Forecast Location
Daily River Forecast
Henry's Fork
Last Chance to Ashton, Idaho
Updated for May 1, 2026
Top Summary
Keep the first part of the day tight and technical with midges and baetis, then look for better afternoon surface feeding if the light stays soft. On the Henry's Fork, small bugs and drag-free presentations beat bigger attractors almost every time.
Current Conditions
- Flow: Tailwater influence keeps some reaches stable, but different sections of the Fork fish very differently on the same day.
- Water Temperature: Spring temperatures usually build slow, which puts the most consistent feeding window from late morning into the afternoon.
- Weather: Flat light and cloud cover make the best BWO days. Bright sun narrows the surface window.
- Overall Rating: 7/10
What's Happening Right Now
Henry's Fork trout feed in classic technical-water fashion this time of year: steady but selective when the bugs are there, cautious when they are not. Fish hold in slow seams, springy edges, and shallow flats where emergers drift naturally. If you rush the presentation or land too close, you will put them down fast, especially in the Railroad Ranch-style water.
What's Hatching
- Blue-winged olives, size 18-20, midday through afternoon
- Midges, size 20-24, morning and calm periods
- Caddis prep and pupa activity, size 14-16, late afternoon in lower reaches
Best Flies To Use
- CDC BWO Emerger, size 18-20, emerger
- RS2 gray, size 20-22, emerger
- Zebra Midge, size 20-22, nymph
- Pheasant Tail thin, size 18-20, nymph
- BWO Sparkle Dun, size 18-20, dry
- Griffith's Gnat, size 20-24, dry
How To Fish It
- Match the section to the day. Lower, more technical water rewards stealth; faster ranch and canyon water can tolerate a little more movement.
- Fish small nymphs or emergers under a dry in soft seams before you commit to a pure dry-fly setup.
- Once heads show, lengthen the leader, pick one fish, and avoid false casts over the lane.
More On This River
Related Rivers
About The Henry's Fork
Henry's Fork is one of the best-known dry-fly rivers in the West, with famous technical water from Last Chance down through the Ranch and beyond. The river blends spring-creek precision with freestone and tailwater characteristics depending on the section.
Rainbow trout are the headline species, with strong bug life built around midges, baetis, caddis, and larger summer hatches. Even when fish are feeding well, presentation discipline is part of the price of admission.
Footer