The South Fork of the Snake River begins at Palisades Dam near Irwin, Idaho, and flows northwest 66 miles to its confluence with the Henry’s Fork near the Menan Buttes. (Courtesy of Henry’s Fork Foundation photo)
March 02, 2026
By John Sadusky
This article was originally titled “Guardians of the South Fork” in the February-March 2026 issue of Fly Fisherman.
Standing at the edge of a riffle in Section One, a few miles below Palisades Dam, is my good friend Ron Miller. His eyes are locked on a large rising trout, feasting on hatching Pale Morning Duns in the beautiful afternoon sunlight. If I told him his hair was on fire, he wouldn’t hear a word I said—he is that focused. He makes a precise cast and gets a good drift above the feeding fish, only to have it ignored. Continuing to study what precisely it’s feeding on, he decides on a different bug.
“I need to go a size smaller and a different color,” he says, not talking to anyone but himself.
Watching the drama unfold and sitting across from me in the anchored drift boat is another good friend and a local legend, Kenly Bitton. “Bitty,” as he is known around these parts, is a retired guide and probably knows this water better than most people. Just downriver from here is a channel that bears his family name. Ron continues to talk to himself. Bitty eyes him carefully from under his Stetson cowboy hat. I watch them both with great interest.
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Now, furiously digging in his boat bag, Ron shuffles through his many boxes of flies—there are so many boxes. I’ve seen this movie before, and I am aware that somewhere in this madness, there lies a method. Finally, after finding the fly he is after, he quickly changes it, applies some floatant, and then steps back to the edge of the riffle. His next cast drops the bug in the zone, garnering the attention of the feeding fish. It quickly rises and carefully inspects the fly but then, sensing there is something wrong, refuses it and disappears back to the bottom. A frown forms on Ron’s face.
“Color is not quite right . . . but I think I know which one.”
He returns to the boat with determination, ties on a different fly, and in a flash is back at the edge with another accurate cast. This time, however, the reaction is different as the fish is presented with something it simply can’t refuse—the imitation of a bug too close to the real deal. The trout comes to the surface, inspects the fly, and then casually sips it. Ron sets the hook and the battle is on.
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With 5X tippet in the strong current, he will have to be very cautious if he wants to land this fish. But the behemoth cuts him a break when it decides to stay in the soft water, and soon it finds itself in the bag of Ron’s waiting net. It’s a gorgeous Yellowstone cutthroat, made extra beautiful by the bright afternoon sun in the crystal-clear water. The painted slash under its gill plates is brilliant orange. The black spots on its greenish-bronze body are majestic.
Ron releases the fish and sets his 4-weight rod down on the bow of the boat. He gazes out at the river where he just fooled the fish and then looks our way. “This is what this place is all about. I want my grandkids to be able to have this same experience. We gotta find a way to preserve this.”
Words Into Action The South Fork supports one of the last large-river populations of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in its native range. Here, South Fork Lodge guide Henri Peet shows off a fine specimen. (Major Shulse photo) Ron Miller—and several other like-minded individuals and outfitters in the area—have turned their words into action. They formed the South Fork Initiative (SFI), an organization fiercely committed to the preservation of the South Fork of the Snake River. And for the last several years, they have done just that. They’re achieving their goals by collaborating with other private and government groups to develop pragmatic solutions, rooted in science, that will help to ensure a healthy future for the waterway, for its natural beauty, and for the local community. Working together, they are the guardians of the South Fork.
The South Fork of the Snake River begins at Palisades Dam near Irwin, Idaho, and flows northwest 66 miles to its confluence with the Henry’s Fork near the Menan Buttes. For the first 9 miles, the river remains relatively narrow before eventually widening to weave its way around a maze of islands on its journey downstream. The popular Conant Boat Ramp, just outside of Swan Valley on Highway 26, marks the entrance to a spectacular canyon section of the river, where deep basalt walls tower overhead for several miles before gradually flattening near Heise Hot Springs. It is there that the canyons are replaced by a level, very dynamic floodplain.
Fishing in the South Fork is excellent. A premier blue ribbon trout water, it supports one of the last large-river populations of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in its native range. Wild brown and rainbow trout also make this their home, along with mountain whitefish, numerous species of minnows, suckers, and sculpins.
