Fishing Season: Year Round (Prime: June 15 - September 15)

Snake River - WY

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

60

WorldCast Anglers's Tip of the Week

The Snake is in prime fishing shape! Get out on the water! Water temperatures have cooled down and fall weather is on the way!

Directions open in app

Map of Snake River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

WorldCast Anglers
Spotted Horse Ranch

5-Day Outlook as of 9/11/24

Flows are 1,490 cfs from Jackson Lake Dam. Fall hatches of Mahoganies and BWOs should get started soon. The Snake River Flows Draw Down starts on September 21st.

Techniques & Tips as of 9/11/24

Dry Droppers, Nymphing and Streamers are going to be your go to methods. Full WorldCast Anglers Fishing Reports can be viewed at http://bit.ly/Jacksonholefishingreport

Local Species Available Year Round (Prime: June 15 - September 15)

  • Fish Icon

    Snake River Finespotted Cutthroat Trout

WorldCast Anglers's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Hairwing Western Green Drake N/A 12-14
Improved Winged K.C.'s Creature N/A 6-8
TH Duracell Jig N/A 12-14
Schroeder's Parachute Hopper N/A 10-14
Kreelex N/A 4 - 10
Pat's Rubberlegs Brown 6-12
Tunghead Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Jig N/A 14-16
Parachute Pheasant Tail N/A 14-18
Parachute Caddis Tan 12-16
Bullet Quill Black/Olive 14-18

Hairwing Western Green Drake

Rough water demands this high-floating Green Drake mayfly pattern.

WorldCast Anglers's Recommended Gear

Description: About Snake River

Welcome to Jackson, WY, home to some of the finest dry fly fishing the world. The Snake River and its tributaries are some of the last places in the world that one can find Snake River Finespotted Cutthroat Trout, one of the 14 subspecies of Cutthroat Trout. These fish won the race during the last ice age and became the dominate species in the area, leaving the rainbow behind below Shoshone Falls near Twin Falls, Idaho. The Snake River Finespotted Cutthorat Trout are the gem of the valley, a beautiful bronze color with fine spots extended from their head to tail. These trout have developed an aggressive nature that is needed to cope with the harsh conditions they experience. Winters are often long and cold, spring run-off is big and powerful and summer is often hot and dry. Thus, the Snake River Finespotted Cutthroat is a superb dry-fly eating machine. Spring run-off usually subsides in late June and the Snake usually begins to clear and fish well by the first weeks of July. These dates are not set in stone, high water years and drought can affect the runoff process from year to year. It is wise to check with our store or monitor flows of our local streams utilizing www.usgs.gov, choose Wyoming and local for the Snake River flows. The Snake is a big river that demands respect and careful wading. 9ft 5wt and 6wt rods are necessary to fish the Snake and other big water effectively. WF lines and 9ft 3x and 4x leaders are staple. Pre-runoff, anglers can find midges, Blue wing olives, Rthrogenias (March Browns), skwalla stoneflies, Capnia Stoneflies, as well as a multitude of caddis. Stoneflies start popping after run-off, with the water clearing and lack of fishing pressure, fishing can be quite fantastic. Salmonflies and golden stoneflies create quite a ruckus as fish gorge themselves on big buoyant dry flies. Pale Morning Dunes, Yellow Sallies, and Grey Drakes start hatching around the mid July. Hoppers and Terrestrials start to become important in July lasting into the dog days of summer and early fall. Hopper/Dropper combinations are very effective for covering two areas of the water column at one time. Fall time marks the beginning of Mahogany mayflies, Hecuba drakes, and the streamer season with elk bugling, aspens golden and the summer crowds gone. Thus, the cycle begins again.

Nearest Airport:

Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)

Hatches:

With flows and clarity stable, anglers are seeing Golden Stones, Hoppers, and the start of Hecubas, Mahoganies and BWOs too.

Best Time to Fish:

All day - watch your water temperatures in the afternoon

Best Stretch:

Jackson Lake Dam, Pacific Creek, Deadman's Bar, Moose, Wilson, South Park, Astoria, Elbow, West Table.

Best Access:

Jackson Lake Dam, Pacific Creek, Deadman's Bar, Moose, Wilson, South Park, Astoria, Elbow, West Table.