South Fork of the Snake River Fly Fishing

South Fork of the Snake River Fly Fishing: Rated as the top cutthroat stream in the West, the South Fork of the Snake River is the product of more than a decade of special efforts by Idaho Fish and Game, local outfitters, and catch and release ethics. Its development into a first class fishery is proof of the effectiveness of special regulations to protect this beautiful, native trout of the Northern Rockies. The South Fork is a tailwater fishery that flows out of Palisades Dam on the border of Wyoming and Idaho.

Diverse Hatches

The diversity of hatches, both aquatic and terrestrial, exceeds other rivers of the West, and gives the South Fork the reputation for the best dry fly fishing in the world. Wild populations of native Yellowstone Cutthroat and Snake River Fine Spotted Cutthroat provide scrappy dry fly action year-round.  Fly fishing Idaho’s South Fork of the Snake River covers all angling appetites. Whether that be dry fly fishing, dry dropper setups, streamer fishing or nymphing.

South Fork of the Snake Fly Fishing

Fly Fisher’s Dream

With a healthy population of cutthroat, brown and rainbow trout ranging from 15-25 inches, the South Fork is a fly fisher’s dream. Fishing starts with a bang in early June during the highly sought after salmon fly hatch. Large 2-3 inch stone flies creep out of the depths and hatch by the thousands along the rivers edge, while bringing fish of all sizes to the surface.  Anglers are dumbfounded by the numbers of fish brought to the boat during this four week period. Following this hatch is a melting pot of diverse dry fly hatches that continue to change thru the end of October as well as uncountable numbers of hoppers that tempt fate by traveling along the rivers banks. A trip any angler should try to take when visiting the Jackson Hole area. Bureau of Land Management and Caribou-Targhee National Forests Permitee. Equal Opportunity Provider. Be sure to check out our South Fork Fly Fishing Report