It’s a diverse fishery within a diverse, wild ecosystem. Moose and river otters frequently roam its banks as they share the area with a vast array of wildlife, including mountain lions, elk, mountain goats, black bears, mule deer, bobcats, coyotes, beavers, foxes, and mink. The scenery here is breathtaking. It’s a magnificent display of mountains, canyons, and farmlands, and it’s home to the largest gallery of riparian cottonwoods in the West. Indeed, a more enchanted place would be difficult to imagine.
The Henry’s Fork and the South Fork sections of the river are interconnected. Water management and fishing conditions on one river can impact the other. In 1984, with a desire to preserve the integrity of the watershed, the Henry’s Fork Foundation (HFF) was formed. The objective of this new organization was to employ a science-based, collaborative approach that would produce favorable stream flows, good water quality, healthy fish populations, and a positive fishing experience. Their plan has seen great success.
Working with partners, HFF has improved winter and summer flows, water conservation, and fish populations and measurably reduced the negative effects of drought and changing climate through improving the health of the fishery and fishing conditions.
Hoping to replicate and build on the HFF’s success , a visionary group of South Fork outfitters, anglers, and citizens proposed to bring the same model of conservation to the South Fork. Issues of concern were water supply protection, increased river use, impacts of development, and the lack of communication with stakeholders in future planning. In 2018, the Henry’s Fork Foundation’s Board of Directors approved the development of the new program, and the South Fork Initiative was born. Its mission: “To conserve, protect, and restore the unique fisheries, wildlife, and aesthetic qualities of the South Fork Snake River and its watershed for all individuals and their future generations.”
SFI is supported exclusively through donations and grants and, since its inception, has gone to work on several major projects in the area, including annual macroinvertebrate sampling, real-time water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, access improvement, decreased solar loading (to reduce thermal stress due to direct solar radiation), and expanded outreach, which has provided educational programs for all at local schools. The results have been tangible. Several miles of once-dormant tributaries have since been improved and are now producing fish. These same tributaries are now lined with newly planted trees to keep the water shaded and cold.
“The water used in this river is a resource used throughout the state, all the way down to the big potato growing areas of Twin Falls and Burley,” says Shane Flemming, an active SFI member, lifelong resident, and local entrepreneur. “The big dairy farmers rely on this water, so keeping this resource healthy is not just about recreation, it’s about the livelihood of the state of Idaho as well.”
Rolling Up Sleeves SFI has installed three in-river monitoring devices called sondes to collect information on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, conductivity, and phytoplankton biomass. The data will inform agencies how best to manage the river to benefit fish health.? (Courtesy of Henry’s Fork Foundation photo) Not wasting any time, SFI went to work on an ambitious list of projects, beginning with habitat restoration. The first one, the restoration of Third Creek, came in November 2018 and with collaboration and support from the Idaho Department of Fish & Game. A tributary of the South Fork via Rainey Creek, Third Creek had great spawning and rearing habitat potential for wild and native trout. But an undersized culvert and historically poor land use practices had caused it to become too wide, too warm, and too full of sediment.
Fish sampling showed no trout present. To remedy this, a larger culvert was installed, and the creek was narrowed to increase flows along with the creation of riffles, runs, and pools. Large woody debris was placed to stabilize the banks, and willow trees planted to block the sun. The payoff came early. In just one year, Third Creek fish sampling showed 51 live trout, including 31 Yellowstone cutthroats.
The following year, SFI began the long-term process of establishing baseline data to monitor the health of the watershed. Monitoring aquatic insect numbers is widely recognized as an effective tool to make this determination. In February 2019, with science and technology help from the Henry’s Fork Foundation, SFI began annual monitoring of aquatic macroinvertebrates, sampling sites in the Upper South Fork, the South Fork Canyon, and the Lower South Fork.
Why monitor macroinvertebrates? “Aquatic insects are the workhorses of the aquatic ecosystem,” explains Miller, an SFI board member and longtime area resident. “They convert plants and algae into trout food, and without them, the trout doesn’t eat and grow. Healthy populations of insects are an indication of water quality and the overall health of the river. Luckily, the South Fork has high densities of insects. Monitoring them now and into the future will give us an indication of changing conditions and what environmental impacts might be driving these changes.”
Like most free-flowing river systems, the South Fork gets more productive as it moves farther away from its headwaters at the Palisades Dam. Downriver current velocities decrease, water temperatures increase, and the nutrients in the system become more abundant and begin to aid in overall primary productivity, therefore increasing the densities of macroinvertebrates that benefit from the enriched environment. Midges, worms, and others will naturally increase with greater distance downstream.
