Fishing Forecast May 22nd – 29th

Thursday, 23 May, 2013 14:58 Written by Dave Faltings

May 25th…the 2013 season opener is upon us! While Silver Creek will fish from day one, our local freestone rivers are in the midst of spring runoff. The weather gurus are calling for cooler temperatures over Memorial Weekend which will slow the runoff, but there is still a bit of high altitude snow yet to come down when warmer temperatures return and we should see the river levels spike again. Still, I expect we will see these streams really come into shape earlier this year. As early as mid June, Warm Springs should be very fishable and the Big Wood and Upper Big Lost will not be far behind. For those who like to fish around Stanley on the Salmon River, we should have a very good drift boat season starting in late June into July, with August getting a bit skinny for floating. The high altitude lakes around Stanley will open up earlier this year as well. Even the local tailwaters (like the Lost below Mackay, the Wood below Magic and the South Fork of the Boise) should have lower than average flows this year making them more accessible earlier than previous years. Combine the big bugs of spring, like the Salmon and Stone Fly as well as the the Brown and Green Drakes, with lower than average flows and we are heading for a great early dry fly season. So come on down to the shop and we will help you load your boxes and prep your tackle for the season ahead. And if you are feeling a bit rusty or would like to try fly fishing for the fist time, why not sign up for one of our Fly Fishing 101 classes. Better yet, by a Sage rod and you can attend the class for free!

Silver Creek
With the other local rivers in runoff mode, the Creek is the best looking girl at the dance. If you go, expect to see some PMDs in size 16 and some Baetis in size 18 and 20. On warm days the bugs will come off mid morning into the early afternoon. On cooler days, don’t expect to see them until the late afternoon. Of course, the early season fish can be very gullible as compared to July and August, and many different techniques will fool these trout. Since the Chara and other aquatic vegetation has not yet filled the stream bottom, using streamers can be very effective as well as nymph fishing with pheasant tails and hares ears in size 12 -18, beaded or non beaded. I would even consider using beetles and ant patterns if no bugs are present and a good spring wind begins to blow. I would also anticipate some Green Drakes to be making an appearance in the upper Creek over the next couple of weeks. It is always a good idea to have this big bug in your arsenal. And the Brown Drake watch has begun. We typically expect to see Brown Drakes in the lower part of the Creek the first or second week of June. The air and water temps will determine the timing on this hatch, so stay tuned.

The Big Wood
The Wood is over 1,000 CFS and has been as high as 1,550 earlier this year. You can fish the river at this level with some success. If you can find a good side channel or some slow water you will find fish; however, attempting to wade this river at this level is a bad idea. If you do wear waders, be sure to keep your wading belt on, or better yet simply wet wade to avoid getting into a bad situation with the high flows. The simple fact is that most of your fishing at this water level can be done from the bank making wading unnecessary; you will only need to get your feet wet to safely land and release your fish. So if you do want to hole hop around the river during the early season, plan on throwing big nymphs like Rubber Leg Stones, Green Drake Nymphs, large beaded PTs, or Prince Nymphs. Streamers will also work well. Big drys, like Stimulators or Chubby Chernobyls may also bring a fish up. This time of year it is not a bad idea to fish with a 5 or 6 weight rod to help land fish in the heavy current and toss the big bugs around. Also there is no reason to use dainty tippet; 4 or 3x tippet is fine for both drys and nymphs.

Big Lost River
With the road now open over Trail Creek, it will be easy to access both the upper and lower portions of this river. The flows continue to rise below Mackay Reservoir. They have jumped again to about 450 CFS which is a difficult, but not impossible level to fish.
My guess is that this river will continue to rise, so if you plan to fish here, keep your eye on the Idaho River Flows page (use the link on our website). The upper Lost will follow the same pattern as the Wood. Expect to be able to fish the East and West Fork by the middle of June with it really coming into great shape in July. The Copper Basin portion of the Lost will be the first area to start looking for fishable water in the next few weeks.

