Jackson Hole Fishing Report February 23rd, 2026.

With the forecast for more consistent weather patterns and precipitation the fly fishing landscape will only improve in the coming weeks. The past few weeks have seen more of the same, dry fly midge activity on the warm overcast days. Nymph and streamer fishing continues to be a sure bet. The South Fork and Henry’s Fork have been fishing well, as is the section of the Snake below the Jackson Lake dam. The most consistent time to be on the water is still between 11:00AM and 4:00PM, and that will broaden as the days become longer. It won’t be long before the neumoras, capnias and even baetis make their appearance.

I want to give a big shoutout to all who have been attending our fly tying classes. It has been a huge success this year, with all of them filling up. I have been attending the trout spey class led by Jay Buchner and Howard Cole. The rainbow trout pictured in this report was landed using a fly that I just tied last week in that very class.

Good Looking Bow

As of mid-February, the Teton region and Snake River Headwaters are experiencing near-average snow water equivalent levels,  with some stations recording around 80% to 100% of the median, standing out as some of the best snowpack in the Western U.S. despite a dry January. Winter is definitely not over yet, and the stormfronts lined up along the western coast heading our way will surely remind us as much.

Recently Yellowstone National Park announced they will be opening sections of the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon Rivers to fishing on May 1, 2026; weeks ahead of the general opener on Memorial Day weekend. This change applies only to the waterways mentioned above, and they will close on October 31, the same date as the standard fishing season in the park. Please keep in mind that the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park is not scheduled to open until May 8, this year.

Firehole River

Flies we continue to tie on this time of the year include:

• Skittering Zelon Midge - (#18-20)

• Zebra Midge in red and black (#18-22)

• Sowbugs (tailwater fisheries) - (#18-20)

• Lite Brite Perdigon - (#16-18)

• Fire Starter Perdigon - (#16-18)

• Pat's Rubber Legs - (#12-14)

• Squishy Turd - (#12-14)

Stay warm and happy fishing!