Fishing Forecast July 25th – August 1st

Wednesday, 25 July, 2012 08:05 Written by Dave Faltings

photo by Bryan Huskey

The last week of July promises to be a great week of fishing, but to assure success, anglers should be prepared for change. In our local freestones, the flows continue to drop to more wadable levels opening up more water to explore and spread the fishing pressure. Keep in mind that as the levels change, the fish will also seek new holding water. Often the bigger fish will be in the shallow water and can be easily spooked by unwitting anglers. Also, the bugs are smaller. By no means should you put away your big bugs just yet; however, instead of Green Drakes and Stone Flies, try hoppers or your favorite large attractor patterns. But when you see bugs present, such as caddis, Pinks, PMDs, or Western Quills, it is best to match the hatch as the fish are beginning to wise up. Change is also the theme for Silver Creek; with each passing day the Trico hatch continues to build momentum.

Silver Creek
The Tricos have arrived and any angler heading to the Creek in the early morning should be well equipped with Trico Duns and Spinners in size 20 and 22. If you arrive early, look for the Trico Duns to be on the water while clouds of Tricos fill the air. There will be Baetis (size 22) and an occasional http://silver-creek.com/blogs/report/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/prescribedfiles7-25.pngCallibaetis Spinner (size 16-18) on the water as well. With careful observation, you should be able find fish feeding on any one of these stages of insects. The Trico spinner falls have been brief, but should gain in intensity as the week progresses. The best action is between 7:30 and 11:30 AM depending on air temperature and wind. If you decide to stay and fish through the middle of the day and into the afternoon, look for water where blue damsels will congregate like the upper and lower Kilpatrick Pond. If you hear a loud, splashy rise, this usually indicates a Damsel being consumed. Also be prepared for a Callibaetis spinner fall; Harrop’s Partridge Wing Spinner in size 16 and 18 is a good match. Of course, don’t forget to have a lineup of terrestrials (beetles, ants, and hoppers) if the wind picks up. On cloudy, cool days days expect the hatches to be delayed, but when they do come off the fishing can be fantastic. In the evenings, be prepared for caddis in a variety of sizes as well as small PMDs and Callibaetis. Don’t forget to bring along your bug spray.

Big Wood River
The Wood is really coming into its prime with more and more water opening up everyday. A shrewd angler can find fish that have not yet seen a fly this season, with the flows now dropping below 350 south of town. Expect to find Pink Albert, PMD and Western Quill hatches depending on the stretch of river you are on and the time of day. Always be prepared with a selection of Parachute Style dry flies (size 16-14) to match these bugs and some Rusty Spinners. Of course, an attractor dry with a trailing nymph can be deadly. Yellow Stimulators, Orange Stimulators, and Royal Stimulators with a Flashback Pheasant Tail or Zebra Midge as a dropper are some of my favorite combo rigs. For the deep, fast water try a tandem nymph rig with Tungsten PT and a Zebra Midge. As the days heat up, you might try “wet wading” as a way to stay cool. A good way to spend the day is to start on the Creek for the morning hatch and then drift over to the Wood as the day heats up. Have fun and wade safely!

Big Lost River below Mackay
The flows have dropped below 500 CFS for the first time this season and some daring anglers have ventured over to fish this river. Still, I recommend waiting for the flows to drop below 400 CFS for optimum fishing.

Upper Big Lost
If you seek solitude and scenery, then the Upper Lost is the perfect place to go. Roving anglers are finding the most success, searching the water meticulously with drys and dry dropper rigs. Back to back seasons of higher than average flows have produced quality Fine Spot Cutthroats, Cutbows, and Rainbows. Explore the North Fork, East Fork, Wild Horse Creek, the West Fork as well as the Main Stem and take along an assortment of your favorite attractor dry flies and nymphs as well as your standard parachute patterns: Parachute Hare’s Ear, Turk’s Tarantulas, PMX, Royal Wulffs, King Prince, Flashback PTs and Zebra Midge.

Salmon River
This fishery continues to produce great fishing opportunities for Cutthroat, Rainbow and Bull trout. There is even the possibility of hooking into a Chinook Salmon. Large Stimulators and Salmon flies are your best bet. Droppers, such as Rubber Leg Stones and PTs can also produce trout and lots of whitefish. There are plenty of walk and wade opportunities, but the best way to explore this fantastic fishery is from a drift boat. Please inquire about this wonderful opportunity.

Warm Springs & Trail Creek
These rivers are a great alternative for those seeking a small stream experience but don’t have the time to drive over the hill to the Copper Basin. Fish and Game has stocked these rivers around the bridges and anywhere the rivers near the road. If you wish to seek wild fish, just leave the beaten path and explore. Expect to see PMDs, Pink Alberts, Caddis, Small Stone flies, and some Pine Moths.