South Fork of the Boise
With flows at 1600 CFS, the South Fork is going to be better for drift boats than wade fisherman when it opens. Many fish will still be on their redds, so please leave them be. This fishery will really begin to get good once the Salmon Fly hatch begins later in June, but if you go for the opener have an assortment of heavy rubber legged stone fly nymphs for the riffles and some big foamy drys for working the banks. Streamers might pick up a big Bull Trout as well.

Stillwater Options
Magic, Mackay or Duck Valley are good options right now whether you want to float tube, pontoon, our fish from a boat. Be sure to always have a safety whistle and a life jacket. And watch out for those high winds which can blow this time of year. In May and June, I like to pull Seal buggers and Pops buggers in black or olive off of a sinking line like a type 3 or 5 or suspend a team of nymphs off an indicator like Prince nymphs, Copper Johns, or classic Chironomids with a floating line. This also a good time to consider going to CJ Strike to chase carp or the Bruneau Sand Dunes for bass and bluegill. Whatever you decide to do, come on by the shop and we will hook you up with the best flies for your situation.

Many men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.~ Henry David Thoreau

photo by Terry Ring

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Fishing Forecast May 15th – 22nd

Thursday, 16 May, 2013 15:48 Written by Dave Faltings

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During drought years in the West, one often hears the common refrain: “Whiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting.” As we await the opening of fishing on many of our local waters on May 25th, all eyes are on the the dwindling snowpack and the impact this will have on river and reservoirs throughout the season by both fisherman and irrigators. The first casualty of our lower than average snowpack is the Little Camas Reservoir. Fish and Game has already declared a fish salvage in anticipation of a complete draw down by mid summer. To understand the impact of the lower than average precipitation this year on fishing in the Wood River Basin, we need to look to the remaining high altitude snow pack. As of the beginning of May, the snowpacks are 71% of normal in the Big Lost and about 80% of normal in the Big Wood drainage. As compared to the low altitude drainage for areas like the Little Camas Reservoir which are already done, we are in pretty good shape heading into summer. Still, for fisherman, the lower than average snowpack means the fishing on many of our rivers, like the Wood and the upper and lower portions of the Lost, are going to shape up much earlier than previous years.

The Big Lost
The water below Mackay Reservoir has just recently moved from its winter flows of 108 CFS to about 320 CFS. This is a good level for this river, but much higher and it becomes a bear to wade. It is difficult to predict if these flows will go up over the next week, so if you plan to fish here keep your eye on the Idaho River Flows page (use the link on our website). Also, these higher flows will slow the hatches of the midge and Baetis, but you can still expect to find some top water action. Still, with the higher flows, nymphing is going to be your best bet. Take an assortment of big bugs like Rubber Leg Stones, standard and beaded Prince Nymphs, and San Juan Worms. A double nymph rig with one of the aforementioned big bugs trailed by a smaller Baetis, Zebra Midge, Rainbow Warrior, or Bishop’ Dynamite in size 16 or 18 would be a good idea as well. Also, the road up and over Trail Creek Pass is now open.

Stillwater Options
Magic, Mackay or Duck Valley are good options right now whether you want to float tube, pontoon, our fish from a boat. Be sure to always have a safety whistle and a life jacket. And watch out for those high winds which can blow this time of year. In May, I like to pull Seal buggers and Pops buggers in black or olive off of a sinking line like a type 3 or 5 or suspend a team of nymphs off an indicator like Prince nymphs, Copper Johns, or classic Chironomids with a floating line. This also a good time to consider going to CJ Strike to chase carp or the Bruneau Sand Dunes for bass and bluegill. Whatever you decide to do, come on by the shop and we will hook you up with the best flies for your situation.

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Many men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.~ Henry David Thoreau

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Fishing Forecast May 1st – 15th

Wednesday, 01 May, 2013 11:57 Written by Dave Faltings

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Mother’s Day is fast approaching. In lieu of chocolate and flowers, or better yet, in addition to, you might consider booking a trip to take your favorite mother fly fishing this summer. We are looking forward to a great season, and nothing says, “I love you” better than time spent fly fishing…with a guide. A recent warming trend has brought the Wood up to its highest runoff flows of the season, yet the snow pack in the Wood River Basin is holding steady at 80%. As predicted, March and April precipitation were below normal and while there is still a good amount of high altitude snow yet to come down, I will stand by my earlier prediction that the freestone fisheries will fish better earlier in June than in previous seasons. My guess is that we will have an excellent Green Drake hatch this year in June, even into early July, that won’t be hampered by excessively high flows. As for fishing right now, the Steelhead season has come to a close, but anglers looking to fish rivers or stillwaters still have a few options if you can’t wait for opening day in three weeks.