In addition to monitoring insects, SFI began to monitor water quality by using in-river monitoring devices called sondes (rugged underwater computers that measure and record data) to collect information on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, conductivity, and an index of phytoplankton biomass in real time. The SFI science team installed the first of three sondes in May 2019, and there are currently water quality monitoring sondes located in the upper, middle, and lower sections of the South Fork. The data collected will be used to assess water quality factors relevant for fish, and hopefully aid in understanding how best to manage the river to benefit fish health, not only on the Snake, but across eastern Idaho as well. Learn more on HFF’s website at henrysfork.org.
Perhaps the most ambitious SFI project has been the ongoing restoration of Rainey Creek. One of the largest tributaries of the South Fork, the creek was badly needed to provide critical spawning habitat. Unfortunately, it was also the least productive tributary. Recognizing this as a major concern, SFI teamed up with state and federal agencies, other organizations, and landowners to restore lower Rainey Creek. The project began in January 2021, with the collaborative group implementing “Bridge-to-Bridge” Phases 1 and 2 and has since restored 2,753 feet of stream channel, increasing water velocity, habitat complexity, and stream cover.
Volunteers from the community planted approximately 400 trees along the restored reach, with help from Madison High School students and Trout Unlimited (TU) members. Their work has helped to decrease solar loading, improve bank stability, and provide cover for many aquatic species. The effort has already seen tremendous results, and plans are currently in the works to restore the entire lower 5 miles of Rainey Creek in the span of 10 years. Partnering with SFI on this large undertaking have been the Idaho Department of Fish & Game, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, TU’s local Snake River Cutthroats chapter, and local landowners.
In addition to the major project on Rainey Creek, an extra 0.35 mile was restored at the U.S. Forest Service workstation in 2021. Unprotected from roaming livestock, this section of creek needed fencing. SFI helped to secure funds for the project, and coordinated volunteer efforts. Two years later, with the help of partners and volunteers, the restored reach was revegetated with approximately 300 mixed trees and shrubs.
Public Education To learn more about the South Fork Initiative or to get involved, scan the code or visit: South Fork Initiative (Grant Sadusky photo) From day one, keeping supporters and the local community both informed and involved has been an important priority for SFI. This has been accomplished through its education and outreach programs, which have successfully enlisted the participation of community volunteers, local schools, and the Future Farmers of America to help accomplish its goals.
Devan Ence, South Fork Initiative coordinator, is well aware of the importance of these programs. “Education and community outreach are at the heart of conservation. Locals have firsthand knowledge you just can’t replicate, and teaching young people is how we make sure the next generation is ready to care for and protect these resources.”
SFI hosts community outreach events to share information about ongoing projects and programs to conserve the South Fork. HFF and Idaho Department of Fish & Game staff attend these events and operate information stations on various topics, from aquatic insect monitoring to Yellowstone cutthroat conservation.
Providing Hope for the Future Turning words into action, that’s what SFI has done. Their members do the quiet, many times thankless, heavy lifting behind the scenes for the benefit of the river’s inhabitants and all those who enjoy fishing and recreation on the South Fork. Their accomplishments today will likely be felt for generations to come. They are providing hope for the future of the watershed.
“We can make a lasting impact . . . many of us feel the same way,” says Shane Flemming.
Like many of our natural wonders, the South Fork of the Snake River is facing difficult challenges right now. Pollution, overuse, fish hybridization, and a warming climate are just some of the threats that are not likely to go away anytime soon. SFI and its partners are rising to meet these challenges. They continue to accomplish vital work and provide a shining example of just what can happen when determined people organize to effect change. The many talented and dedicated staff of this operation—too many to mention here—all deserve credit, along with SFI’s supporters and volunteers, for their part in protecting this one-of-a-kind river. Thanks to them, the future for the South Fork is looking bright.
Ron Miller shares one final, heartfelt thought: “Whether you are rich or poor, your main concern in life is your children and grandchildren, and what the future will bring for them.”
He’s right. And now the future just may hold a cutt or two on a nice riffle for his grandkids.
(Grant Sadusky photo) Author John Sadusky lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Swan Valley, Idaho. In this photo, his son Grant Sadusky, a South Fork fly-fishing guide, holds a taimen from a recent trip to Mongolia.