South Fork of the Boise
The Salmon flies are still present in the very upper reaches of the river. If you like to toss big bugs for large bows, the time is now. At 1800, your best option is to fish from a drift boat, but you can wade fish along the roadside in select spots. Also have a good selection of caddis, golden stones, and pink alberts if you decide to fish into the evening.

Area Reservoirs
If you want to try something different, our reservoirs continue to fish very well. Grab a float tube, some flippers, and a friend and go check out Magic, Mackay, Little Camas, or Morman reservoirs. We have a great selection of stillwater flies from leeches to chironomids as well as some classic patterns like the Sheep Creek Special.

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Everyone should believe in something. I believe I’ll go fishing.~ Thoreau

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Fishing Forecast July 18th – 25th

Wednesday, 18 July, 2012 07:18 Written by Dave Faltings

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7th Annual Fly Fishing Film Festival & Product Fair

As we enter the second half of July, the myriad of fishing opportunities continue to expand. The hardest thing about fishing right now is choosing where to go. Do you want to fish high mountain streams with big attractor patterns in pursuit of cutthroat trout? Or would you rather cast long leaders with fine tippet and small drys to selectively sipping trout? Perhaps you would enjoy searching for the last few Green Drakes of the season? Or maybe you would prefer to take the family to a local pond and catch some pan size trout? Whatever your taste, now is a great time to be a flyfisher in Sun Valley. The local freestones continue their slow drop opening up new waters to explore and Silver Creek continues to offer fishing possibilities throughout the day.

Silver Creek
The weather report for the upcoming week calls for more heat and occasional thunderstorms. If this holds true, expect the early morning and late evening fishing to be excellent on hot, calm days. If you go early, expect a mix of Baetis (size 20-22), Callibaetis Spinners (size 16-18), PMD spinners (size 16), and Tricos (size 20-22). Don’t expect a long Trico spinner fall, but it will get progressively better as the week continues. During the middle of the day and into the afternoon, look for water where blue damsels will congregate. The fish will be on the prowl picking off any spent damsels they can find. Also, the afternoon Callibaetis should be strong. The best pattern for this is Harrop’s Partridge Wing Spinner in size 16 and 18. Of course, don’t forget to have an array of terrestrials (beetles, ants, and hoppers) if the wind picks up. On cloudy, cool days days expect the hatches to be delayed, but when they do come off the fishing can be fantastic. In the evenings, be prepared for caddis in a variety of sizes as well as small PMDs and Callibaetis. Don’t forget to bring along your bug spray.

Big Wood River
The Wood is still a bit on the high side south of town, but fishing really well all over the river with the best action coming in the middle of the day. Occasional Green Drakes are still being spotted in the upper river. The long slow drop of the water has extended the duration of this hatch, but by the end of this week we may see the last of them until next year. The Wood is already experiencing strong Pink Albert, PMD and Western Quill hatches depending on the stretch of river you are on and the time of day. Be prepared with a selection of Parachute Style dry flies to match these bugs. If things slow down, tossing an attractor dry with a trailing nymph can be deadly. Try big dries like Yellow Stimulators, Orange Stimulators, and Royal Stimulators with a Flashback Pheasant Tail or Epoxy Back Drake as a dropper. For the deep, fast water try a tandem nymph rig with a Rubber Leg Stone and a Tungsten PT. You might also start looking for fish feeding in the shallow riffles as the water warms up.
Please wade conservatively and always use a wading belt.

Big Lost River below Mackay
Some intrepid anglers have ventured over to fish this river, but with flows still above 500 CFS, this river is still too high to wade comfortably and access is limited. Wait for the flows to drop below 400 CFS for optimum fishing.

Upper Big Lost
This stretch of river follows the same pattern as the Big Wood with regard to flows. As the lower Wood begins to open up to wading and fishing possibilities, the main stem of the Big Lost above Mackay follows suit. Still, wade with caution. Your best bet is to cover the water and search with a dry or a dry dropper rig. The mobile anglers are finding the most success, not to mention solitude. Quality Fine Spot Cutthroats, Cutbows, and Rainbows are being found in the East Fork, Wild Horse Creek and the West Fork. Take along an assortment of your favorite attractor dry flies. I prefer flies like the Parachute Hare’s Ear, Turk’s Tarantulas, PMX, and Royal Wulffs. For nymphs I like the pheasant tail and King Prince. However, some of these fish have already seen a few flies. If you are getting refusals, switch to smaller versions of the above mentioned flies.

Salmon River
Like the Wood and the Lost, the Salmon is dropping slowly and will continue to fish well. Large Golden Stones and Salmon flies are taking eager Cutthroat and Rainbow trout. There is even the possibility of hooking into a Chinook Salmon. There are plenty of walk and wade opportunities, but the best way to explore this fantastic fishery is from a drift boat. Please inquire about this wonderful opportunity.