The Big Lost
This is a great time to be on this fantastic tailwater fishery. It is a bit of a drive, but worth it if you have a full day to fish. The midge and Baetis action has been outstanding. There has been very consistent top water action and the nymphing is always steady. For flies, have a good assortment of tailwater midge like brassies, and Zebra Midge as well as Griffiths Gnats and Trailing Shuck Midge in sizes 18 to 22. The Baetis are large and can be matched with size 18 or 20 parachutes. Harrop’s Baetis is a good option. To match the Baetis nymphs, try WD40s or small PTs is size 20-16. The flows are still holding steady at about 108 CFS. The question is how long will these flows last. Traditionally the flows start to come up around the middle of May. Currently the inflow to Mackay Reservoir is around 300 CFS and this drainage is only at about 70% of average. Eventually the demand for irrigation water down stream will bring this river up, but we might not see the high flows like we have had the past two years. Remember that anything above 350 to 400 CFS below the dam is tough to wade. My advice is to keep checking the Idaho River Flows page and take advantage of this great spring fishing opportunity sooner rather than later.

Stillwater Options
Not much has changed on the stillwater front, although it has been windy lately. Most experienced stillwater anglers will tell you that some wind in good, but too much can be dangerous. If you go in a boat or a float-tube always be prepared with a life jacket and a whistle. Whether you choose to go to Magic, Little Camas, or Duck Valley, you are sure to find good action. In the spring, I like to pull Seal buggers and Pops buggers in black or olive off of a sinking line like a type 3 or 5 or suspend a team of nymphs off an indicator like Prince nymphs, Copper Johns, or classic Chironomids with a floating line. This also a good time to consider going to CJ Strike to chase carp or the Bruneau Sand Dunes for bass and bluegill. Whatever you decide to do, come on by the shop and we will hook you up with the best flies for your situation.

Many men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.~ Henry David Thoreau

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Fishing Forecast April 17th – May 1st

Friday, 26 April, 2013 13:18 Written by Dave Faltings

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We have a little over a month until many of our local rivers, including the Big Wood and Silver Creek, reopen (May 25th) and as is the tradition of fisherman over the ages, I am going to prognosticate about the fishing conditions on the horizon. For those of you making summer fishing plans, please note that Mother Nature can be fickle and ultimately will do as she wishes. As the poet Robert Burns stated, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” That said, all indicators are pointing to a below average runoff this year for the Big Wood. Our snow pack is currently at about 80% of average and the Climate Prediction Center at NOAA is calling for below average precipitation for the next several months in Central and Southern Idaho. For the angler, this means the fishing should be good earlier this year on our freestone rivers due to the lower flows and often when the flows are lower, the hatches, like the Green Drake, will also come off a bit earlier. I fully expect the Wood to be fishing well, maybe not on opening day, but by the end of June into early July, we may be able wade the river at will, unlike the last two years. If you are looking forward to the season opener and would like to brush up on your technique or even learn how to fly fish for the first time, we have a great promotional deal offered through May 31; if you purchase any Sage rod, you can register for a two day Fly Fishing 101 class for free! And for those looking to fish right now, we still have some great opportunities if you are willing to do some windshield time.

Steelhead
Over 3,000 Steelhead have made their way to the hatchery above Stanley, and with the cold weather, the river has remained clear above Basin Creek, and there are still some fish to be found. This fishing opportunity officially closes the end of April, and if you want to go, it is best not to wait. If you go, leave the fish on redds alone and instead focus on the deeper runs where fish will be staged. Using a single handed rod with a sighter and some big traditional nymphs can be effective in this type of water. Also, you might consider swinging flies while using a switch rod in the bigger water below Stanley. Either way you go, please drop by the shop or give us a call for the latest information about water levels and clarity as well as advice on which flies to use.

