The trout season on the South Fork opens Memorial Day and usually starts fishing well by mid-June with the start of the salmonfly, Golden stonefly, and early-season Caddis hatches. Early summer flows usually range from 1600 – 3000 cfs, a good range for floating in drift boats and rafts, but a difficult range for wading. Flows typically remain high until mid- to late-summer depending upon snowpack and downstream irrigation needs.

Mid-summer usually bring lower flows (~ 600 cfs), excellent wade fishing, and the South Fork’s unique midday Pink Albert hatch, followed by evening flav and caddis hatches. Late-summer and fall fishing finds the river at 300 cfs where it stays until spring. Early fall fishing focuses on hoppers, ants, beetles, and large crane flies, while cooler fall weather reduces fishing pressure on the river and brings out the Blue-wing olive hatches on cloudy days. Trout season closes at the end of November. Winter fishing regulations focus on whitefish with catch-and-release fishing for trout using midges and winter stonefly nymphs. The river closes to all fishing at the end of March to protect the wild trout during their spawning season.