Warm Springs & Trail Creek
These rivers are a great alternative for those seeking a small stream experience but don’t have the time to drive over the hill to the Copper Basin. Fish and Game has stocked these rivers around the bridges and anywhere the rivers near the road. If you wish to seek wild fish, just leave the beaten path and explore. Expect to see PMDs, Pink Alberts, Caddis, Small Stone flies, and a few Green Drakes.

South Fork of the Boise
The Salmon flies are on, but they won’t last much longer. At 1700, your best option is to fish from a drift boat, but you can wade fish along the roadside in select spots. Also have a good selection of caddis, golden stones, and pink alberts if you decide to fish into the evening.

Area Reservoirs
If you want to try something different, our reservoirs continue to fish very well. Grab a float tube, some flippers, and a friend and go check out Magic, Mackay, Little Camas, or Morman reservoirs. We have a great selection of stillwater flies from leeches to chironomids as well as some classic patterns like the Sheep Creek Special.

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Everyone should believe in something. I believe I’ll go fishing.~ Thoreau

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Fishing Forecast July 11th – 18th

Wednesday, 11 July, 2012 08:41 Written by Dave Faltings

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As the summer days begin to heat up, our local waters will begin to transition. Hatches like the Green Drake will begin to taper off on the local freestones and the Trico hatch will slowly begin to build to its peak in late July and early August on Silver Creek. The Big Wood, the Big Lost below Mackay Reservoir, and the main stem of the Big Lost over Trail Creek Pass continue to flow high but clear making wading a challenge. If you plan to fish these waters always use your wading belt and fish with a friend. However, in the upper reaches of these rivers the water is prime for wet wading, a nice reprieve from the heat. The bottom line, don’t put away your Green Drake and Stonefly patterns yet, and start stocking up on your Trico patterns.

Silver Creek
The fish on the creek like to feed during the most comfortable times of the day. As we move towards higher average temperatures, expect to see more feeding activity in the morning and the evening. For the morning, expect the usual suspects: Baetis (size 20-22), Callibaetis Spinners (size 16), PMDs (size 16), and even some Tricos (size 20, 22) have been spotted on calm mornings. This is not to say a savvy angler can’t find fish during the heat of the day. If you plan to fish all day, always have a good selection of Blue Damsel flies, Callibaetis Duns and Spinners, as well as beetles, ants and small hoppers. In the evenings, be prepared for caddis in a plethora of sizes as well as big and small PMDs. Of course, remember to bring along your bug spray.

Big Wood River
A smattering of Green Drakes have been spotted on the river but the consistency of this hatch has dropped off and will continue to do so throughout the week. But the fish will still be looking for flies that match the profile of a Green Drake, so keep a selection of Drakes in you fly box. The Wood can go into a lull after the Drakes are done and before the Pink Alberts and PMDs hatches begin to strengthen. This is when attractor drys with a trailing nymph can be deadly. Fish big dries like Yellow Stimulators, Orange Stimulators, and Royal Stimulators with a Flashback Pheasant Tail or Epoxy Back Drake as a dropper. For the deep, fast water try a tandem nymph rig with a Rubber Leg Stone and a Tungsten PT.

I said it last week and it is worth repeating: Please approach the Wood with caution and wade conservatively. We will soon be able to move about the river and get to all those favorite holes.

Big Lost River below Mackay
With flows still above 500 CFS, this river is still too high to wade comfortably. Wait for the flows to drop below 400 CFS for optimum fishing.

Upper Big Lost
Some fantastic Fine Spot Cutthroats, Cutbows, Brook Trout and Rainbows are being found in the rivers over Trail Creek Pass. For those anglers willing to make this trek, look for the many public access points along the East Fork, Wild Horse Creek and the West Fork to be your best bet. The most sucessful angelrs are those who are willing to cover a lot of fishy water. Your persistence will be rewarded. The fish are generaly not selective this time of year and they will take most all large standard drys (Parachute Adams, Tarantulas, PMX, Royal Wulffs, etc.) and nymphs (pheasant tail and Prince nymphs). However, if you are getting refusals, switch to smaller versions of the above mentioned flies.

Salmon River
Imagine tossing large Golden Stones to eager Cutthroat and Rainbow trout while floating down one of the most scenic rivers in Idaho. The Salmon River is prime and ready to fish. Please inquire about this wonderful opportunity.

Warm Springs & Trail Creek
If you are looking for a small stream experience but don’t have the time to drive over the hill to the Copper Basin, then a trip up Warm Spring or Trail Creek may be just the solution. Fish and Game has stocked these rivers around the bridges and anywhere the rivers near the road. If you wish to seek wild fish, just leave the beaten path and explore. Expect to see PMDs and Pink Alberts as well as Caddis and Small Stone flies. These fish are not selective and will often attack a well placed fly. Please respect private property and have fun.

