Henrys Fork Advice

[Jcolin]

Going to Colorado most of July to visit my brother in Durango. We lucked out with a permit for the Middle Fork Salmon river in ID. Last week of July (I already made a post about that and got a lot of generous advice from you guys). Have heard much about the Henrys Fork and we may have some time to do a detour (know it's a few hours out of the way) to fish either the Henrys or the South Fork of the
Snake river. For those on here that have fished these rivers, wondering what section you'd recommend. The box canyon sounds intriguing for a hike in, but we also will have our raft with us for any suggestions for a day float.

Thanks very much, Joel

[gitt]

Don’t over look the put in area above Box Canyon. Great fishing can be had if you can fish to the opposite bank. The whole river downstream lights up with top surface action in the evening as well. Great memories and no pressure. You didn’t hear about it here.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Every year in the Winter and Spring we would get in our customers who went on their annual pilgrimage to ID/MT in the summer.

They spent months coming by our shop getting ready for this annual adventure and told us all their great stories.


Don Rotsma and Rick Jorgensen have been making this trip for over 30 years now and I was lucky to be invited along in the 1980s.

I had heard stories for many years from the old timers of the 'Gezzer Patrol' who fish it annually after World War II.

It was my most memorable trip for moving water wild trout fly fishing trip......thanks to Don and Rick.



Every summer Bob Giannoni use to run the legendary 'Fenwick Fly Fishing Schools' just outside of West Yellowstone in the 1970s.

He went to college in Bozeman, MT where he got more great fly fishing in.

Today Bob is retired from the California Highway Patrol living and fishing in Fort Collins, CO.


Walt Bennett use to work for Bob at the schools so he spent many summers there as well.


Retired Colusa school teacher, David Armocido, use to go to Ennis, MT every summer to do some great stream dry fly fishing.

He finally retired and moved to Missoula, Montana. I was able to visit David and he took me to the famous Rock Creek.

That was my single best day of dry fly fishing while wading in a freestone stream. Thanks to David.



If you want to take a trip in the summer, July, August, September, to Idaho/Montana let me know.

[TroutHunter10]

Fish it if you get the chance. One of my favorite places in the world. In my opinion, prime time on the HF is Mid-late June for the green drakes/flavs. The salmonflies are always a huge draw but overrated unless you time it perfectly.

The PMDs, my second favorite hatch and usually the most predictable and consistent, usually last from mid June to mid July and you can usually find fish on the banks sipping spinners in the AM and PM. Theres nothing better than headhunting fish sipping spinners on the bank!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Fish it if you get the chance. One of my favorite places in the world. In my opinion, prime time on the HF is Mid-late June for the green drakes/flavs. The salmonflies are always a huge draw but overrated unless you time it perfectly.

The PMDs, my second favorite hatch and usually the most predictable and consistent, usually last from mid June to mid July and you can usually find fish on the banks sipping spinners in the AM and PM. Theres nothing better than headhunting fish sipping spinners on the bank!

Thanks for the obviously knowledgeable information TH.

[HSano]

Long ago I used to fish the Henrys Fork but always in late September. I don't remember if it was in one of his videos or whether I heard him say it but Mike Lawson said "When in doubt, put on a beetle". Following his advice, I caught my biggest fish from the Fork on a beetle. I don't know if beetles work in the early season but I would put a few in my vest just to be safe.