Synopsis

Things are taking a dramatic turn on area rivers, as the seemingly endless array of “easy” fishing opportunities becomes more and more limited. This is not to say the fishing is bad, it’s just different. The bugs are smaller, the fishing windows are smaller, and fine tuned skills will come into play as well as the brain game. Expect to see fish rising at low light levels and be prepared to be challenged by what the fish are going to take. Have plenty of spinner patterns, small terrestrials, cripple patterns, and emergent patterns. There is still opportunity to fish big flies in the afternoon, just fish Hoppers and Stimulators in the pockets and seams around the heaviest water.

Silver Creek

Tricos are still the main attraction on the Creek these days, and should remain so for the next month. The variables are air temperatures and wind. Most mornings are perfect, but do plan on the occasional blow on some days. There have also been some very cool nights in the South Valley, dictating a late start in the morning. For those early risers, Trico Duns that didn’t emerge before the dawn, are often found in enough numbers to get fish eating them. This can be a good time to find big fish snacking away in the wide open. When the later Trico Spinner Fall begins to wane, the Baetis, Pale Morning Dunn and Callibaetis will often times show up for an hour or so.

Afternoon’s are Hopper and Damsel Fly time. Find long quiet stretches to fish, and work up or downstream, keeping the fly pinned to the bank. Fish these flies on 3X or heavier tippets.

The evenings are a nice time to be on the Creek. The “Magic Hour” is epitomized here. Have the same bugs with you that you fished in the morning.

Big Wood River

The Wood has dropped dramatically from its flows just a few weeks ago. With the dropping water will come fish movement. Afternoon shade or deep water will be sought after by the fish. Fish deep when it’s hot, or fish under overhanging branches and near fast water.

In the morning and evening fish very close to the bank as fish will move to feeding areas. At low light and with bugs on the water, fish will sit in very shallow water, when the sun gets high and the insect activity slows fish will retreat to deeper or covered holding water.

Expect to see Trico in the mornings, with occurrences of random Mayfly spinners in the morning and evening. Keep the flies you fish on Silver Creek with you, and don’t go to the river without Rusty Spinners, Ants, and Sparkle Duns. Fish Hoppers in the afternoons and it’s al about Caddis when the sun hits the horizon.

Upper Lost and Copper Basin

Fun fishing, but the timing of it seems to fluctuate by the day. There are still good numbers of bugs up top, and finding rising fish is the norm. Fish all day if you go, as the spinner falls seem to come and go at random intervals. The wind certainly matters as well. The calmer it stays, the more surface activity you will find. If the fish are rising, Caddis and small Mayfly imitations will take fish. If nothing is rising, search the water with medium sized Royal Trudes, Parachute Adams, or your favorite size 16 – 14 Attractor Pattern.

Big Lost River

The Lost continues to drop slowly. There is still some time to wait before this gem begins to produce a late season fishing boon, but we are not to far out. Continue to watch the CFS here as this will be a wonderful addition as the other area fisheries become tougher with the summer heat and lower flows.

South Fork of the Boise

The South Fork is coming back down to earth after a terrific early season. With the waning of the big bugs, expect to see the Pink Albert and the Grasshopper to become the main food source for these fish. The river is still at a boaters flow with some limited wading opportunities for individuals or groups of two. Finding room for more than that in an area can be make for lots of walking.

Little Wood River

For a pleasant fishing experience, check out the water above the reservoir. At times the Little Wood can represent the kind of river John Gierach was talking about in this weeks quote. If you go, take general Attractor patterns and a good friend.

Synopsis

There is change happening on all our rivers as the flows drop, the insects become smaller and, and the fish begin to wise up. There is still plenty of opportunity to catch fish with attractors and cover water looking for greedy trout, but more and more in the coming two weeks, be prepared to find fish locked onto a food source and eating less opportunistically. This means having the right flies and tippets in order to match what the river is doling out.

Silver Creek

The Creek is in full morning mode right now and although busy with anglers the fishing remains very good. Trico Spinners get the fish rolling in the morning and the Baetis, Pale Morning Dun, and Callibaetis all join in and really put the fish into frenzy mode. This doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, but a well presented fly on 5X or 6X is going to get some attention. If you are new to fishing the Creek, don’t forget when fishing these tiny flies, that when you get a strike on the surface, we don’t “set the hook.” We do what is commonly called the “Silver Creek Lift.” Meaning – when a fish takes your fly, just gently lift the rod until the line comes tight! A quick hook set will pull the fly upstream and out of a fishes mouth. The gentle lift will bury the hook in their lip after they have had a split second to really get a hold of the fly. Don’t worry about the fish spitting the hook, as most the flies are so small , it will take them a moment to notice what is happening.