The Big Lost
Two hours drive time from Ketchum in the town of Mackay flows this tailwater gem. I don’t expect flows to come up on this river until the middle or end of May, so if you want to get into some trout before the opener, this is your best bet. The hatches on the Lost this time of year are a combination of midge and Baetis and on the right day they can be spectacular. You will need a good selection of midge in sizes 18-22 and Baetis in size 16-18 both dry and wet. Some fish are spawning in the shallow riffles, so please wade with caution and leave them alone.

Stillwater Options
As long as the wind is not howling, you should be able to find some great Stillwater fishing this time of year. Whether you choose to go to Magic, Little Camas, or Duck Valley, you are sure to find good action. In the spring, I like to pull Seal buggers and Pops buggers in black or olive off of a sinking line like a type 3 or 5 or suspend a team of nymphs off an indicator like Prince nymphs, Copper Johns, or classic Chironomids with a floating line. We have a great selection of Stillwater patterns, so come on by and we will hook you up!

Many men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.~ Henry David Thoreau

photo by Bryan Huskey

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Fishing Forecast April 3rd – 17th

Wednesday, 03 April, 2013 11:41 Written by Dave Faltings

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To allow the wild rainbows time to spawn in peace, the Wood, the South Fork of the Boise and all their tributaries are now closed, but will reopen, along with Silver Creek, on May 25th. In the meanwhile, there still are plenty of fishing opportunities for those willing to travel outside the Wood River Valley. In fact, April offers a wide variety of angling opportunities from Steelhead to stillwaters. The day time highs have been warm enough to open up many of our reservoirs earlier then past years and yet still cooling off enough at night to keep the heavy run off from impacting the ability to fish around the Stanley area. For those looking ahead to the next season, keep your eyes on the spring weather. The Wood River Valley snowpack is currently at about 80% of normal and unless it snows all spring in the higher elevations, we should have a moderate runoff with lower flows on the Wood then we have had the last two summers. But then again, Mother Nature might have something to say about that.

Steelhead
The fish are in all the way to the Hatchery above Stanley and the fishing should remain fair to good most of the month of April, weather and water permitting. The recent warming trend has caused Basin Creek, several miles down river of Stanley, to blowout and make the Salmon unfishable from this point down. However, a cold front is coming the first weekend of April and may reverse this trend…so stay tuned if you would like to fish the water between Basin Creek and Clayton. Also, there is some road construction occurring between the Salmon Spawning beds and Slate Creek with some road closures that you should be aware of before you go. Come on into the shop and check out our full selection of steelhead flies and we will give you the latest report.

The Big Lost
With the Wood closed, this is your best alternative to find trout feeding on the surface. It is a trek from Ketchum, but well worth your effort. The hatches on the Lost this time of year are a combination of midge and Baetis and on the right day they can be spectacular. You will need a good selection of midge in sizes 18-22 and Baetis in size 16-18 both dry and wet. Some fish are all ready spawning in the shallow riffles so please wade with caution and leave them alone.

Stillwater Options
Most fishermen know that when the ice comes off of a reservoir, the fishing can be fantastic. Typically, I don’t think about fishing our mountain reservoirs until May, but the warm weather has made this a good possibility. Magic is now ice free and for those willing to brave the elements, the fishing should be quite good and getting better. In the spring I like to pull Seal Buggars and Pops Buggars in black or olive off of a sinking line like a type 3 or 5 or suspend a team of nymphs off an indicator like Prince nymphs, Copper Johns, or classic Chironomids. I would also consider a trip a bit further down the road to Little Camas. The fish in Little Camas grow very fast and the last couple years of good water will make for great spring fishing this year.

Many men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.~ Henry David Thoreau

photo by Bryan Huskey

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Posts Tagged ‘Silver Creek Outfitters’

Fishing Forecast May 22nd – 29th

Fishing Forecast May 15th – 22nd

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Fishing Forecast May 1st – 15th

Fishing Forecast April 17th – May 1st

Fishing Forecast April 3rd – 17th

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