stonefly (adult) | #8–#12 | High — skitter or twitch on surface | Early morning |
| Grasshoppers / Terrestrials | #10–#14 | High — main top-water food source along banks | Late morning through afternoon |
| Ants | #14–#18 | Moderate — banks and soft-water edges | Midday through afternoon |
- EARLY MORNING (first light to 9 AM): Skitter or twitch mutant golden stone / stonefly patterns on the surface — this is the prime window for that specific bite
- LATE MORNING THROUGH AFTERNOON (10 AM to evening): Work dry-dropper rigs and hopper/ant patterns tight to banks and soft-water seams; throw streamers close to the bank for trout pushed out of the main current
