Henry's Fork of the Snake River
Catch what you've been missing.
So you want a western fly fishing experience. How about wetting your line in an ancient volcano that just so happens to be old Yellowstone? At six thousand feet above sea-level, Henry’s Fork flows out of a spring created by volcanic events more than a millennium ago. This historic area was home to battles between Chief Joseph’s Nez Perce tribe and United States military troops. Some of this area also served as a cattle ranch for the Harriman and Guggenheim families. This ranch is now an Idaho State Park.
The river starts in Island Park Idaho near Henry’s Lake at a place called Big Springs. The Henry’s Fork is no secret. For decades it has been known to most anglers as the greatest river in the world. We love the Henry’s and fish it year round. It is beautiful and diverse. There are many different types of water, and countless insects to feed the fish. The fish are strong and majestic. Eight sections of the river run through two dams and cascade over an elevation change of over 1,000 feet.
Big Rainbows On Dry Fly
The fish are rainbow/cutthroat hybrids or pure rainbows on the upper river. You add browns to the mix when you fish below Mesa Falls. The entire river is dry fly paradise. There is no river in the world that has a better reputation for dry fly fishing. Fishermen who want the chance at a giant rainbow on a dry fly flock to this river each spring when the Salmon Flies begin to hatch. Some of the largest dry fly eating trout in the U.S. are found in this river. We have many dedicated anglers who have fished with us for 30-40 years that still show up every May or June to lay a dry fly over these giants.
1st Dry Fly Area Each Year
This one of the best times of the year to catch a monster trout on a dry fly. This unique fishing all occurs when the salmon flies hatch up and down the river beginning in mid-May. This fabulous hatch continues through the 15th of June. Along with the salmon flies, a surplus of golden stones and mayflies are out as well. All of these hatches mean one thing – big fish! In a three day period, TVL fishermen landed a 24 inch, 25 inches and 26-inch trout, all on different sections of the river, all on dry flies.
Dry Fly Fishing Tradition
As the season moves forward, we fish the Henry’s less due to the outstanding dry fly action on all of the other 20 sections of our other rivers. However, there are times during the season that we make sure we go back to this great river fishing. August and September are top times for dry fly action. Many 5 to 8-pound fish have been caught in these months. As well as being famous for large fish, there are times when the rainbows just go nuts. The non-stop action of the fishing combined with the extraordinary beauty of the river makes any day special. If big rainbows on dry flies are what you want, we wholeheartedly recommend the Henry’s Fork of the Snake.
