Last year on June 15, the fishing was tough on the Henrys Fork through the Railroad Ranch. The one good shot I had at a big rising fish was ruined by buck fever, and I pulled my fly away before the fish had turned. The two weeks that followed saw my net shockingly empty, with only a few small rainbows to hand, and I had to go to nymphing to get them!
I’ve arrived at the Gravel Pit next to the downstream stretch of the river where it passes through Harriman State Park and things are looking promising. The big brown drakes were flying when I arrived at dusk, and many noses were coming up to eat them. But does this mean the green drake hatch has already come and gone?
2026 is going to be a strange year on the water across the West, with historically low snow pack affecting stream flows and a warm spring seems to have accelerated normal hatch timing. As long as the fish stay healthy, it doesn’t really change my plans too much.
I’ve got some flies to tie, fly shops to visit, and gear to prep before Monday morning. The new website launch keeps getting bumped back by current events, and I’m surely not going to spare much time for it this weekend! Still, it is close to being ready… thanks for your patience.
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