On the Fly Magazine: The Greater Yellowstone Fishing Resource

If you are looking for a change of scenery and a different stretch of the Snake to fish, only a short drive over the pass to Idaho you will find a beautiful section of river which is one of the most productive in the area: the South Fork.

Known for having an abundance of wildlife and an exceptional amount of fish (somewhere in the range of 4,000 fish per mile) this wide stretch of the Snake can keep any angler busy for a day or more. Cutthroats, browns and rainbows can all be found in abundance and there are many side channels and gravel bars to fish from. Since so much of the river is not accessible from the road, floating the South Fork is generally preferable and most of the guide services in the area accommodate trips there.

“One of the best things about the South Fork,” said Shaun Lawson, Manager of South Fork Outfitters, “is that it can be fished for eight months of the year.” The aquatic life, he said, is abundant and consistent from mid-April through October.

“That is unique, “ said Lawson, “Most (sections of river) do not normally offer that large of a window.”

There is also a lot of variety in the fishery itself, he said referring to the ability to find multiple varieties of trout.
Lawson said that the river is particularly good for fishing with dry flies. “That’s what brings most people here.”…

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