South Fork
SOUTH FORK
ReportThe river is in prime early autumn condition. Water coming out of Palisades Reservoir (about 10% full) remains clear and cold and will continue to drop. Minor turbidity remains in water just below the dam.
Flow in the river has decreased enough to offer numerous wading locations, and trout are moving toward cut and vegetated banks. We at Fly Fish Food Jimmy's can recommend some of the best wading locations.
Terrestrial insects remain the main top-water food source, with the best mayfly hatches — BWOs, mahogany duns, pink alberts — during unsettled weather. Caddis hatches take over top-water fishing as evening approaches. During low-light conditions, stripped streamer patterns also interest trout.
Boat traffic on the river is decreasing, and because of low flow rates, float trips take longer for any distance compared to the same during summer. Flow varies around 4,000 cfs at Irwin, about 4,700 cfs at Heise, and about 1,800 cfs at Lorenzo.
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrials (Ants, Hoppers) | #10–16 | All day along cut and vegetated banks | Midday–Afternoon |
| Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) | #20–22 | Best during overcast or unsettled weather | Midday |
| Mahogany Dun | #14–16 | Sporadic; peaks with unsettled conditions | Afternoon |
| Pink Albert (Mayfly) | #14–16 | Sporadic; unsettled weather triggers best activity | Afternoon |
| Caddis | #18–20 | Evening top-water takeover | Evening |
| Streamers (Baitfish/Sculpin) | #6 | Stripped near banks in low light | Dawn & Dusk |
- MIDDAY–AFTERNOON: Work terrestrials and, during any cloud cover, BWO and mahogany dun dries tight to cut and vegetated banks
- EVENING: Switch to caddis dry flies as the hatch takes over the top-water bite in the last hours of light
- DAWN & DUSK (LOW LIGHT): Strip sculpin and minnow streamer patterns along deeper cut banks for aggressive trout
