Fishing Report - June 20, 2025

Upper River:

They’ve let more water out of Island Park Reservoir this week and the increased flows have been a welcomed sight during the Harriman Ranch Opener! Box Canyon is at approximately 937 CFS which is a significant increase from last week. The Brown and Green Drakes have arrived and we are still seeing Golden Stones fluttering about with Caddis hatches in the evening. It’s a good idea to have a variety of small dry flies in your box this time of year. For Drakes try a Lawsons Extended Body or Last Chance Cripple as well as the Hudgens Drake Spinner later in the evening. During a Caddis hatch I’d reach for a Missing Link, EZ Caddis, or Mathew’s X Caddis and try a double dry with a Lawsons Caddis Emerger or Rusty Spinner as the dropper. If you’re fishing in the Box, the tried and true dry dropper rig is always a good idea. Try a Gold Chubby or Henry’s Fork Foam Stone Golden with a nymph dropper such as a Pat’s Rubber Legs, Pheasant Tail, or Duracell. 

Riverside to Ashton:

All the campgrounds are open including Riverside, but there is limited access to the river until you get down to Stone Bridge at the confluence of the Warm River. There is lots of good pocket water to be explored and a stonefly dry dropper is the name of the game. Try a Chubby Chernobyl variant, Henry’s Fork Foam Stone, or Burkus Bareback Rider with a Pat’s Rubber Legs dropper or fast sinking bead head. Below Stone Bridge you’re likely to see Caddis, PMD, and Green Drake hatches this week so be prepared with representations of all three. 

Ashton Dam to St. Anthony:

Flows out of Ashton Dam are at approximately 1680 CFS and water temps are getting high in the afternoon. This section has remained consistently busy with both boaters and wade anglers. Please be respectful and friendly with others and give each other ample space. Hatches on this stretch include Green Drakes in the morning and Caddis in the evening with some PMDs and Golden Stones throughout. You can be successful with a variety of strategies including double dry flies, dry droppers, nymph rigs, and there’s even some streamer action to be found still. 

Madison River:

Dry fly fishing is already picking up and the Salmonflies are on the lower portion of the river towards Ennis. Flows continue to be low but there is a chance they will increase in the coming week. In addition to Salmonflies, there are plenty of Caddis and PMD’s as well. Try a Zach’s Chubby Salmonfly if you’re wanting to use a big bug or stick with smaller dries like a Stubby Chubby or variety of mayfly patterns. Never hurts to throw a streamer up there, especially in the morning. A Sparkle Minnow, Olive Sculpin, or Barely Legal are always good patterns to try. 

Teton River:

Run-off is wrapping up on the Teton and flows are stable. It just recently came into play and is clear and fishing well! You’ll see a variety of dry flies including Caddis, PMD’s, Drakes, and maybe a few stoneflies in the canyon stretch.  

South Fork of the Snake: 

The South Fork is on track to shape up a little earlier this year and is already fishing well. There are Salmonflies down towards the confluence of the Henry’s Fork so try an Elden’s Pteronarcys or big orange Chubby.  Nymphing and streamers are still productive, but dry fly action will continue to pick up. The reliable Rubber Legs with a Hares Ear or Duracell dropper is a good place to start, but stay prepared with Stonefly and Drake patterns as well. Idaho Department of Fish and Game encourage the harvest of rainbow trout on all stretches of the South Fork. This is to protect the native Cutthroat trout. There is no limit on rainbows and some have monetary reward tags in them. If you do harvest any rainbows, take the head to the regional IDFG office in Idaho Falls and they will scan it to see if there is a reward tag. The max reward is $1000.