Jackson Hole and the South Fork region

Best Flies For Snake River

Updated Apr 24, 2026, 7:54 AM MDT

On the Snake in late April, fish subsurface first and treat dry-fly shots as bonus windows.

Current Conditions
  • Flow: Spring flows can rise quickly with weather, especially across broader valley reaches and below tributary input.
  • Water Temperature: Cold water keeps the better fish close to soft banks, depth breaks, and current shelters.
  • Weather: Clouds help. Wind can shut down surface visibility even when bugs are present.
  • Overall Rating: 5/10
Today's Read

Snake River is fishing around blue-winged olives and midges. Start with the patterns below and adjust only after fish show you something different.

Best Flies Right Now
  • Pat's Rubber Legs, size 6-10, nymph
  • TJ Hooker or large perdigon, size 14-16, nymph
  • BWO nymph, size 16-18, nymph
  • Sparkle Minnow olive or black, size 4-6, streamer
  • Parachute Adams, size 16-18, dry
What They Match
  • Blue-winged olives, size 16-20, midday on gray days
  • Midges, size 18-22, slow edges and side channels early
  • Stonefly nymph movement, size 8-12, all day subsurface
How To Fish These Flies
  • Use a boat or cover water methodically from shore, focusing on soft shelves and structure instead of random midriver drifts.
  • A stonefly lead with a smaller mayfly dropper is the cleanest all-day setup in mixed spring conditions.
  • If the water is clear and stable, mix in short streamer swings along banks and logjams to move the more aggressive fish.