The fishing has been happening from 7:30 to about 11:30 a.m. on a really good morning, but it is all temperature related. It could start later, and finish early, it could last past noon. In any case, eat a hardy breakfast, fish hard and then enjoy yourself. In the afternoons look for Callibaetis in the slow water areas, and Damsel Fly action near weed beds. In the evening the rise can be a bit more tricky, but with few anglers, gorgeous scenery and a handful of the morning bugs you were casting, the evenings are very worthwhile.

Big Wood River

The Wood is dropping into summer flows and smaller bugs are becoming more important. A good selection of Rusty Spinners in the fly box, as we move toward August is important. Caddis are very important in the evenings and the early mornings. Have Elk Hair and Goddard Caddis for these evening events. It is also an important time of year to be sure your fly box contains flying ants, as they will become prominent with the dropping water. Continue to fish faster, deeper water with big attractors and nymphs, but start keeping an eye out for working fish in the slicks and eddies.

Upper Lost and Copper Basin

An amazing amount of insects are out and about on these area rivers. The fishing seemingly turns off and on by the minute, but when it’s on, the fishing can be great. Plenty of big fish are around, but they are not easy to catch as you must find what they are eating and imitate it. This can be tricky when you have Green Drakes, Tricos, Yellow Sallies, Salmon Flies and a variety of other Stoneflies, Mayflies and Caddis all going on at once. Be sure to bring all your fly boxes and be patient if the fishing shuts down. Give it a half hour or so, and it may turn right back in your favor.

Big Lost River

No Reports, still flowing at a high CFS.

Little Wood

No Reports

South Fork of the Boise

The Salmon Flies are out and in good numbers this week. If you have a boat and a day off, this would be a good time of the season to make a drift or two with the biggest dry flies of the year.

Synopsis

Trico Madness has started up on Silver Creek. It is one of the few insects to show up on time this season. Of course the ongoing question is whether it is called “Trico Madness” because the fish go mad for the bug, or because the fishermen go mad trying to fish during this event! Every river is primed for fishing right now, and the hardest decision to make this week is where to go cast a line. It is really up to the angler to decide what type of fishing they would like to do, because it is all working out there…

Silver Creek

Calm mornings on the Creek are all it takes to see the fish go into the first phases of Trico madness, helped along by a great amount of Baetis and then the occasional Pale Morning Dunn and Callibaetis flurry as well. With all this happening at once, anglers better be ready and willing to switch flies and switch often. The air temperature in the morning is the most important factor. Once things reach 70 degrees it is game on! On a calm morning this is normally between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. A breezy morning could push things back a little, or they might not happen at all. Regardless, 7:00 a.m. is not too early to be on the Creek especially with even higher temperatures in the forecast this week.

In the afternoon, look to cast Callibaetis and Damsel Flies, and in the evening expect Caddis, Baetis and some P.M.D. spinners. The sloughs are filling with water, but the algae is also coming up, giving fish a lot more places to hide and making things generally harder for anglers, as the fish tend to sulk on top of the springs when the Callibaetis aren’t going off. When they do go off, the fish will tend to move around a bit more making it easier to hook up without spooking every fish within 20 feet of a spring.

Big Wood River

The Wood has become gorgeous in the past week, and anglers described last weeks fishing as “brainless.” Things may get a bit tougher this week as flows continue to drop and the hatches of the bigger insects move north through the Valley. Big flies are still on tap, especially in low light, or when fishing over pyramid shaped riffles and slow water next to the bank.In the afternoon, when things have slowed, just tie a small beadhead nymph, like an Epoxy Back Drake, or Flashback Pheasant Tail behind your dry as a dropper fly. For searching the water, fish big dries like Yellow Stimulators, Orange Stimulators, and Royal Stimulators. When the day gets really hot and slow, look to fish tandem nymphs in deeper, swifter water with a strike indicator. The evening Caddis activity is coming on strong, so have Goddard Caddis, Hemingway Caddis and even Parachute Adams for late evening activity.Despite great fishing, the flows are still moving along and crossing can be difficult. Pick and choose where you cross carefully, wear your wader belt and fish with a friend.

Upper Lost River / Copper Basin

This area is really beginning to turn on, and that “brainless” fishing found on the Big Wood last week, may be found “up top” this coming week. Again the flows are high enough to warrant caution though.

