Henry's Fork in Mid/end June 2023 Thread

[teleee]

Uhhh....we got a lot of snowpack. HF basin is 10% ahead of average SWE. Early June, that usually means high, off color water on the Henry's and full on runoff everywhere else. Which means almost every guided trip in a 100 miles radius is trying to float the lower Henry's.

Or the South Fork


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[neckdeep]

Early June with high water, I'd guess there are probably 20 anglers on the Henry's for every 1 who is willing to fish the SF above 15000cfs.

Fortunately for me, that's prime morel season so I can say to hell with that bullshit.

[teleee]

Early June with high water, I'd guess there are probably 20 anglers on the Henry's for every 1 who is willing to fish the SF above 15000cfs.

Fortunately for me, that's prime morel season so I can say to hell with that bullshit.

Probably true but it sure feels like every swinging dick with a guide boat is on the Southy during high water- probably me just yelling get off my lawn.


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[neckdeep]

Probably true but it sure feels like every swinging dick with a guide boat is on the Southy during high water- probably me just yelling get off my lawn.


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Been 3 years since the SF had high water! Runoff peaked at 12000cfs last year, very fishable. This year, maybe a 17000-20000cfs peak, imho

[teleee]

Been 3 years since the SF had high water! Runoff peaked at 12000cfs last year, very fishable.

Yep, very aware since I’m on it every day from May 1st on
If they manage Palisades well they can keep the flows below 20k - when it get over that shit gets a little spooky


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[east or bust]

Henry's Fork in Mid/end June 2023 Thread

Re: the HF

My plan is to be there for the first couple days after opening day (believe it's 6/15), its usually a family outing with my dad and brother. They might stay a bit longer but I can't take more than a few days off.

Maybe its just how I grew up, but the last couple years of opening weekend haven't been shit compared to the combat fishing on the Delaware back east. It seems like people at least have some manors here.

High snowmelt year could be interesting, and I've already laid that out there to the fam, but they're still coming. Like most epic dry fly fishing a lot of shit has to line up just right. The beauty up there is that even when it doesn't it's still pretty good.

Two years ago the hatch was on, but the fucking seagulls were eating more bugs off the water than the fish. Couple that with them jacking the flow up and down and it killed what could have been a truly epic time. Last year the hatch wasn't great, but the seagulls were not nearly as bad and the crowds were virtually non-existent. Had pretty much free reign every night to go wherever we wanted.

Bank sipper

[schindlerpiste]

I'm using reports from Rob Van Kirk to keep informed about flows: robAThenrysforkDOTorg. The report seems legit and knowledgeable. " water-year precipitation stayed at 112% of average and SWE Snow water equiv.) at 109% of the average annual peak.

Here is an example of a recent report:
Headlines

After a cold dry day, water-year precipitation stayed at 112% of average and SWE at 109% of the average annual peak.
Precipitation over the next seven days is expected to reach 4 inches of water equivalent in the northeast corner of the watershed.
Natural streamflow is 69% of average in the upper Henry’s Fork and 57% of average in the Teton River.
At an outflow of 251 cfs, Island Park Reservoir is 86% full, compared with 83% full on average.
Details

Mean temperature yesterday was 9 degrees F below average. With only three days left in the month, March 2023 will end up as the coldest March in the 1989-2023 record. Mean temperature so far this month is almost 8 degrees below average. Water-year precipitation to date stayed at 112% of average. Precipitation for the month of March so far is 149% of average, and 4th highest in the 1989-2023 record. Precipitation over the next three days may push us up to 3rd place, behind 1995 and 1989.

Snow water equivalent (SWE) dropped to 118% of average for the date but stayed at 109% of the average seasonal peak. Heavy precipitation and cold temperatures are expected for the next week, continuing SWE accumulation at least through that time period. Most of the watershed will receive at least 1 inch of water equivalent, with up to 4 inches in the northeast corner of the watershed. If those amounts materialize, SWE will increase to around 115% of the average annual peak by this time next week and rank in the top 10 of years since 1989.

Beyond next week, long-range outlooks continue to place high probability on below-average temperatures and give modest odds for above-average precipitation.

Natural streamflow in the upper Henry’s Fork is 69% of average, as snowmelt usually contributes to increased flows by late March but has not yet done so this year. Likewise, the Teton River usually experiences an increase in flow in late March due to melt of low-elevation snow in Teton Valley. That has not yet happened, leaving streamflow in the Teton River at less than 60% of average. These low natural flow figures reflect a combination of very low baseflows inherited from the drought that began in July 2020 and delayed melt due to very cold temperatures so far this spring. Current snowpack is far enough above average to offset low baseflows, and I expect April-September natural streamflow to be a little above average watershed-wide.

At an outflow of 251 cfs, Island Park Reservoir is 86% full, compared with 83% full on average. The reservoir is on track to reach the target of 126,000 ac-ft (93% full) by the average ice-off date of April 28.

Graphics

Watershed SWE
Teton River above Crosscut Canal
Island Park Reservoir inflow/outflow: 15-minute data
Island Park volume: 15-minute data
Island Park Reservoir volume: water year
Streamflow through Box Canyon

I am still planning on being on the river in early June.

[neckdeep]

https://www.henrysforkanglers.com/fishing-info/blog/lets-talk-about-the-ranch

https://www.trouthunt.com/blog/view/11652

[schwerty]

I was askin if this was happening mainly because of the snowpack. I also have to plan.

There will be something to fish…somewhere.agree with ND tho…every guide boat around will be on the fishable sections.

[neckdeep]

We're probably going to hit 12% seasonal average by the end of the week. It's going to be a high water year. Even good old reliables like the Firehole and Warm rivers will be high and off color.

[schwerty]

But the soft hackle or other similar techniques could be good until august over there.
Quite honestly, I don’t care about catchin’ if there are folks here gathering for laughs, party favors and good grub.
I might suggest it be pushed ahead 2-14 days or pulled back a month-ish. But again, if fun and laughing can be had we can get over poor catching.


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[neckdeep]

But the soft hackle or other similar techniques could be good until august over there.

For sure. Lots of fish will be pressed up against the banks looking for nymphs and worms. If high sticking nymphs in the shallows at point blank range is your thing, theres plenty of fish to be caught at one's boot tips. All you need is about 1 foot visibility to catch fish on the bottom.

There's options but early june high water gives you about the most limited set of options of the season and you're one heavy rainstorm away from flood stage, like what happened last june.

[neckdeep]

Another big dump for the Henry's basin. Its going to take a flash flooding event in May to clear this much snowpack by early June. Rivers, even the tailwaters, could be fishing between poor to unfishable.

Bring your lake gear and a boat. And a big net. Henry's Lake still has monster fish.

Last fall, record hybrid.

[neckdeep]

Runoff is finally coming down. No more storage space in the lakes. Lower river is blown out and will be unfishable for now. Appx. 70% of snowpack remains.

[tgapp]

Runoff is finally coming down. No more storage space in the lakes. Lower river is blown out and will be unfishable for now. Appx. 70% of snowpack remains.

That's what's happening here too in Utah. Damn. I was really hoping to get on the Henry's Fork this June. Unrelated question - what non-blown out rivers should I look at exploring this summer?

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