South Fork of the Boise
The Salmon flies have been spotted above Cow Creek Bridge and should be all the way to the dam by the end of the week. At 1700, your best option is to fish from a drift boat but you can wade fish along the roadside in select spots. Also have a good selection of caddis, golden stones, and pink alberts if you decide to fish into the evening.

Area Reservoirs
If you want to try something different, our reservoirs continue to fish very well. Grab a float tube, some flippers, and a friend and go check out Magic, Mackay, Little Camas, or Morman reservoirs. We have a great selection of stillwater flies from leeches to chironomids as well as some classic patterns like the Sheep Creek Special.

VIDEO FISHING FORECAST
<a onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.vimeo.com/45370165');" href="http://www.vimeo.com/45370165">http://www.vimeo.com/45370165</a>

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Everyone should believe in something. I believe I’ll go fishing.~ Thoreau

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Fishing Forecast July 4th – 11th

Wednesday, 04 July, 2012 09:00 Written by Dave Faltings

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Unlike the last years above average run off, this July the water is dropping fast giving anglers a lot of options for fishing on the Big Wood and its tributaries as well as the Copper Basin. The water is still high in places but look for more and more water to open up in the coming weeks. July is a great month for big drys; head to the river with a good supply of flys imitating green drakes, golden stones, and Salmon flies. Of course, if the fish are not looking up, tying a nymph off the back of your dry is a good idea. Use larger pheasant tails, Copper Johns, Rainbow Warriors, or any other nymph with a tungsten bead in size 12,14, or 16.

Big Wood River
Please approach the Wood with caution and wade conservatively. We will soon be able to move about the river and get to all those favorite holes. The water is dropping every day and the bigger fish are still willing to take big dries. Be prepared to find green drakes still hatching in the upper reaches of the Wood in the early afternoon. If you happen upon this hatch, be sure to have a good selection of large (size 12) flies to match. Selective feeders tend to prefer a green drake cripple. While waiting for the drakes to show, try searching with a Stimulator or a Tarantula and a trailing pheasant tail or Prince nymph.

Silver Creek
The Creek is fishing well all day and should continue to do so for the next week. For the anglers who hit the Creek early in the morning, they will find Baetis (size 20-22), Callibaetis Spinners (size 16), PMDs (size 16) even some Tricos have been spotted. By midday, the Damsels will fill the air. In the afternoon, more Callibaetis spinners begin to bounce above the water and some Green Drakes (size 12) may emerge. If the wind picks up there will be beetles and ants blown off the tall grass. In the evenings, the caddis become the dominant insect. If you are prepared for the variety of hatching and terrestrial insects that occur throughout the day on Silver Creek, you will increase your chance for success.

Big Lost River below Mackay
With flows still above 500 CFS, this river is still too high to wade comfortably. Wait for the flows to drop below 400 CFS for optimum fishing.

Upper Big Lost
The East Fork, Wild Horse Creek and the West Fork will be your best option for the week ahead if you decide to venture over Trail Creek Summit. The main stem of the river is still a bit to high to comfortably wade but you can car hop from hole to hole. The fish are not selective this time of year and they will take most all large standard drys (Parachute Adams, Tarantulas, PMX, Royal Wulffs, etc.) and nymphs (pheasant tail and Prince nymphs). Be sure to cover the water methodically and search all the likely holding water. If you are not finding fish, just move to another access.

Salmon River
If you have not yet done it, now is the time to try out this fantastic fishery. The scenery is stunning and the fishing should be very good for the next couple of weeks. We offer both float and walk and wade guide trips. If you would rather go without a guide, be sure and take a good assortment of Salmon flies and golden stones.

Big Wood Tributaries
Warm Springs, Trail Creek, and the North Fork of the Big Wood have all been stocked recently and also hold a good population of wild fish. While the flows are still a bit high on these rivers, they are dropping quickly and would be a good option if the Wood is too crowded and the Basin is too far away.

South Fork of the Boise
The South Fork Salmon flies have been spotted on the lower river and will continue to make their journey up the river over the next week. Your best option is to fish from a drift boat but you can wade fish along the roadside in select spots. Also have a good selection of caddis, golden stones, and pink alberts.

Area Reservoirs
If you want to try something different, our reservoirs are fishing very well. Grab a float tube, some flippers, and a friend and go check out Magic, Mackay, Little Camas, or Morman reservoirs. We have a great selection of stillwater flies from leeches to chironomids as well as some classic patterns like the Sheep Creek Special.

Everyone should believe in something. I believe I’ll go fishing.~ Thoreau

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Archive for July, 2012

Fishing Forecast July 25th – August 1st

Fishing Forecast July 18th – 25th

Fishing Forecast July 11th – 18th

Fishing Forecast July 4th – 11th

Fishing Report Archives

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