Big Stimulators and Drake patterns are all one needs up here. Perhaps a few smaller flies like Adams and Elk Hair Caddis would be good to have along when you happen to encounter steadily rising fish.

Big Lost River

The Lost is still flowing at nearly 650 CFS, leaving little to no access to most of the river. Expect to see these flows continue until we see the reservoir begin to get low.

Little Wood River

With the Big Wood coming into shape up high, the Little Wood should follow the pattern and there could be some decent fishing above the reservoir this coming week. The desert stretch should be hot and won’t really fish that well until we start seeing some grasshoppers. There are a few out, but the populations seem limited to a few areas where hatching conditions must have been ideal this spring. Regardless the Little Wood is a great place to find some solitude and see some beautiful desert sunsets.

South Fork of the Boise

The S.F. of the B will be a busy place this weekend so bring your good attitude and be prepared for the crowds. If you go, have Cicadas, Salmon Flies, Pink Alberts, and Caddis flies in your fly box. The flows are still cranked up to nearly 1,600 CFS so it is truly a boaters paradise.

Synopsis

With many area rivers coming into prime shape we are truly enjoying a feeling much like opening weekend. There is a lot of water that has not been fished yet this summer, a lot of fish that have yet to see a fly and an overall forecast that looks great! Expect more people on the water between now and Labor Day weekend, but also expect to see people spreading out. High mountain lakes are opening up, freestone rivers are dropping, tailwaters are rising, while others are dropping in all the right places. July is looking like it may be the best month of the summer season for fishing this year.

Silver Creek

A few Tricos are beginning to show up, although not in huge numbers yet. The Baetis activity has been strong in the mornings, while Callibaetis are showing in the afternoons, and the Caddis are showing strong both early morning and late in the evening. The midday fishing is becoming more challenging and a serious lack of Grasshoppers is going to keep it this way for awhile. This will mean Damsel Fly fishing will become more and more important for those who want to search the waters surface when the insect activity slows with the heat of the day. Ants and Beetles fished a bit oversized with a chop on the water will get a few fish up as well.

The sloughs continue to fish well with Callibaetis dries, although the fish are becoming a bit more educated. The 3X tippets we were getting away with two weeks ago now need to be dropped to 5X with a little chop on the water, and even 6X if things are really calm.

The Silver Creek Valley is definitely mosquito heaven right now, so much so, that they will even find you in the heat of the day. Be sure to have bug spray with you when you go! Being well protected from these little blood suckers will make your day much more enjoyable!

Big Wood River

The Wood is still dropping nearly 100 CFS (Cubic Feet per Second) daily. Green Drakes are out and about and many anglers are reporting some great fishing. The lower river is still large, but should be incredibly manageable by this time next week. Above the East Fork confluence the river seems to look more fishable, but most Green Drake reports have been coming from Bellevue north to East Fork. Expect to see more of this insect upstream in the coming week.

The Drake is a heat of the day insect and often shows in good numbers between noon and five o’clock. If you are out before or after this time big bushy dries like Stimulators are still taking fish, and large to medium sized bead head nymphs fished underneath a big dry fly will also produce hook ups. The more insects we begin to see on the river, the more the fish should move into traditional holding areas. If you are fishing early in the morning, do not overlook the water right next to the bank.

Upper Lost River / Copper Basin

The waters “up top” are looking really good. Although there is still limited holding water and some tough wading conditions, anglers willing to cover a large area and explore ill find fish rising to a variety of insects. A lot of Caddis activity is happening along with Stoneflies, and Drakes. Much like the Big Wood these rivers are dropping fast and will be in prime shape by this time next week.

Big Lost River

Still high, but dropping fast. The Lost is not the place for fishing quite yet. The reservoir is nearly full, so these flows should remain strong for another month or so, but it is possible we could see a really nice late summer season here.

Little Wood River

Much like the Big Wood, the river above Carey has little holding water and fast currents, but fishable areas can be found. In the desert below the Silver Creek confluence the river has more area to spread, although most is taken out for irrigation before it ever gets this far, turning the lower stretch essentially into Silver Creek, as far as where the water is coming from. If you go to either area, general attractor patterns in large sizes, both wet and dry will take a few fish.

South Fork of the Boise

The river has finally been cranked up from 600 CFS to a little over 1000 CFS. As of this writing it will have been two days that it has been pushed up. This is great news for boaters. Give the river until after the weekend to settle into shape. Salmon Flies, Cicadas, Pink Alberts and Caddis are all on the menu. The river will probably get cranked up a bit higher until it reaches about 1,500 CFS.