Fly Fishing The South Fork

For the dry-fly angler, nothing in North America parallels the experiences offered by the South Fork of the Snake River. From Palisades Dam to the Henry's Fork confluence, anglers can navigate almost 66 miles of water in a pristine setting that boasts trophy-size native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, brown trout and rainbow trout.

Trout measuring to 20 inches are fairly common, and brown trout in this tail-water fishery often break the 24-inch mark. Anglers cast to deep pools, slick runs and well-oxygenated riffles along the many islands and braids.

The South Fork also presents an outstanding experience for flat water rafting, canoeing and kayaking and wildlife that inhabit this waterway provides visual pleasure for the casual floater as well as the expert ornithologist. Bald eagles and osprey are prevalent and moose are seen regularly in the river bottom.

Resort-style accommodations, restaurants, fly shops and outfitters are sprinkled along the South Fork including the quaint towns of Swan Valley, Irwin, Ririe, and Rigby. Experienced fly fishing guides, using McKenzie River drift boats, can provide an unforgettable fly fishing experience.

In the 2004, Idaho Fish and Game opened this entire waterway to year-round fishing. In conjunction, fishing tributaries (Burns Creek, Pine Creek, Rainey Creek and Palisades Creek) which are the primary spawning grounds for native cutthroat are closed until the first of July.

Plan on fishing a minimum of two or three days to allow sufficient time to float the different sections of the river because each not only presents a unique angling experience but also a splendid visual array of nature and terrain.