Headed to Jackson (Alpine)

**Donkey Punch** · 08-18-2009, 11:01 PM

Well tomorrow after work the wife and I are headed up to her parents house in Alpine till next Wednesday, so I can do a bunch of work on their house for them. But I will be getting out every evening and should be able to get away for a day if anyone is interested in doing some fishing. In the evenings I will just be hitting up the rivers, streams, and maybe Palisades, but for a day trip I would be up for heading any where within a couple hours. If anyone is interested drop me a PM and I will get back to you.

**schwerty** · 08-19-2009, 03:23 PM

Sent you a pm. I might be able to get out for a day???

**mr. motorcoach** · 08-20-2009, 04:30 PM

PM sent. Schwerty, have you been on the So. Fork recently?

**neckdeep** · 08-22-2009, 10:25 AM

FYI, the reservoir tribs are seeing the biggest kokanee run observed in a loooooong time. 2-4lb fish in the run(4lbs is quite big for a koke) plus egg eating trout below the redds. My brother and his buddies have a few in the fridge and smoker and, according to them, its been going on awhile but there are fresh fish entering the creeks. Most people are focused on the meat, but my brother was messing around with a mask and snorkle and reported seeing nice cutts stationed downstream of the spawners.

**schwerty** · 08-23-2009, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by neckdeep

FYI, the reservoir tribs are seeing the biggest kokanee run observed in a loooooong time. 2-4lb fish in the run(4lbs is quite big for a koke) plus egg eating trout below the redds. My brother and his buddies have a few in the fridge and smoker and, according to them, its been going on awhile but there are fresh fish entering the creeks. Most people are focused on the meat, but my brother was messing around with a mask and snorkle and reported seeing nice cutts stationed downstream of the spawners.

Been toying with going down there or heading north today. Tough choice. It'll be a good one anywhere around here today. DP- if you check this, give a ring if you wanna come along.

**neckdeep** · 08-23-2009, 11:11 AM

Personally, I'd like to check out this koke run but I don't have time. The fish fight well at the 3-4lb weight class, and the males are still tasty if they are fresh (according to my meathound sibling). The state record koke is 6lbs, I think. So, proportionally speaking, 4lb kokes are like catching 12lb trout. Hens should be released to spawn and their meat is totally flabby anyway. He said an egg sucking leech worked to provoke kokanee takes. Alas, I got transfered to staff the lodge's flyshop in Last Chance at the Harriman State park. So I'm heading back up to live there for the remainder of the season and will miss the run.

**mr. motorcoach** · 08-23-2009, 12:32 PM

Anyone willing to share some locations for the koke's, or are all the tribs of equal quality?

Big tribs (salt and grey's) or the smaller tribs? P.m. me if you dont feel like sharing with the whole web.

Thanks guys, I would really like to check this out.

D.P. and I fished Huskey's to Spring Creek bridge yesterday afternoon. Some hookups, small fish and whitey's, but overall very little success. Strange, as I floated that stretch on the 17th and 18th and it was fishing really well with big attractors and PMD comparadun trailers.

I heard their oarsman was responsible for the failure.

He even forgot to put the plugs in the boat before putting in.

**schwerty** · 08-24-2009, 10:02 AM

Not a bad transfer Neckdeep! I will be up for a visit or 2 this fall.

MMC- the south fork as you know is a very swift river. Therefore, being on top of the rowing game is crucial. This is no secret but the slower you go the more time your fly will Spend in fishy water. August can be hit or miss on the sf. This year, early august was great but it has slowed a little since. Day to day out there. Not that the Snake needs to get more crowded than it is but try some of the stretches up here. The Park is fishing well as are the lower stretches. When, (?????), the flows are lowered, the whitewater stretch will come alive...good now but even better in the fall.

I generally give the SF a rest for august unless I'm doing an overnighter in the canyon. The crowds will thin out later in the season and the blue wings and mahoganys will be excellent. The fall streamer bite can be one of the best around too.

**mr. motorcoach** · 08-24-2009, 11:25 AM

Thanks Schwerty - I think I'll float Pritchard's to Elbow after work today. Ive been disappointed in the size of the fish on that stretch, but I have heard that it has improved a fair amount in the last couple weeks as more and more big guys leave the tribs. ...or perhaps another overnighter in the canyon of the So. Fo. always a nice trip.

**schwerty** · 08-24-2009, 11:59 AM

MMC - do not do the float you PM'd me about tonight!

Pritchard to elbow does hold a lot of small fish. If you dredge or tug bunny fur well, you'll find some impressive fish. If you have time, float to west table. The best water on that stretch is from elbow to west table. I'd even lap it if I were you and had time.

**SaCack** · 08-24-2009, 04:23 PM

Small change in dates guys...we are headed up on Sunday instead. Again, gates open at 8am racing starts at 9am. Im shooting to be there around 9-ish

**schwerty** · 08-25-2009, 09:46 AM

WTF. ??? Am I missing something here? ^^^^^^

**mr. motorcoach** · 08-25-2009, 03:09 PM

Yeah, weird.

Anyway, I floated Pritchards to Elbow this morning. First time fly fisher was fishing and had some fun. Any obstacles from Elbow to West Table that I should be aware of? I've got a skiff, so I may need to skirt bigger wave trains. Speaking of the skiff, I met a guide this morning who lives over in Victor - he was excited to explore the Salt with my boat, as he's got a 16LP or something. If you'd like to be the third, I'll let you know when we make plans to do it.

Also, walked up Big Elk to check out the scene. Pretty busy - and I suspect most were snagging the salmon.

**schwerty** · 08-26-2009, 10:54 AM

A guide that hasn't explored the Salt? I'll join you if I can. Check your pm box. I pm'd you info on that river.

There is only one area from elbow to west table you need to watch out for. Shortly after the elbow ramp you will come to a large riffle flowing river right. The flows meet a swift side channel where there is a deep drop off and a few rocks creating some waves. This section is easily run by your average oarsman. If it looks daunting, there is an opportunity to pull off before entering. You might even be able to skirt around the mess by staying river left. Pulling the boat through the shallows might be in order??? Either way, the Snake down there is self explanatory. Sounds like you row enough to be fine. There are some other areas of slightly turbulent water but nothing to ne concerned about.

**Donkey Punch** · 08-26-2009, 10:35 PM

Well I just got home from seven days of fishing and remodeling bathrooms and closets. Caught a decent number of fish thanks to some tips on areas, and patterns to start with. And even though I couldn't hook up with a fish to save my life while floating with MMC it was still a great afternoon, and really needed after the stress of working for the in-laws. After the little incident with the plugs he put us right where the fish either should have been or where, but nothing we did seemed to make much of a difference. Next time I make it up there I will definitely be looking into bring up my buddies skiff to float the Salt if no one up there can make it, it seems like it has some potential but mainly from a boat. Thanks again for all the tips, and ideas, as well as the afternoon away from the real world,