Jackson Hole Fly Fishing Report

Current Conditions

August 12, 2026

Overall Conditions

Cool night temperatures are creating excellent morning fishing conditions. As monsoonal moisture and cooler daytime temperatures return to the valley, expect active fishing windows to expand into the afternoon and evening.

Snake River

Status: Flows are still on the high side with 5000 cfs coming out of the Jackson Lake dam. The Mid am period has been the most productive but a dynamic weather pattern will adjust this daily.

The Details: Claassenia Stoneflies are hatching in large numbers on all sections. A mix of PMD, Caddis and Terrestrials are present as well. 

Tactics: Skittering large stonefly dries at first light is key to early morning success. As the morning progresses, transition to a dry-dropper setup using a large stonefly dry with a Rubber Legs or size 12–14 beadhead nymph underneath. Female stoneflies have begun laying eggs around midday, and as water temperatures cool over the coming week, expect that midday action to pick up significantly. Keep an eye on water temps but hopefully after this weekends rain warm water will be behind us.

Green River

Status: Low Summer flows and warm water temps have limited the fishing but a few stormy days can change that.

The Details: Fish early in the day. Stonefly and Terrestrial patterns are fishing well but keep an eye out for PMD's on cloudy days.

Tactics: Depending on the section, larger Stoneflies in the faster water or small Mayfly patterns tight to overhead cover will provide plenty of action. With Warming temps focus on more turbid water. A well fished small streamer on a floating line in these low flows can produce on stormy days.

Salt River

Status: Expect active hatches of caddis, stoneflies, and mayflies, along with a solid mix of terrestrials. Water temperatures on the Salt River remain cool across most reaches, though late-summer low flows are beginning to restrict boat access in certain stretches.

The Details: Flows are getting pretty low on a few sections. With the Salt providing great fishing and cooler waters than other nearby streams please be kind to other anglers as well as the fish.  

Tactics: PMD life cycle patters have been the go to in the am hours transitioning to Terrestrial patterns. 

Flat Creek

Status: Technical, but highly rewarding fishing.

The Details: The fish have been exposed to most fly patterns at this point. changing weather will have them letting down their guard.

Tactics: Focus on well-presented PMD lifecycle patterns during the mid-morning hours, alongside crane flies and hoppers. Presentation is critical here: fishing down-and-across with a pile cast is preferred over casting upstream. If you do fish upstream, a well-executed reach cast is mandatory, as these fish will not tolerate mending.

Guide Tip for the Week

Give Big Dries a Twitch

Dead-drifting works great for mayflies, but real stoneflies and grasshoppers struggle on the surface. If a passive drift isn't getting crushed, give your rod tip a subtle wiggle just as your fly enters a prime holding lane. A micro-twitch creates tiny ripples that trigger reaction strikes from predatory trout that would otherwise pass on a static drift.

Live Flow Data

National Weather Service feed for the Jackson area