With the consistant hot temperatures, afternoon thunderstorms, and dry conditions; we are experiencing some incredibly beautiful sunrises and sunsets due to the addition of smoke in our atmosphere from wildfires around the region. The Jackson Hole and Teton Valley area are under a red flag warning for most afternoons. What does this mean? The National Weather Service classifies a Red Flag warning as : “A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.”
An expanded version of this red flag warning can be read here.
Most of the smoke we are expericing in the area is coming from Central Idaho as well as Northern Utah. The Elk Fire in Central Idaho just reached over 123,000 acres and is now 50% contained. Keep up the good work firefighters! All fire information can be found at the Incident Information System. However, campfires and smoking have been banned in central and southwestern Idaho due to dry conditions. Eastern Idaho currently has no bans in place.
If you are out camping, please be careful with any type of flammable source or devices. We don’t want to add to any of the wildfire issues that are being experienced in the Rocky Mountain West. Once again, there are no fire bans in place for Bridger Teton National Forrest or Caribou Targhee National Forrest
Unlike many areas of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, Jackson Hole and Teton Valley currently have no major fires in close proximity to our fishing areas. Fishing in our area is still very good. Early mornings and late evenings continue to be very productive and the surplus of hoppers and terrestials that tend to thrive in hot summer conditions are provided some great dry fly fishing. Nocturnal Stones (Classenia Sabulosa/Mutant Stones) are enjoying the cool mornings on the Snake, South Fork and Henry’s Fork rivers. PMD hatches are diminishing as summer progresses and making way for the Mahoganies and Baetis of the fall months. The Snake and South Fork flows continue to drop and fishing has been consistent. The first cool down we receive will kick these bugs into high gear! Get Ready!
